Thread: Where to learn, where to buy?

I cannot answer where to get lessons in your area. But as far as straight wood goes it is nearly impossible to get straight and true wood from Bunnings and Mitre 10.

As you gain a little experience and you find that woodworking is a hobby that you would like to keep on with, then the opportunity to purchase more tools becomes a passion and quest.

I would say that a fair percentage of the keen woodworkers here have a Thicknesser and Jointer to square up and straighten timber and when you have one you can use recycled timber which is drier and then less likely to bend and twist like the stuff Bunnings has that was growing last week.

Fortunately you do not have to get everything at once. Birthday's and Christmas is a good opportunity to get some tools that you would not normally have. I let my family know what I want and they sometimes pool together to get me a big good present rather then a lot of small crappy stuff that will get thrown out.

I have acquired a table saw, sliding compound mitre saw, jointer, and thicknesser this way. Remember it is the journey , not the destination that is important and you do not have to have everything at once.

Jasonk would suggest you check out www.benchworks.com.au they have a great specials deal going right now and classes.

Lots and lots of reading and lots of trials and errors. Without mistakes we would learn nothing, whether they be your own or those of others. And continuing education courses offered at colleges are also great learning resources.

I have a collection of over 60 woodworking books and years of magizine subscriptions from different companies. Everything from toys to fine cabinetry and jigs to finishising, plus everything in between.

I still have my first wood book (hardcover) given to me by my Grandfather, entitled The True Book about Trees, printed in 1965, by the author Richard St. Barbe Baker.

Good Luck

Bellsy

Originally Posted by Jasonk

just about all the wood I have ever bought from Mitre 10 or Bunnings is bowed or twisted or warped in some way..

Boomerang mate, make boomerangs. That's about all you can make with Bunnies timber.

Welcome

As mentioned check out Benchworks but in my opinion you would get better value out of formal education if you reached a certain level on your own first.
I learned everything I know from Books and Fine Woodworking magazine.

Lesson number 1 you simply dont buy timber from a hardware store any hardware store except framing timber and if at all possible you dont buy anything at all from Bunnies.
Find a decent timberyard like Trend Timbers and live with the traveling to and fro.

Ross

Good advice above Jason.

When you get a little better oriented, and make contacts you will find good sources for almost everything.

Good luck.

Jason,

A course is a good idea. It probably doesn't matter where you go, I can recommend the Lumber Bunker at Gosford from my experiences, but in any of the introductory courses you will learn to dress timber with just handtools and learn some basic joinery. Even if you hang up the handtools after that, you will have a better understanding and be able to use what machines you have to better effect.

Alan

Thanks very much for the advice.

Previously I had thought about a planer / thicknesser might be a way to make the curly stuff I got from Bunnings and Mitre 10 square, but for some reason I didnt think it would remove the warp.....well, thats a second item onto the birthday/fathers day list...

Guess I am going to need to shop around a bit and find someone that sells straight timber reasonably close to Campbelltown.


Again, thanks for the info.

I found the Taunton DVD's the most useful resource for teaching myself woodworking. Books and magazines are good but when you are starting nothing beats watching an expert. You can order them from Taunton but they take months to arrive, or Lie Nielsen Australia carry some - there may well be other local suppliers. The David Charlesworth ones are particularly good if you are interested in using hand tools.

I too am a novice when it comes to wood working. I originaly started working with wood in high school. I have been going to the Sydney working with wood show for the last 6 or seven years. The interest was sparked again but not the time. I have made a few simple items and when I say simple please understand that this really means simple in joinery.

I did not have any machines and so it was what I had to deal what I had. From my personal experience I have found bunnings to be too inconsistant unless you pay top dollar. They have a section for this type of wood. But who will want to pay three times the amount for the same piece of wood? Now as for Mitre 10 I have found one that allows me to choose and at a similar reasonable price. Then there is the tmber yards. Two in easy reach and a third that I have not located yet.

I know this is a long winded reply but there is a point. It takes time and I have found this link to be useful. www.thewoodwhisperernetwork.com. Oiginally was just going with www.thewoodwhisperer.com.

Good luck with your studies.

Originally Posted by Jasonk

Guess I am going to need to shop around a bit and find someone that sells straight timber reasonably close to Campbelltown.


Again, thanks for the info.

I don't know about Campbeltown but there is at least one good timberyard in Mittagong and it is a nice drive. Also the Sturt School of Woodworking holds evening classes which I can recommend and they are also in Mittagong. Down at the bottom of this page http://www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/woodschool.htm you will find referance to 12 week courses.

I would also suggest contacting Sturt but be warned you will have to be prepared to really learn the skills. The evening classes have been going for years but has any one any feedback about the 12 week full time course?

Trend Timbers have some very fine timbers but I would not go there for pine or tassie oak. There must be a timber yard in your local area. My local lets me sort and pick the piece I want. If they don't find another.

Someone mentioned Jason's teaching at Benchworks. I've bought tools from him. A very nice chap and passionate about woodwork. They are out Penrith way

Highly recommend Sturt in Mittagong. They offer a great course there.