Thread: Coachwood

It was used in aeroplane frames, stage coaches, cars, so I don't think you will have any problems
Beautiful grain and golden
Greg

Originally Posted by Greg Ward

It was used in aeroplane frames, stage coaches, cars, so I don't think you will have any problems
Beautiful grain and golden
Greg

I recalled someone mentioning that the stage coach use is where it got its name from, but I wasn't quite sure. Better to be safe than sorry.
And I couldn't agree more, it has a great looking grain and colouring to it, comes up very nice with an oil finish on it I've found. I intend on making a rolltop desk, so the coachwood will add a little extra sparkle. I love how easily it turns as well

Before ply and later plastic, school desks and chairs were made from coach wood. Works well with hand tools and turns well. Very stable and resiliant timber. You would be hard pressed to find a better timber for your project. If purchasing "new" timber check moisture content. For that matter, its not a bad idea to check any timber. Rolltop desks require tight tolerances and moisture content is important.

Originally Posted by rustynail

Before ply and later plastic, school desks and chairs were made from coach wood

I'll have to keep an eye out for them. We pulled out a heap of old desks and chairs from storage at my old school a while back and found they were all made from silky oak. Needless to say I grabbed hold of one of the chairs before they got snaffled up by teachers
Thanks for the moisture tip too, I'll make sure to remind myself when browsing stocks

Don't see it around as much these days but a lot of bedroom furniture - wardrobes, bedside tables etc. - was made of solid coachwood. It tended to be sprayed with an orange/red lacquer which hides the beauty of it. It's worth keeping an eye open in op-shops etc.
Cheers,
Jim

Nearly all the marine plywood used in the 1960's was made with coachwood.

Currently I am restoring a clinker which has been a bit neglected over the years luckily the planking was coachwood marine ply and shows no signs of rot. If the timber had been solid timber I can be fairly sure that there would have been a couple of rotted planks that would have to have ben replaced.
Peter