Very seldom these days can you buy properly seasoned new timber. It will warp, twist and shrink, so that something you make that is good to start with will look very different six months later. That is one big advantage of using manmade substitutes. So far as appearances are concerned, however, nothing looks as good … Read more
Since the turn of the century a number of manmade materials have been devised to take the place of natural timbers. They have many advantages: the size of pieces is not dictated by the thickness of a tree trunk; they are cheap; they are more easily cut and one of them (the thinner variety of … Read more
If you don’t know what is the best wood to use for a job tell your timber merchant what you propose making and be guided by him. You can buy timber already planed — called prepared or PAR (planed all round) — which saves a lot of working time because it has only to be … Read more
Where timber is to be used for furniture or any other function where strength and appearance are important, it is essential the best available material is purchased. A reputable timber merchant will allow you to select wood from stock to suit your own requirements and you should always take advantage of this; never buy timber … Read more
Buying your materials Timber is now commercially cut and sold in metric measurements, in centimetres and millimetres – in most countries. However, feet and inches are still most widely used and acceptable in purchasing timber in others. The change-over to metric measurements has also meant that certain sizes (in inches) are no longer automatically available … Read more