Thread: Seeking ideas and suppliers for joinery timber for Japanese Shoji screens

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.

Qld Kauri seems like it would also be a match for your intended project.

Got a supplier name?

What about hoop pine?

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.

Originally Posted by Pac man

What about hoop pine?

Thanks Pac man

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.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

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.

Thanks Graeme, this is Gold

Cheers
Michael

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.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by lostwax

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.

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