Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Hi from Ireland

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    3

    Default Hi from Ireland

    I am a production woodturner, salad , fruit bowls etc. My wife is Aussie and we are looking at the possibility of moving to Melbourne over the next year or so. Just wondered what are the issues as regards drying wood,ie how much humidity, effects of heat etc. Do people mostly air dry? Here I operate a drying kiln for all turned work and have to have a dehumidifier in main workshop all year round.
    I use mainly ash and beech. I know there are some amazing timbers in Oz but would like to know what are the accepted staples at reasonable prices for production turning, salad servers, chopping boards etc.?

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    G'day Doyler. Welcome to the forum.

    Humidity in Melb is generally fairly low. Air drying without mould is possible if you have the time to wait. And an average size rough turned green bowl is good to go in several months.

    A production turner with a network can source enough free timber from lopped trees etc to keep going though there is a worrying trend for urban authorities to woodchip downed trees.

    I can't help you with prices of seasoned stuff in common species - suggest you send a PM to about that. You'll find his posts on the turning sub-forum.
    Cheers, Ern

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Hi Rsser, ta for that. Just wondered what are the common species with good supply?

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Dundowran Beach
    Age
    76
    Posts
    19,922

    Question

    Not an expert on Melbourne but every time I go there it rains, it blows, it gets very cold and then it gets bloody hot a few days later.Must be a bugger to dry timber there.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Flinders Shellharbour
    Posts
    5,693

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Elimbah, QLD
    Posts
    3,336

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    Off the top of the head:

    Mrytle Beech, Huon Pine (expensive), Blackwood, Mountain Ash (one of three species lumped together as Tasmanian Oak), Pinus Radiata, Redgum, Silky Oak, Cypress Pine, Sassafras, Jarrah, Brushbox.

    Fairly common lopped amenity trees that you can expect to score free in or near Melb. from time to time include Plane Tree (P. Hybridus I think it is), Silky Oak, Silver Birch, English Elm, Claret and Desert Ash, Brushbox, Bluegum, Cypress, Norfolk Island Pine, White and Red Oak, Camphor Laurel.

    There are a few salvage operators from whom you can get these green at source.

    For some pics as well as retail prices of dried blanks at the top end of the market see http://www.thewoodsmith.com.au/thewoodsmith/wood01.htm

    Also see http://www.mathewstimber.com.au/store/page.pl?id=284

    Species and their turning qualities are listed here though not all are commonly available:
    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...urning+timbers
    Cheers, Ern

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    humpty doo N.T
    Age
    48
    Posts
    3,040

    Default

    Humidity Melbourne would not know what humidity was come up to the tropics 90%+ now that is humidty
    Cheers Rum Pig

    It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    The bigger risk in Melb is a string of 40 degree + days over summer; with timber in a shed with a metal roof you don't need a kiln.
    Cheers, Ern

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thank you guys for all the info. It's helpful to try and get an overall picture.

Similar Threads

  1. G'day from Ireland
    By mccreamark in forum G'day mate - THE WELCOME WAGON -Introduce yourself
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 26th May 2009, 11:08 PM
  2. Hello from ireland
    By keithkarl2007 in forum G'day mate - THE WELCOME WAGON -Introduce yourself
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 31st December 2008, 07:22 AM
  3. Beth Ireland DVD
    By baxter in forum BANDSAWN BOXES
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 31st December 2006, 03:42 PM
  4. How Cars are Recovered in Ireland :)
    By Wayne Davy in forum WOODIES JOKES
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 8th June 2005, 10:10 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •