Thread: which window sash timber?

Hi Bob
if your house was in Sydney and authentic, the windows would be made from Australian Red Cedar -- at least mine are. I'm not sure if the same applies in Melbourne

I suggest that you might build the replacements from either Aust Cedar or NG Rosewood (but this can be a bit furry and difficult to finish)

I'd stay away from Radiata pine treated or not.

Good luck with replicating period profiles with conventional router cutters.
I'm yet to find any that match the profiles on my windows.
However, I'm told a custom ground carbide router cutter is not too expensive.

I've also been advised that attaching the panes with silicon adhesive, is possibly the worst decision you can make as water gets behind the silicon and into the wood leading to premature decay.

Hi Ian,
Thanks for your advice, I will follow up.

My window is not Aust red cedar although I have seen these.

The window has 6 lights, typically 3 smaller ones accross the top with coloured glass and 3 larger opening casement sashes below ..and these are fairly ordinary condition. The frame/sill is OK/repairable.

If I replace the 3 lower ones I may be able to fudge the profile and use a standard profile cutter?? I will check further.

I have previously set glass with linseed oil putty but these days I see glaziers squirting silicone everywhere. I take your warning!

Whatever I do I will probably need to do some resawing to match the imperial sizing of the upper sashes.

Cheers
Bob

Hi Bob,

My 1904 heritage listed house has some leadlight casement windows with sashes made from quartersawn oregon.

I searched everywhere for standard router profiles for windows and was surprised that they don't appear to be sold. The best I could do was a disinterested joiner who agreed to process my timber on his spindle cutter "sometime after Christmas".

Mick

You could consider Paulownia. Its like WRC but lighter in both colour and weight. There is a firm at Mordiallic using it for shutters and has had some in the open for a number of years. It is recognised overseas as a suitable timber. It is easy to work with.

John

you could also try this place for quarter sawn canadian oregon Specialists in Canadian Oregon I have found them to be very helpful and their oregon (unlike the NZ) grows slowly in a cold climate and the growth rings are very tight just explain what you need it for

Since the windows are going to be painted in any case, then the use of a straight grained easy to work timber would be my choice.
I would go for Meranti - often called Pacific Maple.
It is widely available and takes and holds a painted finish well. It is easier to work than oregon and less prone to splintering and is harder than western red cedar.
Cheers
SG

Hi. I'm curious as to what people's objections are to using treated pine for this job?

I'm assuming here that we are talking about treated pine that is suitably dry, knot free and appropriate precautions are taken when machining.

cheers
Arron

Originally Posted by Arron

Hi. I'm curious as to what people's objections are to using treated pine for this job?

I'm assuming here that we are talking about treated pine that is suitably dry, knot free and appropriate precautions are taken when machining.

cheers
Arron

The only reservation that I have about treated pine is that in external applications and where exposed to sunlight it does not take paint well. It tends to shed it badly when outside and exposed to the elements.
Cheers
SG

As said above Meranti there are hundreds of thousads of windows made from Meranti in homes all over Australia

Thanks all, for your advice /opinions
Much appreciated.
Will chase up some suppliers

Cheers, Bob

Why are you ruling out KD and WRC since you seem to be considering everything else?
TM

Out here in western Queensland, silky oak is often used for window frames.

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

I would go for Meranti - often called Pacific Maple.

I would use just about anything else but Meranti. Very poor for external joinery in my opinion.

My preference would be just about anything that boat builders use. Spotted Gum, Oregon (aka Douglas Fir) etc.

Originally Posted by China

As said above Meranti there are hundreds of thousads of windows made from Meranti in homes all over Australia

That's why I don't recommend it. I've seen what happens to it.