Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Gosford
    Posts
    15

    Default Timber suggestions for hand tool user

    Folks,

    This is my first post however I have been stalking on here for some time. Its a great place to try and pick up some knowledge.

    Anyway I have only recently started woodworking and at this stage only have hand tools, saws, planes, and chisels etc... This is mainly due to space limitations. I have been using mostly Pine or Meranti (Bunnings or hardware) so far and was after some suggestions for other timber species.

    In general I have been making mostly things for the workshop, i.e. shooting boards, boxes and storage, and trying to use traditional joints before I brave some furniture etc... What would be suitable and fairly available Australian species that are good for hand tool only woodworker.

    I have noticed in the US they seem to use a lot of Cherry or Maple and these seem to be softer hardwood. Do we have any similar wood that you guys can suggest?

    I reside near Gosford on the Central Coast so any advice regarding good suppliers would be helpful.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    1,857

    Default

    This is a bit of a tough question to answer I think. I feel like I could make a lot of suggestions based on the kind of project you want to do, but to limit it based on tool type...

    For example, Red Cedar, New Guinea Rosewood, most Eucalypts, Hoop Pine, and most Tasmanian stuff is great for furniture because they tend to be workable woods with manageable grains in large trees.

    But if you want to do a lot of carving/shaping, or turning, I would suggest the outback timbers from scrubbier trees like Gidgee, the SheOaks, Mulgas, Budgeroo, any kind of Burl, etc. Along with all of the stuff I suggested for furniture!

    There are so many hand tools! The super hard woods work phenomenally with rasps and files, but I wouldn't be too excited about a joinery project in Gidgee or Buloke (not that you'd ever find it in those sizes).

    Assuming you're talking about making furniture, since you indicated that's the direction in which you want to head, I say have a think about the woods I mentioned in my second paragraph there. Red Cedar and NG Rosewood are pretty fantastic. Tasmanian Blackwood is another great one. Tasmanian Oak/Victorian Ash can be really nice or kind of meh. Jarrah... Huon Pine... King Billy Pine... Tassie Myrtle... So many good ones. That's one thing that I love about Australian Timbers. I keep learning about new ones to acquire and build stuff from.

    I suggest finding some timber dealers who are local to your area, start small, build your skills, and just see what works for you. Cherry and Maple, like you mentioned, are world class, but I think they pale in comparison to some of the stuff here (and I'm American ).

    Good luck,
    Luke

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Like Luke said this is a tough question.

    However, one advantage of graduating to the harder Aust woods is that it will lead you to learn to really sharpen your tools.

    Jarrah may be too big a jump first off, but be aware a lot of the Tassie Oak that is available is plantation grown with pretty coarse grain

    when building stuff for your workshop, perhaps try to get some construction grade north coast hardwood.
    It shouldn't be too hard, it's reasonably priced and most of it works relatively well with very sharp tools.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Imbil
    Posts
    1,167

    Default

    Hi stuP,
    I think one of the best ways to source timber in any area is through personal contact's and the best way to start to find these is through a local woodworking club once you find like minded people you will find out about what is available in you're area there are so many great timbers available in Australia. One contact will lead you to many others and soon you will know what is available in you're area to get started, from there you will gain experience to decide what works for the job at hand. As stated no matter weather hand tools or power they need to be sharp and good condition. Again a club is a great way to get experience and advise on all aspects of woodwork most members are more than willing to share knowledge and skills.
    Regards Rod.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Somerset Region, Qld, AU.
    Age
    66
    Posts
    602

    Default

    StuP,

    Although many people these days turn their nose up at the thought of using pine for furniture construction, Native Australian pines have a long history of being used by early Australian furniture makers because it was easy to work by hand, and because it was readily available. If you're in Sydney at some stage, have a look at the collections of late 1700's and early to mid 1800's Australian made furniture at the Powerhouse Museum and at the Museum of Sydney. Much of the furniture for Mr & Mrs Average was built using native pines; around Sydney I believe it was often NSW Kauri Pine. In the early days of Sydney, it was only the wealthy who could afford furniture built from timbers like Aussie Red Cedar, Southern Silky Oak, and other hardwoods.

    Unfortunately, the prevalence of plantation grown Radiata Pine has turned many people off using pine because Radiata Pine, especially when it's plantation grown, usually looks awful. You need to look beyond Radiata Pine and seek out the Aussie Native Pines.

    In S.E. Queensland, the two species of native pine that I've used quite a bit are Hoop Pine, and Bunya Pine (Other than Kauri, I'm not familiar with what Pines are native to the Central Coast NSW region - you'll need to do a bit of research). I was recently given two small slabs of Kauri Pine (thanks MM) which looks amazing - unfortunately, I'll have to wait a while for it to season enough before I can use it.

    Although I don't work solely with hand tools, all of the Aussie native Pines that I've tried have been easy to work with hand tools, and you can find stuff with quite interesting grain. If you can find timber that did not grow in a plantation, then you'll often find stuff that has grown much more slowly and as a result the growth rings are much closer together resulting in a much better appearance. Your best chance of finding the right stuff is to find the small, usually one man show, saw miller in your area. They usually source their logs from farms and other areas, rather than from plantation stocks. Australian Woodworker Magazine on their website, has a page where some Small One-man Saw Millers advertise by region. But not all of them list on the Australian Woodworker's Magazine web site, so talking to local woodworkers will help you to seek them out. With so much good timber land just inland from the Central Coast, and also just inland from Newcastle (Dungog area maybe), I'm sure you'll find a small saw miller who can meet your needs. Much of what they sell will be freshly cut green wood, but some of these saw millers maintain a store of seasoned timber that you can use straight away.

    Further up the coast from you near Port Macquarie is Boutique Timbers (http://www.boutiquetimbers.com.au/). They are bigger than a one man show, but they stock a huge range of timber all seasoned (dry) and ready to use, and they can provide good advice when it comes to choosing. They are sure to have what you're looking for. Close enough to you for a long drive one weekend - just ring them first to agree a time, and they'll see you on the weekend.

    Hope that information helps.

    Regards,

    RoyG
    Manufacturer of the Finest Quality Off-Cuts.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Gosford
    Posts
    15

    Default Thanks

    Thanks to all you guys for the replies. It seems I have some searching to undertake. I will contact Boutique timbers but also try sourcing some materials locally. Some very good information from all..

    Tanks

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    1,857

    Default

    I agree that starting with some Hoop or Bunya Pine may be a good idea. Softwoods are easy to work with hand tools, aside from the fact that they can crumble under chisel blows.

    Red Cedar is another soft one (that's actually a hardwood) but it's pretty pricey.

Similar Threads

  1. Hand Tool Preservation Association of Australia tool sale
    By Doggie in forum ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TOOLS
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11th November 2014, 07:46 PM
  2. NOT A WOODWORKING TOOL BUT A HAND TOOL -A KNIFE SHARPENING STEEL
    By Lyle in forum ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TOOLS
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 16th May 2014, 12:45 PM
  3. SOMETHING NEW! Hand Tool Preservation Assoc. of Aust. Tool Sale.
    By issatree in forum ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 19th March 2012, 02:07 PM
  4. Brisbane - suggestions to learn about hand plane/sharpening
    By bgreen in forum WOODWORK - GENERAL
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 28th March 2009, 05:57 AM
  5. Second hand Hand Tool Sale - Sydney - on tomorrow 13 Aug
    By eddie the eagle in forum WOODWORK - GENERAL
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 16th August 2006, 12:51 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •