Thread: Timber Reference Book

It exists. It's called The Australian Timber Buyers Guide. Try the following link:

http://www.skillspublish.com.au/Skills%20TBG.htm

Regards,
Mike.

Looks like what I'm after.

When you buy the guide, does it come with all the current additions as well, or do you have to buy them separately? I'd expect to get it up to date off the shelf and then to purchase updates as they come out, but the price looks a bit cheap for that to be the case.

If a foreign mag asks for an exotic timber type such as walnut then the equivalent Australian timber would be ..... Walnut

It seems to be in most shops with all additions. Look for additions 1, 2, 3 & 4 - at least that' s what mine says. I think it's actually the first one + 3 additions. Check with Skills Publishing Ph 02 4759 2844.

If you register when you get it, they'll tell you when next addition's coming out.

It's a good book, but it doesn't give substitutes for overseas timbers.

If a foreign mag asks for an exotic timber type such as walnut then the equivalent Australian timber would be ..... Walnut

If a foreign mag asks for an exotic timber type such as Walnut, I suggest Australian Blackbean.

The Timber Buyer's Guide has good colour photos and good data for the 100 or so species that it covers. However, Keith Bootle's book, Wood in Australia, covers a lot more species, and gives a lot more detailed technical information on Aussie timbers, but it lacks colour photos.

I reckon that Tasmanian Blackwood is an excellent substitute for American black walnut.

Rocker

Silent C, another good choice that has been frequently mentioned and definately worth investigating either thru your library service or local book shop is "Wood In Australia" by Keith R Bootle ISBN 0 07 451047 9 and covers types, properties and uses..a veritable mine of information across all grades of hardwoods/softwoods prominent in Oz.

HTH
Cheers

Hi Silent,
I bought this book last year and it came up to date.....about 4months later I got a snailmail saying a further addition was available and I then needed to purchase it.
truly an excellent addition to any ww bookshelf
Pete

If you can get it Qld walnut is an excellent substitute for American walnut.

Mick

Silent C,

Keith Bootle is the authority on Aus. timber

His 2 books on the subject are available at abebooks:

BOOTLE, Keith R THE COMMERCIAL TIMBERS OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THEIR USE Sydney. Angus and Robertson. 1971. 276pp. 8vo. Paperback. Illustrated.

Wood in Australia: types, properties and uses
McGraw Hill. 1985, 1996. 8vo, 443pp, b/w illus, laminated hardcover. Mint copy. Commercial timbers, native and exotic. Very useful.

I have Wood in Australia - very good

Here's the link to get them second hand
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/...09&PID=1368688

Go directly to the dealers, you should get a better price. They are listed on the page

Glenn

Thanks all for the info.

Hang the expense, I'll buy them all

Also thanks for the wide range of substitutes for walnut, including... walnut! Who would've thunk it?

For the information of anyone considering purchasing the Timber Buyers' Guide: you must also purchase the 4 additions to the guide if you want the complete set. This brings the purchase price up to $81.30.

Some retailers may package the basic guide plus the additions but if you buy it from Skills Publishing, the basic guide is $36.30 and you must order the additions separately.