Thread: Recommendation for fine grained timber

Silky oak has a nice creamy colour is not too hard to work and has nice natural figure. for contrasts there are hundreds of options shea oak would give similar grain effect with a nice red colour, but really the sky is the limit there is sassafras, tassie oak or mountain ash which are light coloured and relatively easy to work, beech myrtle which varies from creamy to orange sometimes with intense patterning, as for the contrasts there are also heaps including australian red cedar (toona species), redgum, brush box, etc. in reds, then there are the likes of blackwood, walnut, and more for the other colours. Really I would pay a visit to a timber merchant in your local area or visit a woodworking club and see what you like. ask all the questions you need to including species names, where it came from etc. so that you can source some. Museums and libraries can also be of help, museums often have samples which you can view and libraries will have similar in literary form. good luck and all the best.

Coachwood sprang to my mind.
Cheers,
Jim

Many thanks for your replies, some good advice! Much appreciated

Originally Posted by ybabe

Hi all, newbie here seeking recommendations for a project

I want to make some mirror frames in contrasting wood tones (using inlay), and I'd like the timber to have a fine, uniform grain.

For the lighter-toned timber I'd like a nice creamy colour, I'm thinking maybe silver ash? But for the darker colour I'm not sure. Maybe NSW scented rosewood? Any other recommendations for a timber that's easy-ish to work with and that has a fine grain?

I'm fairly new to woodworking, and I don't have a great deal of knowledge about timber types yet...

Cheers
Yulia

Good Choices but be aware that the Rosewood will leach oil over time.
Maybe Cedar or Jarra would give the same effect?

Cheers


Steve

Thanks Steve, that's good to know

I have a lot of various timbers, the remnants of the warehouse sale in Camperdown, including some of the species mentioned above. For picture framing, I can give you plenty to practice on. Mainly Kauri which is cream coloured and easy to work, Red Cedar and a wide range of others timbers a lot of which I haven't even identified. For the small sizes suitable for picture framing - it's free (up to a wheel barrow load or two )
Give me a call
Ken 0411 381 244