Thread: Sourcing wood

Hi alex,
Welcome to the forum , have you looked at the market place
here on the w.w.forum, e.bay has some timber sometimes ,
check around canberra i think there is a place in bungadore
Good luck with it , tune your ears in to the sound of a distant
chainsaw

Any old timber mills left around Bowral, they may be a good source. Otherwise send Phily a PM, he had some spectacular large hunks of blackwood at one stage

Thanks for the replies, I will check out the market place but really need a reliable ongoing source. I would potentially buy up a bunch of the right thing.

Bungers has the amazing wood gallery, well worth a visit. As i mentioned I bought a bunch of timber at Monaro Timber yesterday but all a bit 'fine' for this project. I've considered laminating but would much rather work with solid and avoid the dreaded PVA. Gotta keep costs down too.

Bowral / Southern Highlands has the Woodage and All Class Timber, and Ogden for the construction side, but I'm just not finding what I need, should be easy! Shame it's not, bit of a worry really.

Blackwood is probably a bit too fine for this project, but I do love it so any contacts are appreciated!

Alex

Would you be interested in some WA Sheoak ?

Originally Posted by dusteater

Would you be interested in some WA Sheoak ?

For sure, might be a wee bit pricey for delivery? Feel free to PM with info, I'd be happy to have lengths around 1m, dry and around 100x100.

Thanks,

Alex

If you're looking for dry timber you might find it extremely difficult. Not many mills are prepared to wait many years for the inside to dry properly. The best alternative would be to laminate2 pieces of 100x50 - it is more readily available and will be significantly cheaper.

I suggest you contact a local Men's shed . The chances are that someone there will have a timber stash and maybe prepared to part with a bit . Also there is a branch of Sydney Wood Turners near
you .Google them for a contact and they may be able to help.
Ted

Alex
I remember having the same problem years ago. This is what I did ... Built some sheds and make one a drying type. I prayed to the Greek God of Timber and they were full in no time. Nothing worse than paying good money for timber.

I keep an eye on the local tree clearers and after storms. Most of the blokes love to throw you as much timber as you need when cutting up before throwing into the truck. Most wood turning clubs have band saws to cut to size.

Also try anyone who slabs for tables. Always plenty of off cuts .. Most are 40-50 mm thick. Laminates is a good option with this since to get your 100mm to. The timber is often dry and reasonably good lookin.

I find mango and champhor in plentiful supply in my part of the world. You will find something similar in your part of the world.

Champhor is great to machine and finish. With large sizes I often wet turn and let dry for awhile. The aroma is awesome.

Randal

Thanks for all the replies, been crook over the weekend (whole town is down with the same thing, this year'a flu i guess) but looking at PMs now....

I have some Sapele which I can laminate If I'm desperate....oh and Anagote have some TasOak in my size but JUST over what I wanted to pay...but doable....

I just had my heart set on Karri or Jarrah....but anyway will check the pms...

Originally Posted by turnerted

I suggest you contact a local Men's shed . The chances are that someone there will have a timber stash and maybe prepared to part with a bit . Also there is a branch of Sydney Wood Turners near
you .Google them for a contact and they may be able to help.
Ted

Thanks Ted,

Yes we do have a local Mens Shed, I'll say hello...

Originally Posted by XanderLin

For sure, might be a wee bit pricey for delivery? Feel free to PM with info, I'd be happy to have lengths around 1m, dry and around 100x100.

Thanks,

Alex

Have read your PM and replied but not sure if it sent, let me know....

I'm in the highlands too, and can't believe that The Woodage don't have anything - they sell quite a lot of large section square posts in species like Taun and other similar imported (sustainable) stuff. In the past I've picked up quite a few decent-sized freebies from their scrap bin. Are you sure you spoke to the right person there?

The only other remotely local suppliers I use are Yates just up the freeway at Ingleburn, and Phil Gould in Nowra. Phil actually keeps quite a few species (although I bet he picks out all the fiddleback stuff from a pack for his own use...) - both keep good quality timber, and know how to store and look after if properly.

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

I'm in the highlands too, and can't believe that The Woodage don't have anything - they sell quite a lot of large section square posts in species like Taun and other similar imported (sustainable) stuff. In the past I've picked up quite a few decent-sized freebies from their scrap bin. Are you sure you spoke to the right person there?

The only other remotely local suppliers I use are Yates just up the freeway at Ingleburn, and Phil Gould in Nowra. Phil actually keeps quite a few species (although I bet he picks out all the fiddleback stuff from a pack for his own use...) - both keep good quality timber, and know how to store and look after if properly.

The Woodage are moving more and more into custom kitchens / flooring etc, letting the old racks of interesting stuff go I'm afraid....not their fault, there isn't a market or supply for it, and they still treat Sturt students well and have the occasional gem.

Yates don't like anyone opening up their packs, aren't real student-friendly.

If you're talking about the Nowra supplier I think you are, they are also undergoing a big change as new ownership comes in....not good now but they promise to be really good in the near future, and opening up workshop space to new graduates.

Anagote are pretty much the best allrounders we've come across, Monaro are great for special quality wood and service. It's just a shame that these measurements are becoming impossible to get, for companies and families with plenty of money it represents a great longterm investment.

Originally Posted by XanderLin

It's just a shame that these measurements are becoming impossible to get, for companies and families with plenty of money it represents a great longterm investment.

Based on my experience I'd actually say that as investments go it's pretty poor. You buy the log, you saw it and throw 60 or so percent of it away, then you hold the resultant timber for years and years for intermittent small sales. It's not at all liquid: you can't necessarily turn it into cash even at a significant discount because it's not in sizes that move in any kind of volume so no-one else wants it.

About the only positive is that provided you've got some length in it you can resaw it back into 25/38/50mm stock when you run short in that.