Ozbow

Hello everyone,

Recently a Flindersia (QLD maple) tree fell down across the street. It has a couple of straight sections in it, although the lower 2 - meters has rot - the reason for it's fall. Does anyone have any previous experience with this timber? Does it have the necessary tensile and compressive strengths for a suitable bow wood? Reply quickly, because before too long the council will probably come and take it away!
Cheers, Joe.

Joe,

Take as much useable timber as you can.

If it is not suitable for bow making you should get some nice cabinet grade timber for other projects.

http://www.woodsolutions.com.au/Wood-Sp ... land-maple

Daryl.

G'Day Joe,

I picked up a length of very straight grained Qld Maple for a good price a few months back. I used it to back a red oak flatbow with flipped tips as a comparison against N. American Maple, which makes a sound backing material. I've not finished tillering the bow completely, but at 55lb+, the backing has splintered in several places, requiring attention, and is less than desirable. I'm going to give it another attempt on a low poundage kids bow and see how it goes. If all else fails, it's a good looking & easily worked timber for non-mechanical applications.

By the numbers, Qld Maple doesn't look to be good in compression or tension, but ultimately you have to try a timber to really know. Good luck with it!

Neil

Common Name(s): Queensland Maple

Scientific Name: Flindersia spp. (F. brayleyana)

Distribution: Northern Queensland (Australia)

Tree Size: 100 ft (30 m) tall, 3 ft (1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 35 lbs/ft3 (560 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .45, .56

Janka Hardness: 810 lbf (3,620 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 11,750 lbf/in2 (81.0 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,570,000 lbf/in2 (10.83 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 6,810 lbf/in2 (47.0 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 6.1%, Tangential: 8.8%, Volumetric: 15.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

Daryl.

Joe,

It may not be great for self bows or even backed bows but it is certainly durable enough to use in composite bows. By weight, it feels like it would be too light, however it is not easy to sand or even rasp, I was surprised how hard it is. Also, it has some very striking features in the grain that set it apart from a lot of Aussie woods. I wish I had some more of it in my stockpile.

http://www.ozbow.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=15211

Cheers... Rod

Damn!

The council took it away this arvo!
Oh well, maybe next time.

BTW - as many of you said, the smaller branches did feel rather light and whippy.