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Author Topic: Making small timbers  (Read 4429 times)

tigertiger

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Making small timbers
« on: May 11, 2007, 11:33:21 am »

I need small timbers for the old hobby.

I cannot afford to buy modelling timbers from UK/US and get them shipped to China. Well I could but it is not really practical.

I have found a source for some hardwood and softwood decorative mouldings, and I can get softwood baten.


I can cut these down, but how. I do not want to buy a circular saw, and SWMBO probably would not go for it either.

I want to be able to cut down to about 2mm or 3 mm and lengths of 500-1000mm

How else can I cut small timber pieces down?
Are there smaller tools?
Is there a frig with a dremel?

Any advice much appreciated.
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boatmadman

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2007, 03:27:56 pm »

Hi,
depending on the thickness and type of wood, I have done this by epoxying a scalpel or stanley knife blade to a peice of wood that has been stepped to give a cut width I need.

Easiest done with softwoods, and best way is by several strokes and light cuts.

Its not the quickest way, but it one I have used when stuck for timber.

HTH

Ian
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portside II

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2007, 06:23:45 pm »

hi tigertiger there are lots of commercial cutters out there i have one in the shed from my balsa bashing days when i used to crash airplanes .

the lenth is about 3 feet (thats the guide

this is a smaller one without the guide
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=14568
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BobF

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2007, 06:27:43 pm »

Hi TT,

I use a woodwork marking gauge with a sharp point. Works OK on soft woods and lite ply.

Bob
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dougal99

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2007, 08:52:29 pm »

Expo, Hobbies and Hobby's do a miniature circular saw, last two are a bit pricey, but depends on how much wood you want to cut. I inherited mine from a shed clearance my Dad did and find it very useful.

Good luck

Doug
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tigertiger

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2007, 03:26:06 am »

I have the planking covered thanks guys. ;D

I will also need to cut down hardwoods to smaller timbers.

So 5mm square mahogany is a possible need.
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DickyD

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tigertiger

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2007, 12:47:21 pm »

Hi TT have you seen this web site:

http://www.yellowcatshop.co.uk/shop/default.asp?clientid=14&gid=4dmod&viewstate=32769&tabcatid=3500126&subcatid=3500138

Richard ;)

Hi Dickie,
Thanks for the link
Excellent site

Problem is that by the time I pay for postage, and import duty, I could have imported a machine.
Postage for anything over 600mm is crazy

The annoying thing is I am sure a lot of this timber comes through China (here). I bet Japanese Obechi is not all from Japan.
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cbr900

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2007, 06:28:24 am »

Dremel do make a small table saw which is only a three inch blade, it is ideal for what you require I bought one from ebay works a treat....



Roy
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Bee

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2007, 06:53:42 pm »

I really don't see your problem. Although I have both circular and bandsaws i have in the last month cut and planed several yards of thin material by hand because it is easier than moving all the junk off the elecetric machines in the garage. It is so easy.
Also you live in the land of dirt cheap labour. Hire someone and hand him a saw or look around the back streets for a small carpentry shop.
I'm sure you are aware how to set up a hand plane as a thicknesser.
As I understand it around Shanghai each town concnetrates on certain types of manufacturing, so there will be one that makes wooden based things, eg wooden cases for radios or even those wooden coffee table boats being improted a lot and sold on ebay in UK. Must be suppllies there.
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tigertiger

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2007, 02:47:02 am »

Hi Bee


My problem is 'This is China' as we say here.

Oh that life was so simple.
When you find a man with a hammer he is a tradesman, and every problem looks like a nail.

Then there is the guy with the screwdriver/chisel/jemmy (all in one)

I have had the man from the gas board arrive to fix a leak. All he had was an adjustable spanner and a hammer. Is answer was to rip down the wall. I told him to foxtrot oscar. Then I lent him my PTFE tape and he fixed the leak at the meter.

Also trades people here do not care about your problems. If they can't fix it and one of their friends cannot either then 'it is impossible'.
They make no money from directing you to someone else who may take other work from them in the future.

There are lots of very little hardware stores, but they will all sell one type of product.
Yes labour is cheap.
And yes there are artisans, but they are very few and far between and I cannot find them.


There are people who make furniture, but none of them could be described as cabinet makers.
There are many joiners, but no carpenters that I have seen.
There are lots of bodgers (in the tradesmans sense of the word as well as the usual).

I have enquired about a lumber market, all I have found is a builders market. This is where I have found the wooden mouldings, that I can cut down.

The only thing I have learned is that you must trust no one (thanks Mulder)
Whinge fest over, sorry guys.
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Bee

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Re: Making small timbers
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2007, 08:31:19 pm »

mmmm bit toughter than I imagined.  ;D My only visit, last year, was 3 days at the Suzhou Schilla which may not have been representative of China as a whole.
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