Thread: Dining Table - Suggestions on types of wood that have real character

New Guinea rosewood is one of my favorites from the region; it's golden to red in colour and has great figure that really catches the light nicely. It also smells great and is easy to work with which is a nice bonus. Takes a fantastic shine as well when polished

So you don't like the NZ timbers? NZ Kauri can have some great figure, especially if you get some with the spotted Kauri figure - rare but beautiful. There are some other stunning NZ timbers too.

Redgum is the most amazing wood. It'll develop character in any maker AND has breathtaking figure ... like deep red snakeskin.

If you'd like to accent it with a light material, Queensland Silky Oak is gorgeous when used well. To explain: It has so much fine figure it can overwhelm a piece if it's made completely from it.

Fijian Mahogany comes to mind.

Peter

Some Tasmanian Myrtle has beautiful grain. It's a lighter coloured timber than some mentioned, and for my money looks better than some of the heavier timbers.

I have a Dining table in West Australian Marri and get a lot of comments on it.
I didn't make it as you can tell, i haven't got the gear or the back for this big stuff.

Hi and welcome,

I think it's difficult to go past Tassie timbers and in particular, Blackwood. It's reasonably priced, is a managed resource and can show some beautiful figure. even without the figure, the grain shows beautiful colour. Reds, browns, black, sometimes very dark blues. And it's easy to work and takes a finish well.

Mmmm. It seems to me that the OP has asked a question that will mostly get answers they don't want: i.e. what are our favourite timbers. My first answer was that it might be worthwhile looking closer to home. BUT, it really depends on personal preference doesn't it. I love Australian cedar, Australian Blackwood, Huon Pine, Tas Myrtle etc. But, perhaps the OP could define the colour/hardness range they prefer and then more targeted suggestions could be made?

Originally Posted by newaqua

Hi Everyone
New project for the New Year (have been thinking about it for a while, but it seems a good as any time now to start).
I am looking at building a fairly large dining table. The exact design of which I am not sure of yet. I am however looking at which type of wood I use.

I am looking for

• Something that has a lot of character to it.
• Something that has some good grain or good look to it.
• Something that is a little different, that is a little unusual or rare but has that amazing look to it.
• Preferably a hardwood for durability (I am not worried in anyway about the weight of the wood or the end product).
• Being from New Zealand, I would like to keep it to woods from the Australasia/Oceania region.

I have built a lot out of heart Jarrah and Iron Bark before which I love, but thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone had any suggestions.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Mike

My choice would be reclaimed wood

Got a colour preference?

Theres plenty of species that would be suitable given your criteria: even the blandest get the odd tree that throws up something special. Narrowing it down a little will help cut down a huge list a bit. Even light or dark helps. So does formal or informal.

That said , I like your attitude. Putting the beauty of the wood first is something not enough people do, and going for unusual is even better. Too many people get stuck on name recognition, so you see the same old stuff over and over based on availability in the marketplace. A lot of the minor species aren't minor because of the inherent workability or appearance of the wood - they're minor because they aren't available in quantities sufficient to drive a market trend, and because of that there's no market demand, and because of that no-one knows what they are missing out on.

If you want local NZ species, I got a mate at Nelson who might be worth a yarn to.

Logs 2 Lumber

Justin is a nice guy, good sawmiller, and got the toys required to get a job out on time.

Maccracarpa

NZ timber: Tawa or Black Maire, if you can get it. Puriri can be very nice, but also can be very bland. Pohutukawa is a bit like Unobtanium, sadly.
Northland heart Rimu is just gobsmackingly attractive, but damn poisonous to work with. Much more highly featured than S.I. Rimu.
Aus timber: I like Tassie Blackwood, but I've also built a load of furniture out of saligna and pilularis - both very attractive.

Me, I would not recommend Kauri for a dining table. You put a mug down too hard and you have a dent. It's too soft. Same goes for Totara.

Originally Posted by P.W.H.

NZ timber: Tawa or Black Maire, if you can get it. Puriri can be very nice, but also can be very bland. Pohutukawa is a bit like Unobtanium, sadly.
Northland heart Rimu is just gobsmackingly attractive, but damn poisonous to work with. Much more highly featured than S.I. Rimu.
Aus timber: I like Tassie Blackwood, but I've also built a load of furniture out of saligna and pilularis - both very attractive.

Me, I would not recommend Kauri for a dining table. You put a mug down too hard and you have a dent. It's too soft. Same goes for Totara.

Had to go google most of them: then got sidetracked looking at other NZ native species you didnt mention that I'd never heard of. Decided I liked Matai and Puriri, amoungst others. Cool stuff - thank you for the learning experience, I can see I'm going to have to do some horse trading into NZ now.

Guess its like the rainforest timbers of Far North Queensland... whole lot of species that most have never even heard of, much less seen... and most of them pretty closly related to Unobtanium now as well.

Anyho... seeing as this has turned into giving our favourite local woods a bit of a plug...

Northern Silky (Cardwellia)
Satin Silky Oak (Carnavonia)
Black Bean
New Guinea Red Wattle
Cairns Pencil Cedar
Queensland Black Walnut *swoon*
Silkwood Maple, Queensland Maple, Claudie River Scented Maple, Silver Silkwood... Hell, anything that starts with Flindersia
Tarzali Silkwood
Rose Butternut
Silver Quandong
And most of the euc's will give good figure on the quarter but my favourite would be Forest Red Gum.
Also loving on the quartercut Turpentine we've been sawing for the last couple of years. Bit hard to work but it sure is something special to look at.

IMG_1742.jpgIMG_20161226_102819.jpg

Coffee table in Satin Silky Oak with Northern Silky Oak frame by a mate of mine.
Grinders in Red Wattle by forumite Old Croc ( he keeps telling me they're out of balance... my wife reckons thats as good as it gets. She cooks - she wins, argument settled)

Exotic means imported. Rare or hard to get hold of are a whole different kettle of fish