Thread: Blackwood, best sizes to cut

Whatever timber your going to cut, if its going to be seasoned cut it larger in section size by the shrinkage of around 5 %, so if your after say a 50mm X 200mm board after seasoning ( standard size) then cut it at 53mm X 210mm.
regards inter

Originally Posted by InterTD6

Whatever timber your going to cut, if its going to be seasoned cut it larger in section size by the shrinkage of around 5 %, so if your after say a 50mm X 200mm board after seasoning ( standard size) then cut it at 53mm X 210mm.
regards inter

Thanks Inter, But what I was really after is what sizes would be marketable and would I be better off quartersawing etc.

Personally I like to cut the timber to the finished size initially but that's just me. Cut larger pieces and resaw them if it suits.
I sell a lot of 1" boards cut oversize to 27mm and as wide as possible. These are good for the cabinet makers.
Good squares (3x3s and 4x4s) are also handy and good quality ones are rare. Again cut oversize (78x78mm and 104x104)
Then the odd bark to bark slab 53mm thick for the natural edge cabinet/sideboard or table top. Treat the sapwood for borers.
That should just about cover it.
Oh and if any of the timber has fiddle back try to cut it on the quarter if it will make over 215mm for those blokes in the musical instruments section.

cheers
Steve

Originally Posted by Stopper

Personally I like to cut the timber to the finished size initially but that's just me. Cut larger pieces and resaw them if it suits.
I sell a lot of 1" boards cut oversize to 27mm and as wide as possible. These are good for the cabinet makers.
Good squares (3x3s and 4x4s) are also handy and good quality ones are rare. Again cut oversize (78x78mm and 104x104)
Then the odd bark to bark slab 53mm thick for the natural edge cabinet/sideboard or table top. Treat the sapwood for borers.
That should just about cover it.
Oh and if any of the timber has fiddle back try to cut it on the quarter if it will make over 215mm for those blokes in the musical instruments section.

cheers
Steve

Thanks steve that is what I was looking for. With the logs I am looking at supposedly up to 700 in diameter I should be able to get some decent quartered timber and would not be surprised if it has some fiddleback in it. Do the instrument guys prefer it well seasoned or somewhat greener so that it remains bendable? and what sort of thickness do they prefer?

I asked the same questions back in April and unfortunately I don't know how to insert a link to that thread. They are very fussy. It needs to be dry. The go seems to be to cut a flitch then resaw and season. Do a search in that section. Plenty of info there.

cheers
Steve

traditionally, blackwood is backsawn. if you look at a lot of old furniture (1830-1930) alot will be backsawn.from what i see most blackwood kitchen doors are that way.for the luthiers they need perfectly quarter sawn timber no less than 125mm wide for the sides of accoustic guitars,fiddle back they love but birds eye they cant use. if i were you i'd back saw 4x4 posts 8x2 planks and anything in between regards charlsie

Hey Travis,

I cut slightly thicker than finished sizes, eg 27mm, 35mm, 42mm and 55.
If square then go over by a few mm, ie 103/4 for 4", 78mm for 3". 4" x 3" is a useful size too. But that's just me.
It allows a bit for drying and machining.

Look for flash [fiddleback] all the time [who doesn't?] - quartersaw it when you can.
And instrument makers like it dry, air-dried at least.

Bit jealous of 700mm blackwoods...hope you get some good boards out of it.

left post for you in "Milling" section.

cheers, rich