Thread: Buying timber in Adelaide

Try your local woodworking/woodturning club, they usually have some, plus provide lessons. Hopefully someone here can point you in the right direction.

Cheers

Hi Tony

Otto's timber sell exotic stuff, but they are a bit pricey, so you might want to wait until you have more experience before you start turning a $500 piece of ebony!

A couple of thoughts tho, if you know anyone with a fireplace, they would probably have some chunky stuff lying around that you could take to practice your turning. Alternatively, quite often you see someone cutting down a few large limbs and they either leave them in their front yard or on the sidewalk. Most people would be more than happy to get rid of them if you ask. I did see a quite decent chunk of Spotted Gum lying on the sidewalk across the road from the 'Hillsview Nursing Home' in Aberfoyle Park.

Here is a link to the 'Western Woodworkers' website. They are located on South Rd St Mary's, a couple doors north of the big BP servo. They have an huge variety of tools and experience available for minimal cost. The shed is open each 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the month, and there is no break over Christmas/New Year. They are open this saturday. Driveway is next to the cemetery and green picket fence, large shed to rear right.

Western Woodworkers

Have a nice day

John

Originally Posted by switch62

Could anyone suggest places in Adelaide where I can buy wood slabs and/or pieces suitable for making bowls. I started pen making last year and I'm now thinking of going further. I've only got a small lathe (benchtop) with a 260 mm swing so I can only make small bowls, but I've got to start some where

At the moment I'm looking for a piece to make a lazy susan for mum this christmas. I'd really like a slice across a log so it has the bark and all. It only needs to be around 400mm diameter.

TonyO

Forgot to mention, I don't want the usual hardware store stuff. Or does that go without saying?

Thanks for the responses dai and john.

John, I don't think I'll ever be ready to turn $500 worth of ebony (at least my wallet won't)

You can't (or you can) imagine how I keep eyeing all the trees in the streets, especially the ones with burls. Also the large fresh logs that are left in the local parks, surley they wouldn't miss a foot lopped off the end.

I will go and have a look at Otto's Timber and see what prices are like. I will also go to Western Woodworkers tomorrow and have a look around.

Again thanks for the responses and advice.

TonyO

Down just outside Goolwa there is a place that sells slabs I think the Adelaide side of the tracks going into Goolwa, 3-4 Km out. there is a slab sign on the fence line a bit hard to see. My old man get most of his wood from there. And it all seems to be reasonably priced too.

Regards

Jerms, could you be a bit more specific? Is it on the Victor Harbour to Goolwa Rd or the Strathalbyn Rd? I appreciate the information but it is a bit of a trip to try and find the place


Thanks

TonyO

John, I went to Western Woodworkers on Saturday and met some of the people there. I'll be joining them in the new year. Thanks.

I might try contacting my the local councils and see if they will sell or give me pieces when they trim trees or remove fallen/dead trees.

TonyO

Originally Posted by switch62

John, I went to Western Woodworkers on Saturday and met some of the people there. I'll be joining them in the new year. Thanks.

I might try contacting my the local councils and see if they will sell or give me pieces when they trim trees or remove fallen/dead trees.

TonyO

Glad to hear. Might see you there next year. Try some of the tree arborist, maybe they can help...it's not like ur after a truck load of wood after all!

Hi Tony,

I am also looking for a place to buy wood in Adelaide, I have a similar size lathe to you and want to advance from Pens.

I have purchased wood previously from A1 Specialty Timbers in Hahndorf, they have a wide range but I am not sure if they have wood for bowls. The first time I went there I was able to call him and see what he had first, but this was just for a plank of rosewood.

Yesterday I found an Ebay seller who lives in Mt Compass - Georges bits of timber items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores! . He has some wood on his site and might be contactable in person? I have not had the chance to look yet.

Let me know if you find anything, I will do the same.

Cheers
Jarrad

This must be the place in Goolwa mentioned above - SA Tree Salvage. S. A. Tree Salvage :: Timber :: Species Avaliable

Cheers

Thanks for the help Jarrad.

I know about George as he is a member of IAP and often posts on that forum. I wasn't sure if he was the one that Jerms was refering to near Goolwa. George seems to sell mostly through ebay, but I could pm him on IAP and ask we can go direct.

I was hoping to find suppliers in the Adelaide metro but it looks like I will have to go country to get turning wood, unless I can get it from councils and arborists (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f14/go...do-now-163457/)

Still have to look at Otto's, hopefully this week.

TonyO

Just thinking, for slabs you could try the the 'weekend warehouse' (I think it's called). It's on the eastern side of main south rd at the corner of Seacombe Rd. they're open on Saturdays & Sundays. Otherwise the salvage yards (deyoungs, etc) quite often have some, but they're a bit hit & miss.

Me personally ......I would rather give deyoung a miss but if I had to hit em it would be right between the gonades.. scaralous money mongerels

Hi Tony,

I visited George on Saturday and ended with enough blanks for the next couple of months. He has a fair bit to choose from which he doesn't list on EBay. I just got the cheap light stuff to practice on.

Cheers

Originally Posted by switch62

Could anyone suggest places in Adelaide where I can buy wood slabs and/or pieces suitable for making bowls. I started pen making last year and I'm now thinking of going further. I've only got a small lathe (benchtop) with a 260 mm swing so I can only make small bowls, but I've got to start some where

At the moment I'm looking for a piece to make a lazy susan for mum this christmas. I'd really like a slice across a log so it has the bark and all. It only needs to be around 400mm diameter.

TonyO

Forgot to mention, I don't want the usual hardware store stuff. Or does that go without saying?

Hi Tony

I have bought some timber from a company called Woodcraft Supplies in Qld (07) 4129 4644 - they sell different timbers cut to size or slabs and send all around Austrlia.
I first came across them at the WWWS at Sydney as they are the people that also sell the Sandflee and Shelix cutters - they were very helpful

Trude