Beefwood grows to about 12 metres high with trunk diameters to 600mm or
so on the Highlands. It is a very popular
wood here with many locals choosing it for furniture.
For myself, I can't stand the stuff! It wasn't the aboriginals
favoured source of resin for binding tools for nothing - Beefwood is so
full of resin that even a year after it has been felled, you can still get
stalactites of resin sticking out from your turnings when you stop the lathe.
Large trees can produce stable, attractive boards for furniture making,
especially when quarter-sawn. Beefwood is moderately heavy but does machine well
(but that
dreaded resin can make a mess of your blades in the process).
As for sanding - every swipe clogs the paper. It takes a nice finish -
for about a day, then the resin starts oozing out and ruins your work.
While I have seen some beautiful Beefwood furniture crafted by our local
club members, I leave it alone as much as possible.
