Monnkey Puzzle Wood

[Shimon]

We had a mature Monkey Puzzle tree taken down about a year and half ago and still have all the rounds from the tree. I don't know much about this type of wood except that people do turn bowls and other stuff out of them. I had a guy who turns bowls stop by and take a small round.

Anyway, I just ripped a small (24"x24"x2") section at of one of the rounds with the chainsaw and was going to make a plank (about 1" thick) for a Rev-A-Shelf Mixer Lift which would be about 18"x16". It has very pretty and interesting grain. Anyone know the suitability of this wood for working? Is it prone to cracking or splitting? Don't want to waste my time if it's not going to work out and split down the road since it will be supporting a heavy duty mixer (about 45lbs). I searched on Google but couldn't find any useful info.

Enclosed are some photos.

 

[inveresk]

According to the Oxford Encyclopedia of World Trees, the wood from the Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria) is resinous and easy to work and the main uses are for general indoor carpentry, boxes and masts as well as pulp for papermaking.

Sounds as if the use you plan to put it to would be just fine.
The grain looks great - nicely variagated with plenty of life. Should make a nice shelf. Post pics of the finished product.

 

[BTDT]

That looks to have been a fair sized tree. Sorry for your loss. Any pics of it before cutting it down?

 

[Shimon]

That looks to have been a fair sized tree. Sorry for your loss. Any pics of it before cutting it down?

Yes, it was very large. Probably about 60 or 70 years old. It was causing problems with the wiring coming into the house so it had to go. I've never really liked Monkey Puzzle trees...I've been cut too many times by their "razor blade" leaves...but I was sorry to see this one go since it was one of the nicest looking ones I've seen. They are popular in this area (or were popular in the early to mid part of the 20th century).

Here are some "pre" photos.

 

[Shimon]

Sounds as if the use you plan to put it to would be just fine.

Thanks for the info!

 

[hudlow]

What a coincidence!

I was watching the "Planet Earth" series on Discovery Channel last night and they mentioned Monkey Puzzle trees. I'd never heard of them but they didn't show a good picture and I was still interested.

Now I'm getting educated, the next day, on Monkey Puzzle trees on a tractor forum.

But not just any ol' tractor forum.

Thanks for all the information.

hud