Wood Reviews

[BobD (Archive)]

Hey everyone,
With the redesign, we're adding two new departments, a new products section and a wood review section.

I've got plenty of new products, but I was just wondering what wood you all would be interested in seeing reviewed. I was thinking of starting with something basic like poplar or cedar, just because they are good for so many different projects...but what would you like to see in the future? Is there a specific kind of wood you've thought about trying, but been afraid to invest in it?

Bob

[ChuckD]

Maple, Redwood, birch, Difference in different Oaks, difference in different cedars, perhaps explain the Terms for using and cutting plywood, Pine, and how to prevent blotching on the ends, Other than the "sand it finer" news.

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Wishfull thinking

Hi Bob,

That is a good idea!

Here are a bunch of ideas that cross my mind: they may be appropriate or not ( I have learned to throw everything I can think of, then let others remove what doesn't apply ).

Figured woods like birds eye Maple or Tiger Maple...

Hardwoods like Walnut, Maple, Oak, Cedar

How about construction grade wood? The cheap ones at the store, what is good to buy/use, what should be avoided, what special treatment would be required (planing, jointing, finishing...)

What about woods used in flooring, prefinished (laminate) and not, Is it cheaper than regular wood? What about scrap pieces can they be safely used?

And of course, the exotics: Zebrawood, Padauk, Cocobolo, Ipe, Bamboo...

What about alternative materials: Corian, copper, silver, acrylic, Plexiglas, and why not fiberglass


Additional column ideas:

Also, Since colour is a big part of this hobby, how about a column on finishing? How to do a washcoat or sealcoat, how to prevent end grain from becoming much darker than face grain, how a finish alters the final colour of the wood or how to influence the final color of wood (refer to ebonizing thread)

How about a column on Scrollsaw jigs : IE suction setups (DC), tabletop extensions, holding tools, blade storage support, home made sanders, bow sanders ...

[minowevie]

HI Bob. I love learning about any woods. but I would like to now more about the ones in my area. Souther Calif. like Jackaranda. and Black Arcasia. and, Eucaliptas. And locuse. which I grow. sorry can't spell those but hope you can read them. your friend Evie.

[lucky788scroller]

Any wood is good! I would say the more common woods wouldnt need to be touched to much, but what is a common wood to me, isnt quite so common to Gill or Teresa in NZ, so I would say any wood with scrolling worthiness. I do know one wood excellant for intarsia is black willow. Its fairly soft, cuts nice, and sands easily, and its color varies more then the colors of cedar. Dale

[Grizz]

Is there a specific kind of wood you've thought about trying, but been afraid to invest in it?

Bob

Fear.... Fear... I laugh in the face of fear...ha ha ha ha

(actually anything 'wood' be good. I try all kinds myself. I wouldn't mind seeing a listing of good contrasting woods or woods that work well together in certain situations.)

[Capt Weasel]

Throw in a few tips about finishing/stainability of a particular wood too. That helps alot when choosing a wood fro a project.
I'd go with the more commonly used woods and its varieties like oak, poplar, pine, cedar, aspen, ash, hickory, birch, mahogony, cherry walnut, etc., the plywoods like BB and Finnish etc. Throw in some exotic stuff occ. like teak, bubinga, ebony, bloodwood etc.
I like the idea alot. Can't wait to read it.

[gmackay]

Consider machineabilty or scroll-ability of the wood you are describing. Also the wood's (USA) availability, and cost are important considerations. You could also have a different way to finish the wood with every issue. Stain, tung oil, boiled linseed oil, shellac, paint, gel varnish, etc. come to mind.

You should probability start with the more common woods that we all seem to have available, like poplar, basswood, red oak, and aspen that is usually available at the home improvement warehouses.

[Gill]

Dale makes a good point. Can I make a plea on behalf of the international readership who might not have access to all the types of wood that are available in the USA? For example, Cedar, Bloodwood, Aspen, Jackaranda, Black Arcasia and Cocobolo are all uncommon on this side of the Pond, some more so than others. By the same token, I daresay you guys rarely get to play with woods like Hornbeam, Iroko, Beech or Sycamore, judging by how frequently I see them mentioned.

If SSW features an American indigenous wood, it would be nice to have a small accompanying feature on a European or Antipodean wood alongside it, just to keep the international rabble quiet .

I have seen features on wood species in other magazines but I've always found them boring and irrelevant. I don't need to know anything about a wood's habitat, the fruit it produces or the color of its leaves; I need to know where to acquire the wood, how expensive it is, and what its properties are. I need to know if it's open or close-grained, high in tannins or resin, how easily it cuts, if it will take a stain, if it will give off an irritating dust, if its color will detriorate on exposure to UV and other such distinguishing properties it may have

Gill

[BobD (Archive)]

That's EXACTLY what I had in mind, Gill...I don't care where it grows and what two trees were cross pollinated in the prehistoric times to create this tree...I want to know how it cuts, finishes, sands, and if there are any special precautions I should take when using it!

It's going to be a one-pager in every issue, so I've got to be brief! I see a lot of lists, charts, and graphics. And while not every wood will be available everywhere, I'll try to keep the mix interesting...

And the woods you mention are interesting, Gill, because we do have many of them here in the states, but don't necessarily use them. Beech, for example, it prized for firewood where I grew up in Northwestern PA, but almost never used for woodworking. Woodworkers tend to use hard maple, which is nearly as abundant!

Hornbeam we have in small sizes; it just doesn't grow too big on this side of the pond. I've got some pieces I'm going to laminate and turn into a mallet...but again, it isn't a common woodworking species.

I'm not as familiar with the other two...but that's another reason for the column...show off some of the lesser known woods that are also good for scrolling!

Bob

[owler]

What Gill said...

[Gill]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this feature appear now, Bob. It should be a very valuable resource .

Sycamore is a smashing wood for scrolling - it's soft yet substantial and cuts very cleanly. It also stains beautifully, with harewood being made out of it. I cut a portrait of the Beatles out of some last year. Initially, the wood looks white when it is cut or planed but it darkens into a dun color as time passes.

Gill

[Forester21]

Bob,
As a forester I know a little about trees, but not much about the lumber. And as many say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing....
Anyway, to me, Aspen and Popal, Popple, Poplar are all the same thing. There are differences in the aspen speicies - big tooth aspen, quaking aspen, cottonwood. Please tell me the differnce in the wood. I've read a lot of raves for using aspen - but the wood I have (I was told it is popple) is horrible to work with ~ it won't sand smooth - I get little tuffs of the grain sticking up all over.
Theresa

[Jediscroller]

Something I'd like to see would be multiple names for the same species, a sort of cross-reference list. I recently found out that African Mahogany is also know as Sapele (I thought they were 2 different woods). Brazilian Cherry is also known as Jatoba, etc.
As far as identifying it in the wild and where it grows, that could be very beneficial if you're fortunate enough to own a portable saw mill (which is on my wish list).

Kevin

[minowevie]

Gosh Gill: I didn't know there was so much I didn't know I wonted to know. wwwwwwwwwwuuuuuuuuuu. Girl I need to puppydog you around. I sure could learn alot. Wow. thanks for your post. your friend Evie