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Thread: Hobby timber

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    15

    Default Hobby timber

    Greetings, i've i know absolutely nothing about wood, but i was hoping to get some thin sheets of wood to use for hobbies- mainly electronics, i would mainly be using it to build cases with, boxes, mounting parts and boards to

    Anyway, the only thing i could think of would be particle board- which i hate, crumbles alot and is definately not waterproof ( which is not too important )
    ideally the main qualities i would hope for would be
    somewhat hard/rigid
    able to get in thin sheets ( 5-15mm )
    able to work with a coping saw(at these thicknesses i would hope most timbers would be fine)
    looks arent important, but would be a bonus

    some hobbies use balsa which is quite fragile and soft, so it wouldn't be ideal

    any suggestions on a timber i could use, possibly avaliable from an online vendor or commonly avaliable at the local bunnings/hardware/whatever stores, or possibly through these forums?
    for now i'm just looking for a few pieces of about 30cmx30cm or so

    thanks.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Dundowran Beach
    Age
    76
    Posts
    19,922

    Exclamation

    Why not try some of the plywoods?

    They come with various finishes - different timber veneers that is.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    337

    Default

    Kidsam,

    I would be using MDF, it is another product of timber waste and glue, but where particle board was large flakes, MDF is very fine grained. Cost is reasonable. It will cut easily and join well with screws for light weight applications, add some wood glue for strength or smaller parts. I would seal it with paint if it was to last, I would leave it unsealed for a quick proof of concept, but wipe it down to make sure I was rid of any cutting dust.

    Its at every hardware shop around.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    10,766

    Default

    +1 for ply
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Sydney,Australia
    Posts
    3,157

    Default

    Rule of thumb:
    chip/particle board = cockroach barf
    MDF = cardboard with pretentions

    If you are careful with what you pick, and price is less of a consideration than convenience, then you can get reasonable ply at Bunnings, even the odd half sheet (1200x1200) of thin (2-3mm) ply made from imported hardwood (made in Vietnam now that the Phillipines has gotten 'expensive').

    MDF is sort of OK when starting, but it produces horrible fine dust that gets everywhere - work outside in the breeze if possible - and it is very susceptible to moisture, often sprouting fuzzy mold on the surface after a few weeks and getting noticeable marks - even when painted -if someone puts a wet cup on it.

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