Manzanita and the Many Uses for its Unique Wood and Branches
Manzanita trees may only grow into small trees but they still have many uses. Manzanita wood is beautiful and grows into all kinds of twisted shapes. Because of its size and unusual shapes, these trees are not suitable for making lumber, but this unusual wood is still prized by many.
Hobbyists and craftsmen love manzanita wood for its beautiful colors and grains. The tight grain is full of character and intricate color patterns. Manzanita burl wood is some of the most sought out of this wood for its curly grain patterns.
Manzanita branches are commonly the wood of choice for bird perches and toys. The wood is non toxic to exotic birds and withstands the wear of constant chewing by parrots and other chewing birds. The shape of the branches are varied, which gives the birds a variety of surfaces to exercise their feet and find the spot that is most comfortable to them.
Being non toxic and low in tannin, manzanita is growing in popularity for aquarium wood. The wood will sink after it becomes saturated and will resist rot for many years or decades. The low tanning levels also make it ideal for being submerged in water. Tannin will leach out of wood and discolor the water and can even affect the PH levels. Manzanita will leach some tannin at first but much less than most types of wood. After soaking the manzanita for a few weeks most of the leaching will stop.
Manzanita also makes excellent firewood, although care must be used since it burns very hot. The smoke has a nice flavor that can be used for grilling and smoking food. But again, use care when using this wood since it can quickly produce a lot of heat.
One of the most common uses for manzanita is to use its branches for floral displays and decorations. Manzanita is very popular for wedding trees and wedding table centerpieces. Manzanita branches are decorative with their unique shapes and are very strong so they are excellent for hanging decorations.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, November 24th, 2011 at 6:43 pm and is filed under Woodworking.
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