Camphor Laurel Timber – Premium Australian Wood for Fine Furniture & Woodworking

Overview

Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) offers unique timber despite its invasive status in Australia. This evergreen tree arrived in Australia in 1822 as an ornamental species. Today, woodworkers harvest it from cleared invasive stands. As a result, using this timber supports environmental management efforts. Additionally, it provides distinctive grain patterns and natural oils that create beautiful finished pieces.

Colour and Appearance

The heartwood displays pale yellow to light brown tones with subtle green highlights. Over time, the colour deepens to warm golden brown. Meanwhile, the sapwood appears creamy white, clearly distinct from the heartwood. The timber features a fine, even texture with straight to slightly interlocked grain. Furthermore, it shows attractive figure patterns on quarter-sawn surfaces. Natural oil content gives the wood a subtle lustre and distinctive camphor fragrance when worked.

Properties and Performance

Camphor Laurel offers moderate density at approximately 550 kg/m³ when seasoned. It provides good strength properties with excellent dimensional stability once dried. The timber resists warping and splitting well. Moreover, its natural oils give it moderate durability against insects and decay. However, these same oils can interfere with some finishes. Therefore, proper preparation ensures the best results. The wood seasons relatively easily with minimal checking or distortion.

Perfect Applications

Camphor Laurel works excellently for various projects:

• Fine furniture and custom cabinetmaking

• Decorative bowls and turned objects

• Interior panelling and feature walls

• Outdoor furniture with proper treatment

• Carving projects and sculptural work

• Musical instruments utilising its acoustic properties

• Specialty items like jewellery boxes

Designers particularly favour it for projects where the natural camphor scent adds character. Consequently, it creates memorable pieces with distinctive appeal.

Working Characteristics

Camphor Laurel machines beautifully with sharp tools. It cuts cleanly and holds fine detail well. The wood turns excellently on the lathe, producing smooth surfaces with minimal effort. However, the natural oils can clog sandpaper, so frequent changes help maintain efficiency. It glues successfully after proper surface preparation with solvents. Additionally, it accepts stains and finishes well once sealed properly. The distinctive camphor aroma remains pleasant during working but requires good ventilation. Overall, it responds predictably to most woodworking techniques.

Quality You Can Trust

Hand-selected for quality and reliability, Camphor Laurel offers excellent value for your woodworking projects. Now available for online ordering.

If you require any further information regarding this species, sizing, availability or more, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly and our staff will be happy to help.

Contact:
Drop by our showroom at 15 Railway Road North, Mulgrave, NSW, 2756 today.
Please inquire further for more information regarding supply, sizing and pricing via our contact email: sales@trendtimbers.com.au
See our Online Range by clicking the link below:
https://trendtimbers.com.au/product-category/timber/