I did a search with no results, and since I’m new here, I’m hoping I’m not asking the same old newbie questions…but here goes.
I have a grove of citrus trees, mainly grapefruit. I’m wondering what qualities wood has that comes from a grapefruit tree? Is the grain nice, would the wood be considered hardwood?
Thanks for your input,
Solidsurfacegeek
http://www.solidsurfacegeeks.com
Replies
Never actually used grapefruit, but I've had a little experience with other citrus woods. It's probably similar... Technically it is not a hardwood, but as far as working properties goes it should be a medium-hard, very uniform consistency. Easy to cut cleanly. The color is a dull cream, and probably rather boring as far as figure is concerned. Don't go cutting your orchard down in the hopes of getting quality cabinet wood out of it.
DR
Thanks Ring,I wouldn't go cutting down the grove just to get the wood, but I do have to thin it a little, and was wondering if I could get any nice wood out of it, but it sounds like it's not worth the effort.Thanks again,Solidsurfacegeek
http://www.solidsurfacegeeks.com
While it may not be the prettiest wood, it might take a stain nicely if it has a straight grain. could also serve as a nice secondary wood for other projects1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
solidsurfacegeek ,
Is Fruitwood hardwood ? I can't tell you about the lumber but about the sweetest smell I remember as a youth was Grapefruit Blossom time .
dusty
Botanically if the tree sheds its leaves with the season it is a hardwood. Balsam is a hardwood (not balsam fir). Not necesarily the same classification for the wood industry.
The grapefruit and lemon trees in my yard keep their leaves all year round, so I was quick to call them softwood. But they are obviously very different from all the conifers. I think the important thing for most of us is the working qualities, no matter what the classification should be.
DR
"Botanically if the tree sheds its leaves with the season it is a hardwood."
Tinkerer2,
Are you sure about this? When I took botany, Leaf shedding wasn't a reliable method of differentiating between angiosperms and gymnosperms.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
What I learned in Botany over fifty years ago - My, I guess it has been over fifty five years ago. I can't remember if it was the book or the prof. Anyway, I'm not going to risk the friendship arguing over it. As I remember, I got a minor on the master's level in Botany, but I'm not going to argue that point either. Its been an awful long time ago.
Hi Tinkerer,
Thanks for your reply. Please know I wasn't trying to "pick a fight" with you; it's just that the "leaf drop test" didn't quite match with what I've been taught.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I might lend credence to your argument. Here in West Virginia, we have a tree called "larch or another name Tamarack." It looks similar to a spruce - definitely a gymnosperm. In the fall of the years when the other trees are shedding, those needles just turn brown and fall off the tree. I probably should have said angiosperm instead of referring to leaves falling. Enjoy your comment. Might even learn something.
tinkerer2 & Jazzdogg ,
Well , let me introduce another anomaly . Here in Oregon we have a tree called Canyon Oak or Live Oak . These trees do not loose their leaves . They stay green all year round .The wood is not great for much except firewood but it is considered a hardwood .
I did not study botany in school but in conclusion , whether or not a tree retains it's leaves year round may not be conclusive evidence of it being a soft wood or a hardwood .
Just throwing a curve ball at you , now you two can get mad at me instead of each other .
regards dusty
I have two points of view.
first isn't a hard wood anywood that produces a nut?
No matter! I've worked with lots of fruitwood, apple,pear,olive... I find they make striking extant pieces.
since it isn't sold as lumber,normally,you can use it to make some very nice pieces. that just might ketch a buyers eye.
Good luck and let us know how it works out?
C.A.G.
Hey Curtis ,
What about Pine Nuts ?
dusty
Pine nut? Are you sure?
tinkerer2 ,
Ayup ,,, and they really do come from Pine trees .
dusty
pine nuts? don't you mean bear nut? ;-) are you talking about pinecones? I've never heard of pine nuts!
I'm no botanist, but Oak,Hard maple, walnut, chestnut, are hard woods,but on the flip side balsa wood is a hard wood too. perhaps its just a general rule of thumb?
But it works for me. ;-)
I will look it up!
Have a good day.C.A.G.
What abouit trees that shed their bark e.g. Madronna? Heh heh...
JJ
JJ
I YIELD! ;-)
C.A.G.
Hey guys and gals, I have been building radio controlled model planes for 30 years+, and have created almost as much sawdust as my table saw. I have used balsa wood that was as soft and fluffy light as a pile of compacted Kleenex that you could press from 1/4" to a 1/64" with your finger nail and other balsa that was used for gas engine motor mounts that might be as hard as rock maple. What we need here is a "Maven" (a technical certification used in the lower east side of NYC) or an expert in the wood business with letters after his or her name. Pat.
As far as a maven goes, we had Jon Arno but he passed away a while back. He's still missed.
I don't mean to get into the middle of this but I would just like to say that this is one of the funniest things I've seen on here.
Curtis, "hardwood" is a misnomer for broadleaf deciduous angiosperms which produce their seed through fruit, flowers, or nuts. "Softwood" is also a misnomer for conifers which have nuts or seeds carried in cones. Balsa is a hardwood and ironwood is a softwood by these definitions. Rules are made to broken......... aloha, mike
So would that mean that beer nuts come from hard wood or soft wood trees? Gonna go open a cold one while I ponder...Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"
If your beer nuts are peanuts they grow underground and come from a bush.....ponder that
aloha,mike
Are these trees treated with pesticides? I have read a warning about sawdust from all commercial fruit woods possibly containing traces of the pesticides used on them. You might pause to ponder whether this grapefruit tree sawdust will pose such a danger.
Cadiddlehopper
I'm amazed at the BS, speculation and off-topic responses you got to your question from people who have no idea about grapefruit wood. Yes, I have made things from citrus fruit trees grown on my properety. Grapefruit wood in particular is very hard and clear grained if you select a staight section from the trunk. That is the problem, however, getting a straight piece of workable trunk as these trees are generally short-boled and may have inclusions or diseased areas. (Short-boled means not very long pieces between places along the trunk where branches grew.) That said, I've made picture frames and inlays from it with good success. I even turned my bench mallet, which I use mostly for carving, from grapefruit wood six or seven years ago and it's in great shape. (I'll send you a photo if you want.) I'd say you can use it for any project where you want smallish pieces and have a way (and the patience) to dry it. The color of mine is a very pale yellow unfinished (it was cut from the trunk of a Marsh Seedless) and is almost without grain detail. Once dry, it is very stable and hard -- and, no, it is not classified as a "hardwood". Let me know if you want more information. People who see mine are always intrigued by it.
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