Tallowwood
Scientific Name:
Eucalyptus microcorys
Other Names and Species:
Australian tallow-wood
Origin:
Australia
Appearance:
The sapwood of tallowwood is whitish, while the heartwood is pale to deep yellowish-brown in color. The species has an interlocked grain and is coarse in texture.
Properties:
Tallowwood has a natural durability with regards to decay. The wood is greasy to the touch and is reported to have no odor. Tallowwood can take some time to dry properly but does have good stability characteristics once dry.
Janka Hardness: 1933
As a flooring option, tallowwood is a very hard and durable wood. It is nearly identical in hardness to merbau (less than one percent difference), is roughly two thirds harder than hard maple, about eighteen percent harder than wenge, and approaches santos mahogany’s ranking of 2200.
Workability:
Tallowwood cuts rather easily and cleanly, in part due to its greasy nature. This species sands easily and takes well to both finishing and staining.
Principal Uses:
Tallowwood’s uses include flooring, bridge construction, outdoor furniture, tool handles, wharfs, and general home construction.