Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Lawton on October 29, 2009 at 12:19am

Most of the time, in the true spirit of 'found objects' CBGs, I recycle wood from other objects such as scrap furniture. I have found that 'dumpster diving' - which I suppose we would call 'skip scrumping' - can yield all sorts of interesting stuff. It just takes a bit of cheek to ask somebody if you can take some of their craop out of their skip for them. Much better than having stuff go to land-fill of course. Also, join your local free-cycle network and see what turns up.
Old table legs - usually made from mahogany, beech or oak - are ideal for making necks from. Old floor-boards are a great source of pine, and sometimes knackered fencing panels will yield usefull cedar. Old wooden external doors - particularly mahogany ones - often yield some nice big chunks of useable wood and all kinds of doors - both inside and outside - can provide pieces of brass to make your own hardware from in the form of 'door furniture'.
I also also sometimes buy interesting pieces of timber off e-bay, but please don't do that too as the competition might force the prices up !
You could also try finding somewhere which makes solid wood furniture or bedroom and kitchen units and offer to help them dispose of their off-cuts. It works for me !
Another thing I sometimes do is, if I see some council workers either felling trees or pruning off some really big limbs, is to ask them for a couple of big pieces before they go into the 'chipper'. You then just strip the bark off and leave it in your loft for ten years or so to season nicely. I have some sycamore, apple and cherry currently getting itself ready to be made into instruments.
FInal possibility is looking in the yellow pages for your local timber merchants and getting them to order what you need for you - but that's not really in the spirit of it, is it ?

Permalink Reply by Joebud on October 29, 2009 at 12:33am

Theres a great place not too far from you from you, just north of Wetherby. I've bought plenty from them before now. try this link: http://www.john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk/

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on October 29, 2009 at 2:24am

cheers joebud i`ll check it out many thanks

Joebud said:

Theres a great place not too far from you from you, just north of Wetherby. I've bought plenty from them before now. try this link: http://www.john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk/

Permalink Reply by Fergus Morris on October 29, 2009 at 3:18am

I get beech wood from Jewson in Oxford. They have a store and a timber yard right next to it where they cut wood. They don't have a big selection of hard woods i don't think, but beech works fine for me, and they plane it down to the size I ask for, it is fairly cheap too, and they are friendly even though my orders must look ridiculous compared to people ordering hundreds of bits of wood for major building projects. According to the internet there is a jewson in Doncaster, but i don't know if they have a timber yard....

Permalink Reply by smojo on October 29, 2009 at 3:48am

haven't bought a piece yet. I got some solid mahogany shelves that came from a uni originally and someone was giving them away on freecycle. Join you local one (through Yahoo) and put a wanted add on there. I've had some good stuff from it. Also if you have any old relatives with garages they want clearing out you might find some there. Local recycling should provide some if you talk to the council guys nicely.

Permalink Reply by Roosterman on October 29, 2009 at 4:04am

I share your woes brother! Up here in the highlands they look at you daft if you want to buy anything other then fence posts.
I have a contact for a chap in Newark who does all sorts - oak, mahogany, beech, walnut, elm etc etc and he will cut / plane to size and post if thats any use to you?
Other than that, beg, borrow or freecycle!!

Permalink Reply by Yellowbelly Flatt on October 29, 2009 at 5:58am

As well as local woodyards (there are a few still around that sell 'proper' wood), I have used Craft supplies and Touchstone tonewoods. There is also a local woodyard in Balderton, Newark, that my Father uses for top woods for making furniture.

Both offer an excellent service by mail order and are very rapid with their deliveries. Both (and especially touchstone) are also a great source for things like tools, frets, bridges, nuts, pick ups, etc, etc.

http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/

http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/index.html

Yellowbelly.

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on October 29, 2009 at 9:32pm

cheers guys for the help, really given me food for thought.... :-)

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on November 2, 2009 at 12:14am

Managed to get me lovely chunk of oak 4 foot long x 15inch wide x 2 inch deep
from a little place in Retford called
Heads Yard. Got it for £2.00
meza happy chappie ;-)