Thread: Southern Silky Oak & Other Matters

Try Mapleman. https://www.woodworkforums.com/f222/q...-slabs-123584/




Cheers


Steve

Originally Posted by Howard Combes

This is my first post on the Woodworker's Forum, although I have had occasion to be directed to it via internet enquiries on timber and equipment etc.
I have been a hobby woodworker for some years and have quite a bit of equipment, and my latest project is a large pedestal table 2.4m round. To make this I need four flitches of suitable timber like Southern Silky Oak, Cedar or similar. These are for the legs and will be dressed to 1.3 x 400mm x 300mm. Does anyone know where I might source these sizes of timber, preferably cut on the quarter.
On another matter I have a Prosaw panel saw and want to upgrade to something more accurate, can anyone recommend a make please.
I live in the Peachester Qld area and would be interested in corresponding with another woodworker in the area.

I have lots of silky, but nothing in that size. I could cut some for you if you're prepared to wait for the next 5 years for it to dry...

Exador

I am interested in your comment re 5 years to dry the Silky Oak. My next door neighbour cut down about 5 trees and I had several logs slabbed at the local mill, 40mm thick. I also slabbed some with my chainsaw. I have found that after about 12 to 18 months I was able to use this timber and some six months after making things like a table, small desk etc there is no shrinkage.
I also found that the Silky Oak is easy to work and comes up nicely with Orange Oil and Canuba wax. I note that several people posting on the forum have a low opinion of Southern Silky Oak.
Thanks for the offer

He was making the point that 12" x 16" flitches may take a fair time to dry, they'd certainly be thick legs
....or did you mean 30mm x 40mm legs???
Some people also love s silky and its quarter sawn gain and pink colour.
Regards
Greg

Quarter sawing Silky is the way to go if you want the flashy grain.

Some people consider SSO abit ordinary, but this usually has to do with the way it is cut. Whatever way it's cut SSo is a very workable timbers a stable and very workable timber.

MAny other Grevillias display wonderful Grain too. It's just that many are so small as to not be worth the bother, except for small items and turning.

The table I intend making will have a central pedestal with four legs radiating from it. They will be quite bulky as the top will be 2.4m round. I am modelling it on the Old Cabinet Table in the Melbourne Parliament house, built from all Victorian timber in 1870, and which has a diameter of 3.0m.

I can obtain Spanish Cedar in the dimensions required, and I ask if anyone has an opinion on this timber as I have not seen or used it previously. I can also obtain Hoop Pine in the required dimensions.

Does anybody have an opinion on appropriate Panel Saws, I intend upgrading from my Prosaw in May at the Brisbane show, I would appreciate opinions.

Hi Howard,
SSO is a relatively fast-drying species, but still takes 6-9 months per inch of thickness if air drying. While it's a very stable timber, it can be prone to "case-hardening" in thick sections, which causes degrade if kiln-dried, so I prefer to air dry the stuff.

If using SSO, (or most other species), I'd be inclined to laminate to produce such thick stock. This will have 2 advantages: firstly it will make a stronger, more stable piece and in the case of SSO, it will enable you to have QS ray figure on all faces, whereas using solid stock in such a large section means you'll likely only get proper ray fleck on one face. It'll also allow you to purchase properly dry timber, since it's unlikely that such a large section will be available dry except as a recycled product.

Spanish cedar can be OK, with good colour, but I'm not sure of the stability of the stuff. If it's properly dry it should be fine. I believe Mapleman has been cutting some plantation Spanish cedar of late, perhaps he can tell you more about it. I'd be surprised if a section that size is properly dry, meaning it is likely to move when dressed or machined.