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FAQs |
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Can we supply Quartersawn Oak, or other species?
Sawmills will not normally produce truly quartersawn timber. If the objective is to obtain the most stable part of a log, for an appropriate premium, we will try to select the part of a log which has most of the attributes of quartersawing. However, this may be impractical in some species, so in order to find the best solution we can discuss the details with you.
I need 'white' Maple, can you supply this?
Unlike most species, North American/Canadian 'hard' Maple is graded both for defect e.g. FAS grade and for the sap-content, e.g. '#1& #2 White' is the specification which provides for only white sapwood on one face and possibly 50% sapwood on the reverse. One has to remember that 'white' is subjective. The official description assumes that the sapwood content will be the whiter part of the boards.
Is your Beech white or pink?
The more popular these days seems to be Unsteamed Beech. We resist calling it white because it will naturally have some variation of colour, but we stock German, prime kiln-dried Beech which is recognised as having the cleanest colour. Steamed Beech is only imported 'to order' as sales volumes are small.
Why is some Ash very pale, having a bland appearance, and some has a much more pronounced grain?
The best Ash is from the northeast coastal areas of America known as 'tough white Ash'. But this tough grain, ideal for bending and shaping, has colour variations whereas southern states Ash is more uniform but may need some grain filling.
Do you have any stable pine?
The immediate response will be to ask what the timber will be used for. If it's being used for cabinet-making, or other interior furniture then Quebec Yellow Pine is accepted as the most stable, particularly as the kiln-dried wood has a low moisture content. If it is being used for doors or similar joinery we might suggest Columbian Pine (Douglas Fir) with the option of buying 2" x 4" or 5" Quartersawn.
Why does Iroko sometimes twist after machining?
In our experience, and despite extra parallel sawing, a 'near square' section of Iroko (e.g. 70 x 70mm, 30 x 40mm, 45 x 55mm) has a greater tendency to twist than other sizes. The reason isn't necessarily due to kilning, but can also be caused by the interlocked grain or the calcium content.
How many millimetres are planed off timber?
Each species is different but generally hardwoods lose 6mm and softwoods 5mm. Wider boards may have slight distortion and therefore it is wise to allow 2-3mm more. We are happy to give you guidance.
I need some thick oak but don't want it to shrink, what can I do?
Depending upon the purpose we might suggest our 4 year air-dried 'beamstock' oak for constructional work, or we might offer to laminate the thickness from thinner kiln dried boards.
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