Thread: Timber slab suppliers in vic

I doubt anyone on here who knows what they are talking about will give you a definite opinion on this on the information given.

Look at it this way, we have a self-confessed newbie (nothing wrong with that - we all have to start somewhere, there are many with more experience than mine on this board) telling us that the slab is in very good condition. Well is it? or do you just think it looks good from your self-confessed limited experience?

Another funny thing about us woodworkers - we all do things differently and a slab you are prepared to pay $1000 for because it suits your project may be something I might think is only worth $200.00 because I can only use $200 worth of the timber for the type of projects I do. On another slab of the same size the relative values may well be reversed.

A good example, I recently swapped a couple of black heart sassafras turning blanks for a much larger slab of silky oak and a couple of small burls. we were both happy because we both got timber that suits our own styles. the other member is mainly a turner and I work mainly with boards.

In a nutshell, if you think its worth $600.00 then to you it is. If you dont, dont criticise the seller because five minutes later someone else may come along and snap it up before the seller finds out what its really worth, in the buyer's opinion.

Over the years I have bought timber for far less than I would have been prepared to pay for the piece and I have also seen others buy pieces that I thought were vastly overpriced.

I probably havent answered your question but I doubt anyone else can on the information given, Maybe if you posted a photo of the piece someone may give you an indication as to whether it is a fair price for the species and the end use.

Doug

G'day Brendan! Welcome to the circus. Plenty of help and knowledge available here!

If you are after slabs, you could try James Anderson, Tasmanian Timbers at Rochester, he is a member here under the name of "tassietimbers". Send him a Private Message or send one to me and I will give you his phone number.

And if you don't mind a road trip down to Kinglake, check out the web site of Add the Beauty of Timber and speak to Mark or Craig. They are very helpful.

Hi Brendan

Welcome to the forum.

When it comes to slabs, prices varies greatly and so does quality. For example, if a 55mm thick slab has a twist in it of 10mm over it's length, then to obtain a perfectly flat top and base approx. 20mm of timber will need to be machined off (10mm from each side), which takes more time than machining a dead flat slab. So your 55mm slab ends up at 35mm, and a cheap price then may become expensive for the timber recovered. Look at how people are racking their timber, and this will give you a insight into what quality they are trying to achieve.

Also, the quantity of faults and gum veins alters the price. A super clean slab will fetch a much higher price. Some people are happy to pay more for a cleaner slab, as it takes much less time to get to the finished product, as you don't have to spend days filling and sanding, filling and sanding, etc. For a furniture maker running a business, time spent preparing a slab is all a labour cost. For a home hobbyist whose time is 'free', it may not be an issue.

Width also determines price. Once your slab is over a 1.0m wide, the price will jump, and then again at the 1.2m mark. Once you get over 1.5m wide your really talking dollars (boardroom tables).

Figure also determines price. We have full dining table slabs of solid birdseye redgum, which are worth much more than a fiddleback slab, which are worth more than a plain grained slab.

Dryness is also something to watch, especially in redgum. All of our slabs dry for 5 years minimum before they are used in dining tables. I would be wary of anything cut less than three or four years ago unless it is kiln dried, but I'm just fussy as well!

The quality of the slab can also vary if it is cut nearer the heart, as it may have minor cracks associated with drying stresses if it it was not milled in clear timber.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg for information. I have seen people pay way too much at an auction much for a supposedly 'great' slab, and people pay very little for something awesome.

These are just some of the things to weigh up when choosing a slab, but at the end of the day, you just have to be happy with the quality and price.

If you like, we will be milling some larger slabs just south of Bendigo in the coming months. You are welcome to come and help out (mmm....free labour!!), and this will give you a real appeciation of how hard it is to obtain the 'perfect slab'.

Cheers
James

PS Thanks Mulgabill, and yes, I do have some redgum slabs, of varying quality and prices of course!!

Hi Brendan,

There is a bloke at the Wallan market (second Saturday
of each month) who sells Red Gum slabs.

Apart from just saying "Hello" to him occasionally I don't
know whether his prices are reasonable or not as I have
never enquired.

PM me if you like and I could check him out for you
next month.

Allan

Originally Posted by Allan at Wallan

There is a bloke at the Wallan market (second Saturday of each month) who sells Red Gum slabs.Allan

Hi Allan,

why not take a photo or two of some of his stock and post it on here, or even better tell him about the forum and suggest he publicise his market stall and any other outlets he has on the forum. I am sure it would be good for him and good for us as well.