Stringybark, Red

Red stringybark is a medium-sized hardwood species native to southeast Australia. It features pale red or pinkish-brown heartwood, with cream-coloured sapwood approximately 50 millimetres wide. Red stringybark timber is close-textured. Interlocking of its grain often produces an attractive fiddleback figure.

Uses of this moderately durable timber range from light construction (fencing, framing, weatherboards, posts, poles) to engineering (sleepers, utility pole cross-arms, bridge and wharf construction). Red stringybark has also found favour as a cabinet timber in the manufacture of furniture and bench tops.

The timber of this species machines, routs, saws and sands well. It occasionally exhibits some natural feature and surface cracking. It is amenable to the use of standard fastenings and fittings. Due to the timber’s natural density, polyurethane glues are best for bonding red stringybark, The timber accepts most standard coatings, and responds particularly well to oil-based finishes.

Red stringybark timber products are not very common and supplies are usually limited.