Greetings Folks,
I’m getting ready to build a cherry Queene Anne interpretation piece. Can anyone recommend a secondary wood for the internal framing that would be appropriate to use or should I make the whole piece with cherry?
I’d like to use what might be considered traditional, whatever that is?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Replies
Pine. That's "traditional", depending on its availability in the area surrounding the maker. Bonus -- it also smells nice. ;-)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks Mike,
I have a friend who is a sawyer and has a kiln. Can get all/any dimension of rought cut dried pine, and VERY CHEAP too!
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 5/15/2007 11:42 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Hi Bob,
As suggested, pine is a good traditional choice. From New England states south to Va, white pine was commonly used. I recently worked on a piece that had a history of Maine or NHampshire ownership, that had a lot of basswood (linden) secondary. From New York south to Va, poplar (tulip poplar, tuliptree, tulipwood) was also commonly used. Pa south thru the Carolinas, you'll see longleaf pine ("old pine", yellow pine, heart pine) . Carolinas and further south, cypress. In short, whatever species was common, cheap, large, and easily worked in your geographic area.
Ray
Thanks Ray,
Guess pine is what I'll use. That was way too easy!
I have a slew of 3/8" birch drawer side material that I want to use for the drawer sides and backs; half blind dovetails to attach the cherry fronts. I can't wait to get started!
Oh, and you made the dogs bark again. Chair w/da window! Pressed ham! That was hard to resist responding to.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Ray,
Using pine or some other cheap stuff as a secondary may be traditional but is it "right"? As your post mentions, the motive in times-past seemed to be that "its cheap".
Personally I have regretted using such stuff as secondary wood, especially for things like drawers or drawer runners. It wears - fast. It also bends if stressed, particularly if the bits are thin (more cost-cutting). Quarter-sawn oak is traditional for such roles within proper furniture made here in the UK. :-)
Of course, I am too modern and ought to be burned on a bonfire of old furniture that has fallen to bits or gone saggy. After all, they knew everything in the 18th century - although Isaac Newton was not quite right about space and time (its space-time) and also fell for that astrology nonsense, not to mention alchemy.
No doubt a piece madewth internal whie pine will be perfectly fine, as long as one merely looks at it rather than putting it to use, such as storing jammies, bobble hats or trews, all of which are in and out of the drawers like a piston in an Indian.
Of course, pitch (or heart) pine is a different matter - good strong stuff and a delicious whiff to boot.
Lataxe, a troublemaker.
Now I am confused, but that's not all that difficult for me, this being my first serious furniture piece. Now for the butter up part, thanks to encouragement from all you folks.
Many grins and appreciation to ALL. And a very special Welcome Back to Lataxe!
I understand the virtues of both woods as a secondary, pine being the traditional and oak being the least resistant to wear.
OK, how about a compromise - birch? It is stable, wearable with wax applied to rubbing surfaces, would allow thinner material to keep the piece lightweight and would be easier to mill than oak.
Most appreciative to ALL.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 5/15/2007 8:26 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Bob,
Go for it. Birch will do you just fine.
Ray
Confused? Methinks that's 'cause you asked the wrong question in your OP. You asked what is "traditional" for a secondary wood in a Queen Anne piece. The answer to that question is usually "pine" as I, and several others, replied. Given your later posts indicating that this will be an entertainment center (heavy stuff, lots of use/wear), and since 18th century entertainment centers were much lighter and less used than today's <G>, you may want to forgo "traditional" and beef things up a bit. I usually use oak for drawer parts on pieces that will see more wear. Since you have some WO, I'd use that for the drawers & internal parts. I like to use red oak for drawer slides -- I lube them with beeswax and I think the large pores in red oak help hold the wax longer. The bottom line is an entertainment center is not a reproduction piece and "traditional" may not apply when non-traditional uses are contemplated.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Have you considered poplar?
Laraxe, you troublemaker,
It was 'splained to me many years ago, when I was just a young impressionable sprout, that the reason pine made for a good choice as secondary wood was that the pitch or resin in it acted as a natural, built in lubricant. Youse does wax yer oaken drawer sides from time to time I reckon?
'Course for a thouroughly modern chap like yourself, I s'pose a nice bit of mdf, held in place wif a bikkie or two, and supported on ball bearing slides, will do the trick.
Nice of you to rememeber the old Indian's pistons. In case you were wondering, the spark plugs are still sparkin', the carbureter is still carburetin', transmission is still transmissin', and those pistons... they're still working too.
Ray
Hello.
Thought about Oak?
Here in the UK we use Oak as the 2nd timber with Mahogany - looks great.
Maybe it would work with Cherry?
Cheers
Owen
Owen,
I have a goodly supply of rough cut white oak that I've had for several years now. In the case of the drawers that might wear better as they will see fairly frequent use.
I like Rays suggestion as pine is traditional and would keep the piece light in weight. Pondering the possibility of using both................
The piece will house the entertainment components with a flat panel display mounted on the wall behind it.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 5/15/2007 3:03 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Hello, Bob-
Just a late chime-in here. I would state that since the piece is probably for yourself, and not a museum reproduction, that you should use any of the woods stated that you have plenty of.
Around these parts, maple and poplar are quite common, and I have thousands of bf of each, so that is what I use consistantly for a secondary wood choice. Use whatcha got on hand, and don't bat an eyelash.
Jeff
I also was pleased to see the return of our ole' friend Lataxe the Terrible.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled