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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    Brisbane - Southside
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    Default 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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  3. #2
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    Default

    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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  4. #3
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    Aug 2007
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    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

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Oz
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ozziespur View Post
    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 ...

    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.

  6. #5
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    Jul 2009
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    inverloch
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    472

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    I would be interested in finding out what products you use for finishing Merbeau apart from the sealer.

    Thanks, Safari

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Oz
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    Quote Originally Posted by safari View Post
    I would be interested in finding out what products you use for finishing Merbeau apart from the sealer.

    Thanks, Safari
    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.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Jimboomba. Qld
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    437

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    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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