Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clarky on March 11, 2013 at 10:13pm

I used a couple of pieces of pine from B&Q for my first two and they worked out ok, but from then on I bought packs of off cuts from ebay.  There are plenty there.  I try and make sure they are about a meter in length and something in the region of 40 x 20 mm (or bigger to be cut/planed down).  The last pack I got was oak and I got about 25 lengths for £30.  Total bargain, great wood and I've done about 17 guitars from that lot so far.

Oh and meant to say a lot of the guys who sell offcuts on ebay leave phone numbers on their auctions so that if you don't see what you want, you can just contact them.

Permalink Reply by Hep Cat on March 11, 2013 at 11:15pm

Clarky

Thank You very much for that info.  I'll do a search on Ebay right now.

Cheers

Midge

Permalink Reply by Tony Brown on March 13, 2013 at 5:36am

Was in B&Q near Whitstable today for some paint so wandered down to the 'wood end'. Found a piece of oak 90cm long by 4 x 4 cm. I think it was a sort of basis for a Stair Bannister upright. It was reduced as it had a chip off one corner at one end. In a place that would have to be cut off anyway for CBG.

Its a big heavy chunk of wood that could almost be made into a Baseball bat, or some sort of weapon.

It will do for my next CBG

Permalink Reply by Clarky on March 11, 2013 at 11:54pm

Meant to say also some of the wood on ebay can be expensive, just trawl through until you see a decent auction.

Permalink Reply by Hep Cat on March 11, 2013 at 11:58pm

Thanks for the warning trouble is I have no real idea what a fair price for wood is :o(

Totally new to all this.  Guess I'll learn the hard way.

Midge

Permalink Reply by Chris Thomas on March 12, 2013 at 12:02am

Hi Midge, there are plenty of fantastic British woods that are available ready cut from wood stockists. Local small "one man" joiners will cut your wood at a very reasonable price. If you are lucky enough to become friendly with them they are more than willing to let you have off cuts from jobs for little or nothing. Some colleges do night school wood work courses and allow you to buy wood at cost and you will then be able to use the tools and machinery to cut/plane/shape everything you desire. I used to do a lot of turning and joined a local club and once I became friendly with the majority of members they were more than willing to cut wood for me free of charge. Look round your area and ask anyone in the wood working business if they would be kind enough to help you, it costs nothing to ask and you may be surprised how many people are more than willing to give you a helping hand, best of luck mate, Chris. :)  

Permalink Reply by Mark on March 12, 2013 at 9:36am

I'd suggest avoiding oak unless you really can't get anything else suitable, it's a very tough wood and not easy to work.

Sapele is a possibility you should consider. It's a hardwood widely used in the joinery industry as a substitute for mahogany. It's nice to work with and you can get a really nice finish on it.

When I've needed to buy wood for necks I've tried local joinery firms - generally they've been very helpful (in one case a fiver donation to the office coffee fund got me a couple of offcuts turned into nicely cut and planed neck blanks)

Ironically, firms that describe themselves as "timber merchants" are probably not a great bet. They seem to tend to be the sort of place that deal in big bits of wood - eg. structural stuff for houses, fence posts etc. And in the UK that seems to be dominated by softwoods (pine) with a bit of oak for the posher or heavier duty end of the market. Instead definitely look for joinery firms.

Permalink Reply by David Bowes on March 15, 2013 at 9:36am

Midge

I am in Nottingham and managed to get a 7ft 2x1 inch  length of oak form Fitchett & Woolacot for about £10.00, link blow.

 http://www.fitchetts.co.uk/

David

Permalink Reply by David Bowes on March 17, 2013 at 8:15am

Midge

I managed to scrounge some old mahogany  type shelves,  I can let you have one, the size is 110 cm X 25 cm X 17MM (approx ) if you are passing in Nottingham ever.

David

Permalink Reply by Hep Cat on March 17, 2013 at 9:14am

David

Thanks so much for the kind offer mate.  I won't be over Nottingham way anytime soon though.  Hope you manage to get some nice builds out of them.

Best Wishes

Midge

Permalink Reply by Tony Brown on March 17, 2013 at 9:39am

Have a click at this

.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Northeast-Timber

.

and have a look around.

I think they have lots more at their stores.

Tony 

Permalink Reply by Chris Thomas on March 17, 2013 at 11:29am

Hey David, that's the kind offer from the Nations builders that I like to see, if your ever going near Ossett, West Yorkshire, drop in for a chat and a cuppa and some top free exotic wood mate, share and share alike, welcome anytime mate, with gems like you the Nation rules. Your a sound guy in my book. I love it, we share everything with the Nations members, well done that man, kettles on anytime for you David. All the best, Chris. :)

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