Thread: What timbers go with which?

Ok blue, no replies yet so I'll see if I can help (just read your other post). I don't know of any combinations to avoid though I'd imagine that two timbers that were almost the same might look more like a botched attempt at matching rather than an intentional contrast. Looking through magazines and books can give you ideas on what looks good and what doesn't, it also saves you having to experiment too much (experimenting can also be a good thing sometimes). If you see an item that looks good you don't need to use the exact same timbers, but how the timbers and their colours are put together is important. Here's a pic of a jewellery box I made for my niece (sorry about the image quality, my brother just emailed this from perth). The top panel and inside dividers are mango, the rest is red cedar, base of tray and box covered in black suede and its finished in penetrol wood oil.

Another one, the top could have been curly maple or tiger myrtle and the result would be much the same, its just that I don't have access to maple or myrtle but mango trees are being cut down and dumped all the time (in queensland that is).

So I don't think there are any strict rules as to which timber goes with what, but how they are put together will have the biggest impact and this will largely come down to personal preference and possibly how much of each timber you have. I was given a small piece of huon pine and an even smaller piece of ebony a few weeks back, the only problem now is working out how to combine them to the best effect.

Dan

Good advice from Dan, also very nice work.

Hi Dan,
Thanks for your replies, the information was a great help.
Cutting down Mango trees in QLD, I'd better get up there pretty quick.

cheers 3LB

I like using WA Sheoak and some dark jarrah in stuff that I turn. Segmented or just laminated articles

Have fun...............keep turning