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Thread: Timber choices for boxes ...
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1st March 2013, 04:47 PM #1Senior Member
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Timber choices for boxes ...
I was thinking to buy some timber for my 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th attempt at boxes. Can someone let me know if any of the below are better/worse to work with ?
Jarrah
Blackbutt
Red Gum
Spotted Gum
Australian Beech
Blue Gum
Karri
Merbau
Tallowwood
Grey ironbark
Cheers in advance ...
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1st March 2013, 05:14 PM #2
Haven't used all of them, but there are some to be careful with.
Spotted gum & tallowwood can have gluing problems - try to have as little time as possible between cutting/dressing and gluing, and clean the surfaces with acetone immediately before gluing. Probably not a bad practice with any of the eucalypts.
Jarrah is one of the nicest timbers to use, and looks great too.
Others here will have advice about some of the other timbers.
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1st March 2013, 05:38 PM #3
Red Gum is good, but needs treatment like Alex says for Eucalypts
Merbau has problems with oil, so again clean the faces.
Grey Ironbark can give your tools grief and is very heavy, but looks nice when oiled.
Blue Gum: There are two; Sydney and Tassie. The Sydney is the one to use. Looks good finished and works well.
Can't speak for the others.
Alex, I did find the Spotted Gum I used before Christmas not too bad and it seemed to glue up well. But it was kiln dried and had been sitting around for a couple of years.
Regards,
Rob
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1st March 2013, 05:42 PM #4Senior Member
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I've been working with Merbau a fair bit lately. Very open-grained, a sanding sealer is useful, but otherwise pretty easy to work with. Not quite as hard as the Eucalypts. Looks lovely when finished, but it does have small yellow flecks of resin/sap that take getting used to. Personally, I love it.
I agree with Alex re Jarrah. Hard, but nice to work with and finishes great. I love these darker timbers.
Edit: Also what Rob said about Merbau being a bit oily. A quick wipe with acetone and it's good to go.
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1st March 2013, 07:20 PM #5SENIOR MEMBER
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I would be interested in finding out what products you use for finishing Merbeau apart from the sealer.
Thanks, Safari
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1st March 2013, 07:29 PM #6Senior Member
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I've just been using Minwax water-based wipe-on poly. Nothing sophisticated.
Comes up like this: -
g. Front Indoors.JPG
Edit: You can easily see the yellow flecking I described.
Edit2: The lighter timber is Camphor Laurel, another that's easy to work - a little softer than many hardwoods. You're also doing the environment a favour by getting rid of a noxious weed.
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1st March 2013, 07:43 PM #7
Jarrah
Blackbutt
Red Gum
Spotted Gum
Australian Beech
Blue Gum
Karri
Merbau
Tallowwood
Grey ironbark
Jarrah is my pick out of the list.
Is there any reason for that particular list or are you open to suggestions.
There are many more easier timbers to work with and kinder to your tools as well e.g
Qld Maple
Blush Alder
Satin Sycamore
Black Wood
Silky Oak
Qld. Walnut
N G Rosewwod
Red Cedar
Tas Myrtle
Silver Ash
Cheers
Steve
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