Replies

1. 
   ring | Feb 25, 2006 07:47pm | #1

   Sorry, but this is a bit like asking a chef what kind of groceries to stock.  It's much too personal.  Start working project by project; you'll soon develop your own preferences for wood species and sheet goods.   And before you know it you'll have left over stock without even trying. 

   DR

2. 
   Ricks503 | Mar 14, 2006 09:53pm | #2

   I agree with Ring.  It is personal in what you like to do.

   If you are building cabinets, you will have more need of sheet goods, If you are building outdoor furniture - Cedar, redwood, teak, ipe

   If you are doing period reproductions, Cherry, walnut, maple, oak, mahogony..

    

   Your best bet is to figure a 50% waste for each project and that will build up your supply.  also do a search on scraps - we had a discussion on that a little while ago. a lot of woodworks use tiny scraps wor inlay and marquetry projects - others will burn them when they get too small for furniture members.

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
3. 
   Lataxe | Mar 14, 2006 10:58pm | #3

   Spardos,

   The best timber is free timber. 

   Cultivate people in the building trade, down at the docks or other locations where good old wood (often in the shape of beams, door frames, fencing and so forth) is routinely sent to the bonfire or the landfill.  They can often find you fantastic stuff.  Over time, reward their help with a nice bit of furniture in return.

   It comes as it comes - but is often in need of only basic reconfiguration for your project - you sometimes get timber already planed and dimensioned for whatever it came from.

   My favourites are:

   Brazilian rosewood from old pubs (bars) and banks (skirting, architraves, newell posts, etc.) -common in the UK.

   Teak and aformosia from chemistry benches (ignore the stains, they're only on the surface)

   Old pitch pine from redundant industrial and farm buildings.

   Hard maple from gym floors or machine room floors.

   Beech from the large packing pieces used by heavy lorry transporters.

   Various exotics, from packing pieces used to pack pallets of such wood imported on the decks of ships.

   Once you've horded a goodly plank or ten, find a piece of furniture to make that will suit the wood type, quantity and dimensions you have found. 

   Lataxe

4. 
   spardos | Mar 15, 2006 02:21am | #4

   Thanks everyone! I such a newbie at this, and im thirsy for any info you can give.