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77K views 136 replies 68 participants last post by  DamnYankee 
#1 ·
Sourcing the timber.

Many of you have asked where I get my timber…

Well I will let you in on a little secret…[For all the Australian Readers.]

Even though I have nearly 20 tonnes of timber in stock, when I need a special piece I go and see Trevor Gaskiel at Northgate [Brisbane]

Trevor, an accomplished and highly acclaimed woodworker, is a timber merchant specialising in Tasmanian Timbers.

All who frequent the Timber shows around Australia, will know Trevor and most probably have bought timber from Trevor at one time or other… what you may not now is that you can buy timber from Trevor all year around.

Trevor's woodstore has been likened to Aladdin's Cave … due to the vast treasures that can be found there… Tasmanian Blackwood, Myrtle, Huon Pine and Celery Top Pine are in abundant supply.



Figured examples abound.. as well as turning blanks of all sizes… this is just a small selection in a shipping container… the rest is under his house in racks.. a veritable labyrinth..

For the eagle eyed amongst you, there is two pieces of Purple Heart in the foreground of the picture above… these came from my very limited supply, for a client of Trevor's….I exchanged these for some Blackwood, Huon and Camphor… shown in the boot of my car..



A closer shot… the camphor was too long for the boot …had to drop the centre of the back seat…



Some of this timber is destined for the Chopping Block I intend to build… this will be the biggest I have build so far and I intend to blog about the process from sourcing the timber to the finished item being picked up by it's new owner…[Later this week]

I always think I have got the better end of my dealings with Trevor… while he doesn't give timber away, you always go away very happy with the deal. Good quality timber at a good price…

So next time you want something a little different for that special project give Trevor a call on [07] 33146816 or try his mobile 0403496 403. If you are fortunate enough to live in S. E. Queensland, you can arrange to go over and have a butchers at his fabulous store of wonderful timbers.

You will not be disappointed… I never am…

Just remember to mention my name.
 
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#3 ·
That would be one advantage of living in Queensland Larry, having a supplier like Trevor close by. I spotted the Purple Heart straight off, haven't found a good supplier in Victoria but close enough to Tasmania to get some good pieces. Bst of luck with the chopping block.
 
#5 ·
you lucky dog, i knew you had something up your sleave, and what lurks within the piles of timber behind your shed, know one knows…but you…lol…...puting that purple heart into the center of these stacks…lol…....thanks for the tour…cant wait to see this next board….grizz
 
#6 ·
Oh yes I will hop right over-LOL-I do remember what it is like to have a close good supplier of special woods. While I was in Houston there was a place there that had almost any exotic wood one wanted, it was self serve just go inside and choose what you needed. well that really changed when I moved to a small south Georgia town, nothing here and have to have what I want shipped in at double the price yet cheaper than me driving to get it. Lived in Melbourne for awhile and miss the Aussie woods available there.

Larry that drink twice gets me in trouble I want a third.
 
#7 ·
Looking forward to seeing the continuation of your project blog Larry. Where will the XXL board be used?

I am able to get some more exotic types of woods here in Norway now. We also have caves filled with timber here in Norway too. Unfortunately they are all filled with pine and fir. We do have great Christmas trees though.
 
#10 ·
Dressing the boards..

Having sourced the timber it was time to cross cut to size and rip to width..

The board is going to be 650 mm by 400 mm [26 in by 16 in] so I cut the pieces to 850 mm [34 in] taking in the 3mm [1.8 in] kerf for each cross cut in the next step….. and sized them to 50 mm [2 in] thick.

This will leave a little extra to hold against the fence when crosscutting and maybe a little left over the make a small herb board to match…


Then each piece was ripped to the desired width… and arranged to give the best pattern… making sure to orientate the grain…



Each board from the right was moved over to the left to see how the patteren would look.



This pattern had to be adjusted to make sure the width of the board was exactly 400 mm.

[The width dictated that more strips were used… to make sure that there was no splitting … wood movement in larger pieces may eventually cause cracks…]


Into the clamps over night… next step tomorrow…
 
#28 ·
Crosscutting..

Well, the first blank was in clamps over night…


Now a few light passes through the drum sander.

This board is too large just to push against the fence to cross cut the engrain slices and I have not made a sled for my new table saw so I attached a block of wood to the incra mitre guage and used it backwards. By backwards I do not mean I cut backwards… just had the guage on the other side of the blank as I pushed it forward…



To hold it steady I clamped the blank to the block… and used the fence as a way of measuring the 50 mm or 2 inches I decided on for thickness..


After the board was in the right position for the cut and clamped, I move the fence away..


This is done so that the cut piece is not pinched between the blade and the fence… very dangerous..


After cutting all the pieces they were rolled and flipped… here is a sneak peek..



[TIP… run all four side of each piece through the Drum Sander… a little extra work but you will find the fit a lot better…]
 
#54 ·
What does it weigh?

A few folks asked about the weight of the board I am making… so I got the old scales out…


Here is the result…


Nearly 7.5 kilograms [kg] and for our American Cousins who prefer imperial measurements… just over 16 pounds [lb]

[Tip… I number each piece on the end with chalk so that I can reassembly the board in the right order… and chalk washes off…]
 
#73 ·
Let the sanding begin.

The board is all assembled, glued and out of the clamps for a day… off to the drum sander to true up both surfaces…[there is always a little slip] ...top and bottom.

This is done slowly avoiding any burning of the endgrain.. which will require more sanding to remove..

Then begins the multi steps of Random Orbital Sanding… from 80 grit through 100, 120, 150 and 220. Lastly a burnish with 1500… optional.



Here we are after the first sanding with 80 grit… notice the vacuum attached…no dust…


I have sanded the sides and rolled the edges..


This close up showcases the tightness of the joins and why it is important to sand the glue joints prior to glue up…

After working through the grits the board will be flooded with Grapeseed Oil… drop by tomorrow and see how the grains and colours POP…
 
#98 ·
Shipping to the USA?

My largest board yet would cost between AU$94.80 [best part of a hundred bucks US and take several weeks] and AU$228.95 [US$240.00 and a few days] to send to the states…I don't think the US is going to be my target market with these big boards… although you never know…With my prices low and shipping high… I may still be in with a chance over the top end of the market there…
What say you all?
 
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