Examples of jobs, my softwood choice and Timber Merchants grades
Windows (see my Sliding Sash Window Blog)
You need decent close grained timber with a minimum of knots and other defects. This is because integrity of the design is required using fairly thin sections. You might also be painting or coating them to stand up to the weather and paint doesn’t like knots and shakes.
My Choice – the best Unsorted (U/S) redwood, you can find.
(don’t worry I’ll explain the timber merchant jargon in a bit)
Doors
The timber sections are bigger so small defects like knots won’t have the same negative impact and can look atractive but the joints still need to be tough.
My Choice – 4th’s ( IVth’s ) redwood
Other stuff of any quality
Where proper joints need some strength but you can work around any defects in the timber
My choice – 5th’s or 6th’s ( Vth’s or VI th’s) redwood
Carcassing, shelves in the garage, boxing in, rabbit hutches etc.
My choice – sawfalling white wood.
Next - Carpentry and joinery softwood types
Timber / wood for DIY, Woodworking, Joinery, Carpentry
Examples of joinery jobs, softwood types and timber grades
Carpentry and joinery softwood types
Timber Grades, Unsorted ? Vth's ? Sawfalling ?
Timber rough sawn ? PSE ? PAR?
Commonly available rough sawn and PSE / PAR timber sizes
How to choose a Timber Merchant / Supplier
Work out what timber you need for the job
Inspecting wood at the Timber Merchant
Preparing the timber for acclimatising
Planing timber / wood flat, square and true
How to plane up the good pieces of wood
How to plane Winding or Twisted timber
How to plane bowing on a timber board
How to plane cupped or cupping timber