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[KOI]

Hi, general question re wood.
I am looking to build up stocks of different types of wood, balsa, strip, ply, mahogany sheet etc. Reason to have stock available is that I want to scratch build, but don't know what yet. At least having material on the shelf, lets me get on when I do decide.
So real question, as I don't have time to trawl the internet looking for the best deals etc, is there one place to go that people would recommend that I can buy all the wood I need.

[Captain Povey]

Hi, You could have a look at Jotika. They have a website with contact details etc.and John is very helpful. Graham

[Big Ada]

NEVER pass a Skip without checking for suitable Model making materials. 

Len.

[dougal99]

Have a look at SLEC www.slecuk.com they seem to cover most woods

[Colin Bishop]

To be honest, I would give a bit more thought to what you want to build first. No point in buying lots of balsa of you decide to build a Napoleonic style plank on frame sailing ship and no point on stocking up on lime or walnut stripwood if you choose something more modern. Different building methods usually lead to different material requirements and modelling woods are not cheap! Wood lengths and sheet widths can also be critical if you want to avoid a lot of unwelcome joints or avoid unnecessary wastage.

I have a good stock of modelling wood in my workshop built up over 40 years but I still often find I don't have exactly what I need when it comes to a specific job, deck planking for example.

I have spent over £50 on wood today to make a box for my current project, just white pine stripwood and standard plywood. It's a while since I have bought this sort of thing and boy, has the cost gone up!

Colin

[Liverbudgie2]

Look for a specialist wood supplier in you area such as G&S specialist Timber at the Alpaca Centre on the A6 near Penrith, http://www.toolsandtimber.co.uk/about-us yes I know it's a long way away for you, but they have an off cuts room full of timber such as oak, pine, lime etc. I often call in there just to see what they have in the bin's. You can also drool over the wood working machinery they have on sale.

To make it even more worth while a little further into the village there is a pub which does a superb lunch and has Black Sheep on tap into the bargain.

[tonyH]

I'd back Dougal with SLEC. Decent prices, decent quality and not a zillion miles from Peterborough if you want to collect.
 

[ballastanksian]

I have Yandles with the same arrangement north of Crewkerne in Somerset, you can find all sorts of offcuts.

But yes, Jotika and SLEC are your primary sources for specialist modelling timbers in the quantities you would require for making model ships. The model shop that still exists near me does not have a reliable quantity of timbers but do have a good range of carbon fibre tube and rod.

I would build up a stock of ply as this is useful for decks and for superstructure. Look at aeroply and birch plywood in 1.5mm and 3.2mm.

[grendel]

skips, old furniture, charity shops and boot fairs for me, add a table saw to cut it to the size I want.

[BFSMP]

and has Black Sheep on tap into the bargain.

YOU ARE NOT ADVOCATING DRINKING AND DRIVING are you Liverbudgie.


Even half a pint of beer numbs the senses and reaction times to such a degree especially when driving the monotony of the motorway.


Roll on a drink driving law when the permitted reading is zero.


Jim.

[Ron Rees]

Laying in a stock of wood sounds like a great idea but in my opinion there are only a few sorts that are good to always have in stock and you can never cover every type and size that a plan for a model will recommend.


Basics like 1/16th and 1/8th plywood, either Miralyte or Lite ply are used a lot. You pay more and more every time a supplier cuts sheet wood down into smaller and smaller strips. All hardwoods like Balsa, Mahogany and so on are horrendously expensive to start with.


It is far better, if you can, to have a circular saw and cut wood down as you need it and so I only stock basic Balsa sheet in 1/16th, 1/8th and 1/4 inch sizes and cut them into strips as needed.


The comment about Skips is a true one and the ability to convert whatever good quality timber into usable sizes on a saw becomes very good value. I rarely, if ever buy hardwood, but I use them all the time, all from what people throw away.


Pine is perfect for making strip if you buy the 'CLS' or 'Russian Ends' of 3x2  from Wickes or other builders yards, but only select lengths that have a light, tight even grain pattern and no knots. It is very good value and can be machined into strip easily as needed. All my chine strips and spray strips are made from these types of pine which respond well to soaking or steaming and bends easily.


Always look out for things like slats from garden furniture (Teak), old table legs, newel posts or desks (often Beech), Replaced window frames and conservatories (Mahogany),  We don't often find a use for Oak but if you find a piece (Church refurbs) then keep it just in case. Learn about woods so you can recognise them and their uses.


