Monkey Puzzle tree wood any good for carving?

[Black Sheep]

Hi,

Someone I know has just moved house and has a few trees/bushes they want rid of Apple, Hawthorn and a monkey puzzle tree.

Does anyone know what the wood from the Monkey Puzzle is like and would it any good for carving?

Cheers Richard

 

[launditch1]

Dont know if its any good for carving.Give it a go and see...

All i know is that Jet is fossilised monkey puzzle tree.

 

[Goatboy]

Hi there,

You my want to check with the local council before chopping the Monkey Puzzle as there's often a TPO ( Tree Preservation Order ) on them which could land you in trouble if you chop it. It can be a fight to be allowed to fell even dangerous ones due to relative rarity. ( There's more monkey puzzles in the UK than in their native range now seemingly).

They've got edible seed and if you are allowed to fell, or have some decent branches then have a look here as the timber is much prized ( why so few left) and seemingly nice to work.

https://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43&PID=801

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.the-turning-circle.co.uk/DG17.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.the-turning-circle.co.uk/DG.htm&usg=__lj-EAjUhkNCP7Ap4J3kM7UZTZ0M=&h=336&w=510&sz=44&hl=en&start=63&um=1&tbnid=_4-tfjlzKhNAkM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmonkey%2Bpuzzle%2Btree%2Btimber%2Buses%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1T4PBEA_en-GBGB246GB246%26sa%3DN%26start%3D54%26um%3D1

It's basically a very straight grained pine. Should be nice.

GB.

 

[stuart f]

Also it takes 30-40 years before the monkey puzzle tree starts to bare seeds
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana.

Cheers Stuart.

 

[JohnC]

I've got a while to wait for this one we're growing for some seeds.

 

[Taran]

Hi,

Someone I know has just moved house and has a few trees/bushes they want rid of Apple, Hawthorn and a monkey puzzle tree.

Does anyone know what the wood from the Monkey Puzzle is like and would it any good for carving?

Cheers Richard

I was given a chunk of MP wood a few years ago when a friend had to fell one, it's a beautiful but rather strange wood. It has a curious 'soapy plasticy' feel to it with a yellowy gold glow.

 

[Black Sheep]

Thanks for the Info'

As far as I know the MP tree has had it's lower branches tied back to the trunk and the top cut out, but my friends have only just move to the house and their plan is to remove this hidious tree and replace it with another smaller MP they brought from their other house

Cheers Richard