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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
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    Australia
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    7

    Default Where to buy Obeche slab around Sydney

    Hi all,

    New to the forum, would appreciate some help find this wood, African Obeche. Trying to make a table tennis bat, which usually made of 5 or 7 ply wood. African Obeche is mostly used for the center core ply (3-4mm) for its good balance between weight, hardness, and bending strength. Went to few wood shops around south east Sydney area with no luck. Trend timbers in Mulgrave only got few short pieces left. Does anyone know where I can found it around Sydney (or in Australia). Need to be at least 17cm wide and quatersawn.

    Thanks for the help.

    P.S. I am also looking for a wood called Paulownia/Kiri, wondering where I can find it as well.

    Cheers,

    Don

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    This mob has a wide range of exotics. Not real cheap however.
    http://www.trendtimbers.com.au/compl...mber-list.html

    Regards
    John

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Thanks John, went there over the weekend, they do have many exotic woods, but unfortunately only a few short pieces of Obeche left which are not wide enough for my bat. Still thanks for the reply.

    Don

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    66
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    10,766

    Default

    You'd be better off finding out the properties you need then finding another timber from Aus that matches them. There are so many timbers in Aus that would suit your needs at a far lower price. You could even make up your own plywood blank since the bats are relatively small
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    Don,
    Sorry should have read the whole post first.
    As dai sensei says consider some of the local timbers. Spotted gum springs to mind. Heavy and with a bit of spring. I have made archery bows from it. There are a few others that should fit the bill also. A bit of reading to get you started.
    https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/forestry.../grey-ironbark

    Regards
    John

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Thanks for the reply. The only wood I found could be a potential match of Obeche is Jelutong, Jelutong doesn't bend well which could be a problem table tennis bat. Most Aus wood species are too hard for the purpose. Would like to hear other suggestions. I have obtained a good piece of Jelutong, will try it out. And yes, I am making my own plywood blank.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Perth W.A
    Posts
    720

    Default

    I suspect there may be a few native timbers suitable for the core, you could experiment with a few and see what works.

    Why particularly does it need to bend, isnt the bat flat ?


    Quote Originally Posted by BrightOrange View Post
    Thanks for the reply. The only wood I found could be a potential match of Obeche is Jelutong, Jelutong doesn't bend well which could be a problem table tennis bat. Most Aus wood species are too hard for the purpose. Would like to hear other suggestions. I have obtained a good piece of Jelutong, will try it out. And yes, I am making my own plywood blank.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    Don,
    Sorry should have read the whole post first.
    As dai sensei says consider some of the local timbers. Spotted gum springs to mind. Heavy and with a bit of spring. I have made archery bows from it. There are a few others that should fit the bill also. A bit of reading to get you started.
    https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/forestry.../grey-ironbark

    Regards
    John
    Thanks John

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Alexandra Vic
    Age
    69
    Posts
    2,810

    Default

    Obeche used to be used as a stronger alternative to balsa in model plane kits. The material used was veneers about 0.7 mm thick. It was often used as a sheeting for hot wire cut foam wings because it had superior impact resistance to sheet balsa of similar weight. Some kits also used obeche plywood for high strength areas as it was a lot lighter than similar strength birch aircraft ply. Kits that used obeche in either fashion tended to be of Japanese or European manufacture, never seen it used in a local kit or an American one. There is most likely other uses for the timber, but I cannot suggest possible sources.

    Paulownia is another very light timber and a forum member (Whitewood) operates a plantation and either mills his logs or has them milled for him. He has previously offered to cut to size for members.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mark david View Post
    I suspect there may be a few native timbers suitable for the core, you could experiment with a few and see what works.

    Why particularly does it need to bend, isnt the bat flat ?
    Thanks for the reply Mark.

    When the ball hits the bat at a high velocity, the bat actually bends backward a little, then springs forward to release the energy. The right amount bending and springing is the key to a good bat. Too much bending (a flex bat), the ball flies higher arc at slower speed, but decelerates slower. Too little bending (a stiff bat), the ball flies lower arc at faster speed, but decelerates faster. And certainly, the weight is also important, with a average bat weights around 90 grams. So the choice for the center core, which is the thickest layer, needs to be light weight, good bending strength, and right amount of stiffness. Most bats round the world uses Obeche as center core, for its weight to strength ratio. A bow wood could be a good choice, but they usually heavier. I could make a thinner core with bow wood, but the bat might generate too much vibration. I guess with Obeche not readily available in Australia, I just have to experiment with other wood.

    Cheers,

    Don

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by malb View Post
    Obeche used to be used as a stronger alternative to balsa in model plane kits. The material used was veneers about 0.7 mm thick. It was often used as a sheeting for hot wire cut foam wings because it had superior impact resistance to sheet balsa of similar weight. Some kits also used obeche plywood for high strength areas as it was a lot lighter than similar strength birch aircraft ply. Kits that used obeche in either fashion tended to be of Japanese or European manufacture, never seen it used in a local kit or an American one. There is most likely other uses for the timber, but I cannot suggest possible sources.

    Paulownia is another very light timber and a forum member (Whitewood) operates a plantation and either mills his logs or has them milled for him. He has previously offered to cut to size for members.
    Thanks for the information

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Perth W.A
    Posts
    720

    Default

    Thanks for the clarification, was wondering about that.





    Quote Originally Posted by BrightOrange View Post
    Thanks for the reply Mark.

    When the ball hits the bat at a high velocity, the bat actually bends backward a little, then springs forward to release the energy. The right amount bending and springing is the key to a good bat. Too much bending (a flex bat), the ball flies higher arc at slower speed, but decelerates slower. Too little bending (a stiff bat), the ball flies lower arc at faster speed, but decelerates faster. And certainly, the weight is also important, with a average bat weights around 90 grams. So the choice for the center core, which is the thickest layer, needs to be light weight, good bending strength, and right amount of stiffness. Most bats round the world uses Obeche as center core, for its weight to strength ratio. A bow wood could be a good choice, but they usually heavier. I could make a thinner core with bow wood, but the bat might generate too much vibration. I guess with Obeche not readily available in Australia, I just have to experiment with other wood.

    Cheers,

    Don

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