You would be far better equipped by spending £100 on a hobby type table saw than a pile of strip wood. Anything special you need you can buy as and when.


I also use SLEC as mentioned above, I have also found Balsa Cabin very good for Plywood, Balsa, softwood strip, Spruce and so on, Foam and some plastics... I tend to order plastic sheet in larger sizes from Direct Plastics, Tower Plastics and also SHG marine. all very good. Then I use the saw to cut up plastic sheet into strip as well.


You could pay for the saw in a couple of models on what you save...and this is real scratch-building!


Just my slant on the subject.


Ron.

[Liverbudgie2]

YOU ARE NOT ADVOCATING DRINKING AND DRIVING are you Liverbudgie.

NO, OF COURSE NOT. Doesn't apply to passengers though does it?

LB

[BFSMP]

YOU ARE NOT ADVOCATING DRINKING AND DRIVING are you Liverbudgie.

NO, OF COURSE NOT. Doesn't apply to passengers though does it?

LB

didn't sound like it to me!

[derekwarner]

OK...LB....is it an old pub with lots of wooden panelling around the large wooden fire place?

We don't need to know about Black Sheep beer, but what on the luncheon menu?

Derek

[KOI]

Hi all, thanks for coming back on some sites and also the piece of cutting down wood to my needs. Skips now have a different perspective to me, more like a shop rather than an inconvenience when I need to park
The table saw has been on my mind for a while. As I used to do a lot of high spec cars never really had the need, but the more I get into the boat side, think it has to be the next purchase. So guess that raises the question, what saw, suggestions welcome, probably entry level to start with.
Re Black sheep, guess will need to go shop first, as if I have had a couple will probably get carried away and walk away with stuff I don't need

[SailorGreg]

Without wishing to pour cold water on this discusson, we should be aware that taking stuff from skips without permission is theft.  Just because someone throws something away doesn't mean you own it!      If you spot a desirable item, it's best to knock on the door and ask if you can recycle the item in question.  No problem then. 

[BFSMP]

Without wishing to pour cold water on this discusson, we should be aware that taking stuff from skips without permission is theft.  Just because someone throws something away doesn't mean you own it!      If you spot a desirable item, it's best to knock on the door and ask if you can recycle the item in question.  No problem then. 

I used to know a motorway police patrol officer [ a sergeant no less] who built all his model ships and war gaming re enactment buildings from items he found in skips, and when I asked him was that not theft, he replied, not as long as it either hadn't been collected by the wagon or had made it to the recycling plant.


Jim.

[Netleyned]

OK...LB....is it an old pub with lots of wooden panelling around the large wooden fire place?

We don't need to know about Black Sheep beer, but what on the luncheon menu?

Derek

Steak and Ale Pie made with Black Sheep Ale from Masham 


Ned

[Ron Rees]

I forgot to add that I always knock and ask before removing wood from a skip on someone's drive, It's common sense and good manners after all.


Most people are only too glad to get a bit more room in the skip and one gentleman invited me through to his back garden and offered me a van load of 4 x 2 Mahogany (That used to be his conservatory)....I've been using that stuff for nearly twenty years and supplied loads to club members as well.....Keep your eyes peeled shipmates.


Ron.

[Liverbudgie2]

OK...LB....is it an old pub with lots of wooden panelling around the large wooden fire place?

We don't need to know about Black Sheep beer, but what on the luncheon menu?

Derek

1) Affirmative.
2) Why not prey? A dammed sight better than that Victoria bitter and other associated wee wee juice you lot have to put up with.
3) Yum!

To get back on track. I was given some lovely mahogany and oak pieces which had been slung in a skip and was going to be burnt; I still have some of it as well. I suspect that most people would be glad to get rid of such material anyway, as they've no idea as to what to do with it. Like me, whose builder are currently burning 130 year old roof timbers simply because it's the only thing that I can do because my wood shed is full and the people round about don't want any for their wood burners.

LB

[grendel]

Yes, stuff from skips- the worst they can say is No. I once managed to rescue about 15 broken telescopes from the skip outside a telescope shop, I had written permission as they deplored having to throw them, it was the manufacturers response that up to a certain value broken telescopes were to be binned and replaced as it was not cost effective to ship them back for repairs, out of the 15 broken ones myself and fellow astronomers managed to make about 8 good working ones, plus I used some of the parts to send worldwide for others to repair their telescopes, so yes- always ask