Blue Gum Wood Uses, Properties, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus), also known as Tasmanian blue gum (Other Common Names: southern blue gum, Victorian blue gum, common eucalyptus), is a species of an evergreen tree that grows to about 100-180 feet tall, 3-5 feet trunk diameter.

This species grows fast and is widely cultivated on Australian plantations and other tropical plantations. The characteristics of blue gum in plantations tend to be different from those grown in forests.

Blue gum in forests is harder and denser, while in plantations, it’s softer and lighter.

The distribution of blue gum is in South Australia, Tasmania, and tropical plantations.

What is blue gum wood?

Blue gum is a golden yellow to brown or reddish-brown hardwood with straight interlocking grains that tend to be black.

The wood is grown in plantations and in forests, both of which tend to have different properties. Blue gum is considered moderately durable to rot.

But this is a wood that is susceptible to insect attack. It works quite well, has no characteristic odor, and can cause skin irritation.

This wood is commonly used for utility lumber, pulpwood, veneer, turned objects, pallets, flooring, and fenceposts, and there may be other uses.

The properties of blue gum wood

The wood is moderately durable to rot, and it’s pretty good. It might be good for everyday wood stuff use. However, this wood is susceptible to insect attack, so it seems unreliable in that regard.

Although some things can be a problem, this wood can be worked well with both hand tools and machines.

Blue gum is odorless, has a low natural luster, and is medium to coarse in texture. Be careful with skin irritation, but it seems to be okay, as severe reactions are rare.

Blue gum wood advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Mid-price: Blue gum prices are in the medium range. Looks like it’s pretty decent for this wood, although we think it’s cheap.

But the moderate price is still pretty good, especially for personal use. It’s better to buy it directly, not via the internet.

So that you can freely choose the appearance of the blue gum you want, you can also select for figured burls and boards, although they tend to be more expensive.

However, the wood that you get seems to be worth the price offered.

Pretty good when worked: It’s a wood that does quite well when machined and hand tools, although some things can be problematic.

For example, there are frequent tears in boards with interlocking grains during surface operations.

However, this wood still glues and finishes nicely. It seems like a good wood to practice skills, especially for those who are still learning.

Because maybe not many problems are faced while working it. Although basswood is best for beginners, blue gum might be an alternative.

Perhaps you also want to try it for yourself.

Durability: It may not be very durable wood against decay, but it’s still good Because blue gum is considered to have moderately good resistance to it.

Therefore, you don’t have to worry that the blue gum used will rot shortly. So, it’s pretty good for wooden items that need resistance to rot.

However, other problems may be susceptible to insect attack, and This is quite a significant problem. The bugs will probably eat your blue gum wood and build a nest there.

Disadvantages

Susceptible to insect attack: Blue gum is quite durable in resistance to rot. But that doesn’t make it durable enough for insects either.

Because of the information we get, blue gum is susceptible to insect attacks, and this is a drawback that must be considered.

Because some wooden items may not be damaged by rot but from being eaten by insects. For this reason, you should take precautions against this.

You can search for the method on the internet, or you can directly ask someone who is an expert in wood.

Blue gum wood for utility lumber

Generally, blue gum is considered a utility wood. Its good availability is perfect for that. This wood seems to be versatile in several fields.

The price that is in the middle range is also quite reasonable to buy in large enough quantities.

However, we think that you should first determine the purpose of use so that it can be adjusted to the quantity purchased.

We think this wood is unsuitable for furniture, but you can try it yourself because it might be ideal for some furniture.

Blue gum wood for pallets

You can use blue gum for wooden pallets. Wooden pallets are wooden frame structures and are commonly used as crates or pedestals for lifting goods.

Pallets are usually made from hardwood, and it seems blue gum is also commonly used for that. Although we think the price is in the middle range is not suitable for it.

But our assumption was broken by the information we got. So, we thought to include it here as a reference for you in using blue gum wood.

Blue gum wood for paper (pulpwood)

Another use of blue gum is for pulpwood. Pulpwood is a material that will later become paper. Not all wood qualifies for this.

Because certain woods may produce lousy paper, but it looks like blue gum qualifies for pulpwood. Usually, this is not an activity carried out by individuals but by the company.

Because of that, it doesn’t seem like we have much information to share in this regard. So please look for more information in the sources that provide it.

Blue gum wood for fence posts

One of the pages on wood-database.com mentions that one of the common uses of blue gum is fenceposts. This hardwood seems to be good enough for that.

But earlier, I explained that blue gum is susceptible to insect attack. So, here is a contradiction. Outdoor use tends to be more susceptible to insect attacks than indoor use.

For this reason, we recommend using pine or cedar instead, Because both types of wood are commonly used for fenceposts. But blue gum also seems like you can use it as an alternative.

Blue gum wood for flooring

This wood is indeed quite good for flooring. The appearance is quite good, and it’s quite beautiful if it’s used as a floor. Blue gum is also hardwood, and it has properties that support it.

Its resistance to decay is also quite durable. That’s why this wood is commonly used for that. But the problem may be about its resistance to insects Unless it’s not directly above the ground.

Because if it’s stored directly on the hold, maybe it will be great food for termites.

Blue gum wood for veneer

If you need veneers to coat furniture, doors, or something else, you can try using blue gum veneers.

Instead of making it yourself, it’s better to buy a finished product. That is to minimize mistakes that might cause failure during the work process.

Although this wood doesn’t have the unique grain figured like some exotic woods, it does seem to have good properties when used as a veneer.

Blue gum wood for turned objects

These are the last common uses of blue gum that we mention here. Many kinds of wood are used to make turned objects, including blue gum.

Although this wood doesn’t have an exotic look, it’s quite good for it. Maybe you can make some bowls, wooden cups, or other items for decoration.

It seems pretty good, but we think it’s not ideal for sale.

Conclusion

Blue gum is a good wood in several ways. It may not look as appealing as some exotic hardwoods, but it’s pretty useful for many things.

This wood is susceptible to insect attack, and that seems like a pretty significant problem. But fortunately quite durable against decay.

In the process, it seems quite easily worked. Use this wood for turned objects, utility lumber, fenceposts, and others.