Types of wood for projects. This is always an item of discussion when we communicate with our clients. Most of the clients have specific woods they like because they have seen them on pieces, or have a preference for light over dark woods or vice versa. Some like straight grain some like highly figured wood. When choosing the wood for a project you need to consider these aspects. As in all purchases, Cost rears its ugly head and comes in to the mix, sorry it has to be a factor but it is in our shop on a daily basis. If it is not something you have to consider, that’s great, otherwise you are in the same boat as most of us.
Now let’s get into various aspects of wood, including quality, grade, cost, grain, color, durability and availability, wow how am I going to choose. Rino has a good site to help, also woodandshop.com can help with your decisions.
A good thing to keep in mind if cost comes into the mix, keep your eyes open for material that others may consider scrap or just want to clean out some old wood in their garage. For instance my son-in-law was wanting to clean his garage and had some wood, most in the rough, he has been storing for years. I took most of it and found a piece of birch (in the rough) that had enough material for a small desk top. I cleaned it up in the shop and made a top for a treadle base I had purchased and refurbished last year. The wood turned out to be beautiful once cleaned up and coated with poly, sometimes like they say, ‘a diamond in the rough’, this was one of those cases. Oh yeah the Wenge (Inlay and border) was left over from another project and worked well as accent here. Good scrap hunting!!
Now let’s get into various aspects of wood, including quality, grade, cost, grain, color, durability and availability, wow how am I going to choose. Rino has a good site to help, also woodandshop.com can help with your decisions.
A good thing to keep in mind if cost comes into the mix, keep your eyes open for material that others may consider scrap or just want to clean out some old wood in their garage. For instance my son-in-law was wanting to clean his garage and had some wood, most in the rough, he has been storing for years. I took most of it and found a piece of birch (in the rough) that had enough material for a small desk top. I cleaned it up in the shop and made a top for a treadle base I had purchased and refurbished last year. The wood turned out to be beautiful once cleaned up and coated with poly, sometimes like they say, ‘a diamond in the rough’, this was one of those cases. Oh yeah the Wenge (Inlay and border) was left over from another project and worked well as accent here. Good scrap hunting!!