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A Sixty Year Relationship with Wood
Continued
MAPLE / SYCAMORE Whilst Maple comes from North America and Sycamore from Europe comparing straight-grained pieces it is some times difficult to tell one from the other. Should the materials be quarter sawn the maple has a bird's eye figure and the sycamore a wavy grain figure referred to in the trade as fiddle-back. In theUk. Sycamore has been used for centuries in the construction of the pillar, harmonic curves for harps and violin type instruments, the birds eye maple as a decorative veneer for sound boards and sound boxes. Both timbers with their high density and fine texture are ideal for the beginner to start carving and working, giving delightful results.
MIRANTI dark-ish red variety, open / coarse grain structure, a reasonably strong timber, used by bout builders and joineries. Can be purchased in long wide planks and stands up well in garden furniture.
MAHOGANY (Brazilian) Deep red in colour, quite strong with a medium grain texture, easy to machine giving a soft silky like finish. Used in high-class furniture, many marine applications, decking and superstructure.
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MAKORE dark red in colour, is quite strong, fine grain structure, gives a beautiful silky like finish and is a good substitute for Sycamore in the manufacture of harp pillars, harmonic curves and high class furniture.
WARNING do not under any circumstances machine or sand without adequate extraction as the fine dust contains an irritant which gives, sore throats, nose and eyes which can be very painful. Makore is top of my list as a high class imported hard wood.
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OAK where do I start?
As there is such a variety in this family and each member has its own characteristics and commercial use. My favourite being English Brown oak for its deep rich brown colour, grain structure, strength and character. It was the timber that put the Great into Great Britain during period that we ruled the waves. Over the centuries its been used as the main material in the construction of cathedrals, palaces, ships, agricultural machinery farm implements and classic ornate furniture. When attempting to work with oak it essential to have good quality sharp tools, strong arms and patients and you will reap your rewards. Whether you work with an ads, plane, scrape or polish quarter sawn oak with its characteristic silver grain trapped in a ray of evening sunlight it is music to the eyes of the beholder.
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OBECHE pale yellow in colour light in weight not a very strong timber. Used mainly in the furniture trade, it gives an attractive shiny silky finish when machined with very sharp cutters.
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PARANAPINE a popular wood in the sixties with do it your self-enthusiasts, relatively cheap, fairly strong, fine texture close grained generally pale brown in appearance with the occasional red streak. Used mainly in cabinet framing, shelving and shop fittings. Beware whilst it is relatively easy to work it is well known for its tendency to distort.
PEAR hard to come by, mainly grown for its fruit, pinkish in colour, very fine grain structure, quite heavy and strong. Because of the irregular shape of a pear tree it is difficult to find large pieces. Used mainly for turning bowls, knobs, handles and carving small objects. Sharp tools are required to give a good clean finish.
PITCH PINE commonly known as engineers timber, yellow/red brown in appearance, resinous especially on hot days clogges planes and hand tools. Supplied in long lengths with a fairly large cross section, used extensively as church and chapel structural members and pew construction.
PLANE wood varies in colour between light brown and gold; quarter sawn gives a beautiful silvery fleck hence the name Lacewood. A fairly strong timber well used for panelling in railway coaches and decorative furniture. To get the best results to appreciate its lacewood appearance its essential that hand and machine tools are very sharp.
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RAMIN
a white hard wood a good substitute for beech, when machined gives a clean smooth finish. Little known until the late fifties when it was imported as dowelling, mouldings and used in the manufacture of toys.
1976 A pair of cross-country skis made from ramin with the curved ends steamed and reinforced with Brazilian Mahogany.
After a very heavy snowfall in 1976, your truly returning from an epic journey on the snow covered main road from Pontycymer to Bridgend and back traversing through Panty Y Gog.
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ROSEWOOD is darkish brown in colour with the occasional purple black markings, quite heavy, its grain structure giving a silky like finish. Used in high-class furniture, musical instruments and oriental carvings. Whist working in India I experienced many highly skilled craftsmen carving intrical detailed sculptures in rosewood, carved using simple carving gouges, unfortunately many of the skills have disappeared in the UK.
SAPELE dark brown in colour has many characteristics of mahogany, when quarter sawn has a grain structure similar to a fine fiddle back appearance. It's a very strong timber quite heavy, when sawn into long planks tends to distort. Used mainly in high-class joinery and shop fittings.
TEAK golden brown in colour with black streaks, strong, quite heavy with an oily feel, has water and chemical resistant properties. Used in high-class furniture, marine fittings, seaside furniture, and many out door uses.When machined has a smooth silky like finish, lends to carving intricate details with sharp tools. When gluing because of its oily finish it is an advantage to score the surface to give a key for the glue. When gluing flat surfaces it is an advantage to use a toothing plane to score the surface.
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WALNUT (English) brown in colour, fairly strong, fine textured, when machined gives a clean silky finish. It has an attractive mixture of straight, curly and wavy grain used in the manufacture of gunstocks, high-class furniture, bank counters, shop fittings and ornate carved staircases. Comes a close second to Oak in my ratings of British timber. For best results, seek advice from your stockist to a piece that is suitable for your work, as a good piece walnut is too precious to waste
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With the black smiths on strike, Merlin fashions a chastity belt and padlock from English walnut to protect his true love Vivien before he accompanies King Arthur on one of his crusades.
Padlock an clasp made from a discarded bank counter, reclaimed from a roadside skip in Cardiff.
YEW brown in colour very strong and hard has a fine grain texture. During the late fifties I purchased several lengths and stored until well seasoned. Using my shaving horse as means of securing, I fashioned them to the profile of an English long bow. Where the bow stings were attached, I secured pieces of horns at the ends of the bow with epoxy resin, to avoid splitting. I found this an interesting exercise and had many hours of pleasure attempting to emulate the bowmen of old. In modern times it is still used in the furniture trade, for the curved parts of chairs.
Last and most important THE LAVA TREE where would we be without it, it is where one can think undisturbed, contemplate new ventures, and relax from the chores of modern day life.
(Ty Bach/Toilet)
I dedicate the above to the following with out whose guidance and inspiration I would not have created many wonderful articles.
W.H.Maddock "My Grand Father" W.E.Maddock "My Father" D.R Evan's Master joiner,
W. Polmeer. Head Technical Department Garw Grammar School, The shop floor staff W.G Bagnalls Locomotive Engineers Stafford where I served my engineering apprentice ship. John Thomas Harp Maker, F. June Maddock my former wife, Jean A. Maskrey and countless friends who encouraged me with their words of appreciation and support.
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