DeadHead Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 I have some very nice spalted magnolia lumber that I was wanting to use in a table top project. Is there any tips or things to watch for using this wood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 It's not really a common species used for furniture because it's an ornamental tree (small) and there's not much commercial availability (as in, none, that I'm aware of). So I'd just treat it like any other...make sure it's dried properly and start a hackin'. My guess is it's on the soft side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Magnolia works like walnut and as I recall is slightly harder? The problem is that you don't see many, if any, wide boles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadHead Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 I sawed it into 5/4 x 6,8 and 10" wide boards. They grow huge down here in south MS. I was hoping to build a coffee table. Not quite sure on what to do with it. It is beautiful wood. From milling it seems to be comparable to Poplar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Ah, southern magnolia...yeah they do get pretty big don't they? We have more of the ornamental varieties up here that tend to stay much smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 I have seen 100 ft magnolias, wide canopy ,tree was only 90 ft tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 No tips but would like to see a picture of the wood planed down if you get a chance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 11 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: No tips but would like to see a picture of the wood planed down if you get a chance. I agree. I had a mayhaw tree die and sliced the widest part and came up with the neatest small pieces for a box. Who would have thought it! As you get older, wood takes on a whole new meaning? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 +1 on the photo request! I have seen very few magnolias large enough to make lumber. I bet it is unique! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadHead Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 I will try to figure out how to post pics. I'm new and don't know what to do! Lol! I have also reclaimed a few Magnolia logs from the local rivers here and they are amazing. I will try to post some pics tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadHead Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 The two slabs laying side by side are the sinker and the box is not. A good friend of mine turns bowls and he is working on a 12" x6" bowl from the sinker log. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadHead Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Check out my website at http://lazykcustomsawing.wix.com/lazykcustomsawing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Very interesting grain in that stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Amazing wood, for the right project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 When the Magnolia in my dads yard was cut down I was amazed at the size of the dark heartwood. It was over 2/3 of the trunk's diameter . It was a deep chocolate color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadHead Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Would any of you decide against a table from this material? I've been milling lumber for quite some time but am a beginner at turning the raw product into finished goods " as you can see from the recipe box above".Looking for advice, open to any and all suggestions . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 All a matter of taste, DeadHead. IMO, those boards have great character, but it would be a challenge to use them in a tabletop without the term 'rustic' being applied. Some of the guys with more asian-influenced design experience (@Eric.?) might offer some suggestions on how to incorporate it into something more formal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Maybe if you used the magnolia for the center of the table and added 2 equal strips of a lighter wood down each side plus a lighter breadboard to give the appearance of a light frame around the magnolia? Use the lighter wood for the legs and magnolia for a center brace to bring some symmetry . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadHead Posted January 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Thanks for all the sugestions and pointers. I will keep this in mind when I plan out my build. I like the idea of the two contrasting wood colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 I've hear of sunken logs being salvaged and used for furniture, and some going for big money, the first thing that comes to my mind is how do you dry something that is complete water without splitting the hell out of the lumber? Seems like it would have to sit sealed for years, be cut and sealed, then sit again forever. I can't imagine a kiln could dry it slow enough to not make it brittle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 This ignores the biology. Trees are big straws. Sunken logs are not much wetter than live trees except for the outer bark if it is not raining. There is a lot beyond that I don't know but wonder. Do the sugars dissolve in the water and get carried away? Does this eliminate some crystalline formation in the drying process? There will still be time to air dry and then kiln, but it does not appear to be any longer than normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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