Catalpa tree wood good for?

[Bob McCarty]

The heritage farm where I volunteer will be cutting down about a dozen mature (but dead) Catalpa trees. They are all probably about 60-75 feet tall and 15- 18 inches in diameter. Anyone know if the wood is good for furniture, turning, or just firewood if that? These are about 90-100 years old.

Thanks, Bob

[Redman]

[TJ]

I don't know about the wood but the worms are very good fish bait.

[Into Tractors]

It's really a good wood for turning. My property is lined with the tress and the wood grain looks a lot like poplar. It actually reminds me a lot like balsa wood, but you got be careful that you a get a pretty straight section with no knots if you are trying to turn it. The grain around the knots gets really nasty and the grain actually seems to twist.

I use it as firewood as well, mainly to get the fire going as it doesn't burn as hot as oak and such, but it really starts quick.

[VinceD]

I think Mike & Redman "hit the nail on the head". Anything you can build with pine you should be able to build using Catalpa wood. On the plus side, it does not expand and contract very much - very stable. Good luck and enjoy.

[Bigschuss]

If I remember correctly, like black locust, catalpa is very rot resistant and thus very good for fenceposts. There is an author by the name of Gene Logsdon who writes about catalpa and how many farmers in the midwest would always plant catalpa for a source of fenceposts.

[Festus]

Bob,
I make a lot of outdoor furniture with catalpa. Swings, chairs, and tables that are out in the weather all hold up extremely well. It machines well and will darken to a very pretty color over time. Like all wood, if left untreated, moisture will raise the grain and cause a rough feeling but a little sandpaper will smooth it right up. I love the stuff!

Festus

[Bob McCarty]

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions. I just found out that the grove was originally planted to supply fence posts. This remaining part of the grove was never harvested. It is said to be the largest Catalpa grove in Colorado (it may be the only one!). I'm going to try and locate some carvers and wood workers and try and keep it from all being wasted, wish it had been a hardwood.

Bob

[BigBill]

Burn the scrap, i burn everything and even willow too. I had 7 cords of willow given to me for free. I burn willow at night after 12 because it smells like the swamp is burning. Even pine but i let it sit for a few years to dryout good then i mix it up with hardwood in a hot fire so the sap is burned up too. I been burning wood since 79 to heat my house and never had a chimney fire yet but i do use the chimney brushes often too.

Keep the good wood for wood working and burn the rest.......

[George Willer]

I'm going to try and locate some carvers and wood workers and try and keep it from all being wasted, wish it had been a hardwood.

Bob

Bob,

I'm sure you already know this, but for others: Catalpa IS a hardwood, along with willow, basswood (or linden), poplar, and even balsa. Softwood includes yellow pine, douglas fir, and maybe even bristlecone pine.

[Into Tractors]

Glad to hear that some others think the wood is decent. In this part of Ohio, they consider it to be a "Nuisance" type tree. I've even heard of places that have them cut down just because of the state has it listed as such. Not only is it FREE firewood for me, they provide shade and such along my driveway. One thing for sure, they grow quick and are hard to kill. If you cut one down and don't get the stump, it will continue to grow and sprout more shoots. Apparently the root system is a little weak though. A few years ago I had about 7 of them topple over in a bad wind storm. Prior to that it had rained a lot, and the ground was soaked with water. The winds were so strong, the tree's were literally pushed over and roots and all came with them. Took two days just to get 3 of them off my drvieway as they were taller than 60' each.