Thread: PNG Hardwoods

Just curious, how does NG red cedar differ from Australian Red cedar

I've used NG Cedar before. I got a 6mtr X 250X50mm board from my father who was given it by a NG customer.

It's SOFT... REALLY SOFT... REALLY REALLY SOFT... can put a dint in a board with finger pressure. But...
When polished it exhibits a very deep glow, something very special!
I've also got some NG Walnut, yellow & black, very nice timber to work with.

Originally Posted by siegmund

I am looking at beginning to import PNG hardwoods into the Australian market in particular the following species:

PNG Red Cedar
New Guinea Rosewood
Kwila
New Guinea Walnut

What particular sizes do people look for here. Is there a particular preference to finished sized kiln dry timber or slabs of up to 1 meter wide.

Any information fellow woodworkers could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Siegmund

You're going to want to offer different products in the different timbers.
Cedar and roseood will ideally be as large in section as possible, since they will likely be used in joinery, including doors and windows. 200 x 50 would be well received and so would 150 x 50 and even 125 x 50, but anything smaller won't attract a lot of interest.

Kwila will want to be processed into profiles, including sills, decking, etc and some will want to be done up as large boards, once again as wide as possible and at least 50mm thick as dressed.

NG walnut will be mostly either veneer or furnituure stock, so whatever you can get, but the wide boards will attract the most interest.

Which part of PNG are you sourcing it from? I lived in Lae for about 15 years and I can't believe the development that has taken place there.
Just from urban clearances there must be hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of timber. Lae Builders export a fair bit to Australia via their interest in the Lae sawmill, the original version of which burnt down (exploded, actually, there was a huge dust explosion in the boiler plant) when I lived there.

Thanks heaps for the info, I think i'll be milling the walnut into slab form. With slabs do I need to dress the slabs or KD them or leave them as is.

Rosewood im looking at cutting 150x50, 200x50, 250x50 KD DAR

Cedar as usual probably 150x50

Kwila i'd rather not make decking as there is a substantial amount of decking available in bunnings (merbau). Possible flooring 90x19 end matched TG. I might do some decking and let it go for around the 3.80 mark per leniel meter, not sure how this will fair.

Im located in Port Moresby, ive never actually been to LAE. I get my logs legally from Forestry Industry Participants mainly from the Kwikila region of PNG then mill to the desired sizes, put through kilns, machine, dress etcetera, and pack.

I will be looking at becoming a regular timber salesperson in Brisbane over the coming years with advertising in woodworking magazines and appearances at wood shows etcetera. Will take a bit of time to get sufficient stock in Brisbane though. But im probably looking at importing 3 containers or so by the end of the year before i start advertising.

I do make decking also at 90x19, but mostly I use Satin Ash (PNG Watergum), Kempas and Taun. Kempas and Taun I also turn into flooring.

Do you think Niugini wallnut will be well received as panelling? I've conducted some fitouts before in PNG with Wallnut panelling and they look amazing with the patterns in the wood. Never tired in Australia yet though.

Once again thanks again for very helpful information.

Regards

Siegmund

some turning stock would be nice large bowl blanks/ spindle squares in burls or highly figured

Originally Posted by bench1holio

some turning stock would be nice large bowl blanks/ spindle squares in burls or highly figured

Im not really a woodturner, could you explain a little on your requirements and what you mean by turning stock or bowl blanks / spindle squares 'burls' etcetera. If you have some pictures I could probably utilise alot of offcut timber and send them down as pen blanks, and turning blanks especially if people provided some further information / sizes / pictures on what woodturners, pen makers actually use.

Could you please provide a list of common sizes for:

pen blanks
turning stock
bowl blanks
'spindle square burls'

also is it common practice to sell these kiln dried, or dressed all round or both?

Regards

Siegmund

In all honesty, I'd not worry too much about turning stuff. Turners generally don't want to pay for their material and there's so much small stuff around for the asking that they don't have to usually.

Originally Posted by Exador

In all honesty, I'd not worry too much about turning stuff. Turners generally don't want to pay for their material and there's so much small stuff around for the asking that they don't have to usually.

Exador, then I guess I am an exception to wood turners/pen crafters that will pay money for decent quality turning timber.

Originally Posted by bdar

Exador, then I guess I am an exception to wood turners/pen crafters that will pay money for decent quality turning timber.

I think what Exador is trying to say is that most turners want the timber seller to cut 600mm (or what ever length needed) out of a spectacular board so they can have a nice piece fit for turning. Only turning suppliers usually stock small pieces. It's not worth it for most mills/millers to do small pieces.

I've witnessed a well regarded turner want the middle 450mm out of a prize 2.4mtr board & got quite upset when told he would have to pay for the whole board. "But I only want THAT much!"

Originally Posted by MajorPanic

I think what Exador is trying to say is that most turners want the timber seller to cut 600mm (or what ever length needed) out of a spectacular board so they can have a nice piece fit for turning. Only turning suppliers usually stock small pieces. It's not worth it for most mills/millers to do small pieces.

I've witnessed a well regarded turner want the middle 450mm out of a prize 2.4mtr board & got quite upset when told he would have to pay for the whole board. "But I only want THAT much!"

Major, that's exactly what I'm referring to. My all-time favourite was the guy that turned up to have a look at some stuff, spent all morning looking and getting in the way, picked about 3 or 4 pieces which were worth about $30 and then asked for a "discount, because I'm on a pension". When I told him that was a firm price, he got quite shirty and threw the pieces on the ground before walking back to his current model Range Rover.

I'm sorry to all the genuine people out there, but I'm afraid hobby turners simply aren't welcome in my shop.

New guinea rosewood is great for guitars the walnut will probably be as well.

it would be nice to know if it will be a sustainable trading, PNG would have to be one of the least humanised areas, would be a shame to ruin it.