Advice on best Aussie timber for a View Camera.

**Grossie** · 7th February 2011, 06:04 PM

I recently purchased a very old, and very large camera (it uses 7x17 inch sheet film; about 90 times the size of an old Kodak slide!). It was made somewhere before 1932 (see here for more details and an image) from American Cherrywood.

Nice as it is, I would love to make a copy of it (with a few modifications, of course!) out of a home grown timber, and need some assistance with which species to use.

Must haves:

*Light weight;
*Very strong/stiff laterally/longitudinally

Would likes:
*Red base colour (eg. Jarrah, Redgum etc).

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

(I have not posted this in the Photography section, as it is about the timber, not the product).

**Big Shed** · 7th February 2011, 06:20 PM

I would suggest Red Cedar, light and red in colour. Jarrah and Redgum are red but not light.

I have a few Thornton Pickards, one triple extension, and I have used Red Cedar for minor repairs.

**Grossie** · 7th February 2011, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Big Shed

I would suggest Red Cedar, light and red in colour. Jarrah and Redgum are red but not light.

I have a few Thornton Pickards, one triple extension, and I have used Red Cedar for minor repairs.

Thanks for that.

I'll need to chase up some Red Cedar to see if it's strong enough for the extension rails.

These will need to be around 300mm in length to get enough extension/draw on the bellows.

The triple extension is the same basic design that I'll be using, so good to know that the design is understood.

(As for the Jarrah/RG, that was only about colour. Way too bloody heavy/dense for this project).

**Grossie** · 9th February 2011, 06:57 AM

Only one response; I thought there'd be more...

**Cedarfan** · 9th February 2011, 08:20 AM

Hey guys - I agree that red cedar sounds good for a project like this. It is light and strong, although also soft, so doesn't take detailed moulding well. Whether it works for the design will depend entirely on the intricacy of the pieces you need to create.
If you need red cedar, and are in Victoria, I'd suggest getting in contact with Charlie Bovalino at Bovalino Fine Furniture & Timbers (Bendigo and Maryborough). www.bfft.com.au.
Have fun with the priject. I also have a Thornton Pickard camera in its original mahogany. A fantastic piece of engineering, and a beautiful piece of furniture!
Ken

**Toymaker Len** · 9th February 2011, 01:33 PM

Tasmanian Myrtle is related to the north american cherry. It is a bit heavier and stronger than aus cedar and it is very nice to look at. Maybe that is what you need.

**Grossie** · 9th February 2011, 05:38 PM

Thanks for the information. I'll try to stop by Charlie's place next time I'm up that way.

Any thoughts on Forest Red Gum or Karri?

I do have a 1500x750mm Blackwood (read: old/dark) tabletop that I could probably dismantle. How does the weight of this compare to, say, the Myrtle?

Thanks again,

Lachlan.

**Toymaker Len** · 10th February 2011, 01:27 PM

The redgum and karri will be heavy. The blackwood will be about the same as or a bit heavier than the myrtle

**Grossie** · 10th February 2011, 02:02 PM

Thank, Len.

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