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10th August 2023, 01:18 PM #1
Seeking ideas and suppliers for joinery timber for Japanese Shoji screens
Hi Brains trust,
I'm making a bunch of sliding doors in the style of Shoji. Typically traditional Shoji would be tight-grained QS softwood. My requirements are that it should be blonde to yellow and QS and don't care if it's hardwood or softwood but not as dense as eg spotty. Max length would be 2307mm and roughsawn 38mm thick.
I've had a quote yesterday for Hemlock and after losing consciousness and bumping my head I've just woken up and dusted myself off and thought of the forums.
I'm also waiting on a quote for Vic Ash, but the problem with it is colour control.
Others I've thought of are Jacaranda (can't find suitable locally), Silver Ash (hard to find, expensive), American Tulipwood, Hoop.
Years ago I used to be able to buy Baltic pine framing timber in Brisbane which might suffice but I can't find any suppliers anymore.
Must be Quarter Sawn though.
Hit me with your ideas please.
Cheers
Michael
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10th August 2023 01:18 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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10th August 2023, 03:08 PM #2
Some time ago there was a Japanese guy here in Burleigh making screens using camphor laurel for at least some of it. Des Knight on the other hand had a load of Huon pine he used for his Kumiko screens.
A while back there was a thread on here about some fine grain pine studs coming through the Green Shed (pre covid) that might work. I'd think Hoop pine might be a reasonably available choice around Brisbane.Franklin
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10th August 2023, 04:42 PM #3Senior Member
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Qld Kauri seems like it would also be a match for your intended project.
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10th August 2023, 08:25 PM #4
Got a supplier name?
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10th August 2023, 11:22 PM #5
What about hoop pine?
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11th August 2023, 11:19 AM #6Senior Member
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I cannot say of a supplier currently in your part of the World for QLD Kauri as it is not exactly a mainstream species that's readily available .
Having said that, most seems to come from either salvaged or fallen trees and suggest canvassing someone local, who's a tree lopper or a portable sawmiller .
My stash, for what it's worth, probably wouldn't be cost effective when you have to factor in transport costs etc, but I still think the Kauri if you can get hold of it would be great for your intended project. It's just so good to work with...
C.R.
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11th August 2023, 11:53 AM #7
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11th August 2023, 04:04 PM #8
Michael, just before lockdown we were in Japan and watched a guy in Kyoto demonstrating how to make shoji screens.
He was using powlonia timber. One of the forum members used to sell powlonia.
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11th August 2023, 05:11 PM #9
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22nd August 2023, 10:23 AM #10Intermediate Member
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Cypress is used extensively in Japanese construction, I'm not sure if for Shoji screens but it wouldn't surprise me. Do you have Cypress windbreaks up north? Down here Macrocarpa Cypress is easy to get, generally in feature grade but if you ask a salvage miller nicely you can get small quantities in select grade and it's lovely to work and very easy to dry. Not Australian White Cypress, it's Cupressus Macrocarpa (occasionally Lusitanica) and sold under a few common names. Perhaps not worth the freight from down south if it's not local to you though.
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22nd August 2023, 02:00 PM #11
Japanese cypress or hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a very different timber from macrocarpa. It is fine grained and in many properties it is comparable to Huon pine, but even more expensive than Huon.
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22nd August 2023, 02:19 PM #12Intermediate Member
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I've no doubt, I have no experience with Hinoki. I believe Japan imports other cypress species for construction use though, including Mac. I could be wrong, the impression is based on chatter from a couple of Japanese craftsmen on the likes of Instagram.
In any case I still reckon it wouldn't be a bad timber for screens, it's extremely stable.
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1st September 2023, 06:44 PM #13
So sorry I didn't reply earlier. We don't or at least I don't see any Macrocarpa up here, only the Callistrus. Anyway I found a niche timber supplier out my way and have bought some very nice quatersawn E. dunnei. Very pale like jacaranda, a bit coarser like Tas oak/ vic ash, but very stable and featureless as recommended for frames.
Cheers
Michael
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