Thread: question for timber

Zed, thats about $3300 per cubic metre which is about the going rate for select Tas Oak. What about some recycled hardwood from the junk yards.

question for timber

Who is timber? Any relation to you Termite?

You could go to the Craporium and see what Al's got. Only a short drive down the Hume.

First off, Grunt, stop sending all the primates to my shop!!
You should see the mess they make!!

Second, Zed, why the f()ck dont you got internet security, like norton which is what I run (? X 4 billion ).

Al :confused: :eek: :mad:

You don't need select grade, and you don't need quarter sawn, and you DO need a bench top thicker than 32mm - around 50 is a minimum really.

The idea of a solid wood workbench top is to wind up with a bench that has a flat top that stays flat, and at 32mm it's unlikely to. It's also not thick enough to mount a substantial vise on, or for dog holes to last very long.

I made mine from QLD rose maple at 65mm thick. I used that because it was what I happened to find at the right price that was reasonably easy to work with.

Buy the boards in whatever thickness you find at the right price. Rip it to around 70mm wide, turn it on it's edge and laminate - instant quarter sawn

And you've got next to zero chance of buying enough timber to make a 'real' workbench top for less than a couple to several hundred dollars - though Bill's suggestion of recycled is probably the lowest cost (and most work) option.

As far as where to buy it, there are a bunch of options and it definitely pays to shop around until you find someone who will look after you. Buy rough sawn, and not from hardware stores. Make sure you get something you can hand plane easily - bluegum is an almost certain no-no. Also, don't go too heavy - even in maple my benchtop is VERY heavy, took 2 people to turn it over.

Building a benchtop at 2200 x 900mm is no small job either - terrific thing to achieve, but not easy.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Second, Zed, why the f()ck dont you got internet security, like norton which is what I run (? X 4 billion ).

Yeah, what he said - kinda

Zed: You don't need to turn off cookies, they have next to nothing to do with keeping you safe or opening you up to problems. They won't affect spamming, and they won't open you up to hackers.

Without a firewall you're totally exposed, and without anti-virus software you're almost certain to get a virus. Get your system up to date and automatically applying new patches, install a firewall, install AVG from http://www.grisoft.com/ - it's free and does a good job.

Main way to avoid spammers is to not publish or give away your email address. Don't publish it on a web site, and don't give it to anyone you don't totally trust. Use a throw-away email address to register on web sites, register software etc - like a Hotmail address. Only give your real email address to friends, your bank etc.

This topic has been discussed quite a bit on this board and it seems recycled oregon is probably the most commonly used material for this task. I know it doesnt have the same class as select Tassie oak, but it works well for the utilitarian minded (like me). Also, think of what you can buy with the $400 you save.

You can check Kimbriki for recycled oregan. Be there on the right day and they have tons of the stuff. You have to sort through a lot of rubbish though. I bought enough red mahogany there to make a large bench top for $30 - at 75x50mm - it was raining and I mistook it for red gum.

Arron

guys thanks for the tips. seems like I will have to go to Kimbriki and get some recycled and then go to "my workshop: to dress it....

re the security I have currently running on the PC :

Windows SP firewall
Trojan guarder golden version
Antivir V6
I run spybot & adaware regularly
and I still turn cookies off - call me an anal little monkey! but I dont want to reload everything again and again - I'm considering going to mozila or firefox but couldnt be bothered!!!
no-one knows my real email address! I like it that way!!


cheers

Going to Firefox will significantly improve your security - IE is targetted by soooo much malware.

Why dont you image your computer (Norton Ghost or similar) this will save you lots of work if you do get hit.

Most of your other precautions are good though. I use a Linux firewall to protect my home network - which also helps a lot.

Now back to wood work.

Cheers

Zed,
Go to a good trade timber yard and ask for a price on your timber in "F17 Appearance Grade". This grade is available from my supplier in Newport, Melbourne. Don't know about Sydney. I have just completed a full large house of joinery in with this grade of timber. Almost as good as select, but much cheaper.

Glenn

My benchtop is a reworked slab from the Williamstown naval dockyard - one of the sleepers from the slipway. Hasn't moved at all!!

Supported by 4X4 redgum stumps from a house that needed restumping - it was highset so had plenty of length

Guess what I'm saying is recycled is the way to go and when you think outside the square you'd be surprised at what you can pick up from the demolition yards

Jamie

Originally Posted by barnsey

My benchtop is a reworked slab from the Williamstown naval dockyard - one of the sleepers from the slipway.

So your the bugger!..Always wondered what the bump was in the tracks on the way down

Cheers

IMHO Oregan is a bit soft for a bench top. It dints pretty easy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it'll be structuraly sound, just a bit to soft between the rings.

It can also be a little difficult to work because of it's inconsistancies (sp?) and splintery.


Ben.

yes something pretty think as DF says over 50 mm. Something pretty hard, Jarrah or wondoo or NSW rosewood or QLD maple etc...mulgo would be interesting.

cheeeeers

Originally Posted by barnsey
My benchtop is a reworked slab from the Williamstown naval dockyard - one of the sleepers from the slipway.

Theres a cheap answer,
rush over to Ozwinners and pickup a couple of redgum sleepers while he's still got them.