Arbutus (Madrone?)

[bigsteel15]

Any of you guys in the northwest or elsewhere ever use this wood?
My BIL has a big load of it and I'm wondering if it's worth getting any for small projects.

I posted this on Canadian forum and got a positive response so thought I would see what other experience there is.

[HarmsWay]

I live in the Canadian heart of arbutus country. Arbutus is a very beautify wood but pretty difficult to work with. It twists and checks seemingly unpredictably all over the place so it depends what you mean by small projects. If you mean little boxes, then by all all means. If you mean, small pieces of furniture then prepare for a bit of extra work. What state is your BILs arbutus in? From my experience, it needs to be rough cut fairly green, stickered and slowly air dried - of course only if you need bigger straight pieces. A workmate has had moderate success building furniture with it but it took a lot of wood. Definitely my favourite local tree. Be sure to post pics when you've got something built!

[bigsteel15]

I live in the Canadian heart of arbutus country.
What state is your BILs arbutus in?

He lives in Nanoose Bay.
Apparently got a large dumpster full for about $300.
He intends to use for firewood. He's told me in the past that it is some of the best firewood there is for heating.
I need to decide if the trip south to salvage some is worth it or not.
I suppose green/dry state of it will be a determining factor as well as size of pieces.
You must be closer to the Mallahat are you?

[HarmsWay]

Yes, it makes good firewood too. You just have to remember to buck & split when it's green (much more difficult later) and give it a couple of years to season. At that point it burns like coal - although I have no idea what its heat output is like compared to other woods. I think the developer removed all the arbutus in on our current property before the housing went in the 80's. Our last place had probably a dozen nice arbutus bigger than a foot at the base and one beauty in front that was more like 4 foot at the base. It was about 40 feet tall with a really good lean to it. We always said if it fell it would go right through the house without even slowing down. That place was directly across the inlet from the Malahat. We're on the other side the peninsula now. Still lots of arbutus - just not in our yard unfortunately.

If the wood is in a dumpster, then it's already cut up so no real hurry. Just tell him to save you a few pieces.

[bigsteel15]

If the wood is in a dumpster, then it's already cut up so no real hurry. Just tell him to save you a few pieces.

Think I should get him to cut and sticker it for me?

[HarmsWay]

If it's already in small pieces I would just let it continue drying that way. Just get a few manageble-sized pieces later, bandsaw it and make some nice boxes.

[ExYankee]

One thing Madrone wonderful for is walking sticks. Find an apropriate thick branch and peel off all the bark except for 8-10 " where your hand will go.I used some linseed oil and the bark felt just like thin leather. and let it dry it will be all but indestrucatble when it hardens. I used some linseed oil and the bark felt just like thin leather.