Now for something a bit different... [Archive]

Blackbird

30th October 2008, 18:50

It ain't everyone's cup of tea, but I love seeing large slabs of nicely finished natural timber. My riding of late has been somewhat restricted due to demolition duties and building a new covered deck at home. We wanted some seating for the deck and came across a guy just up the road from us in Colville who makes beautiful timber furniture from mainly Macrocarpa and the odd bit of Kauri. We commissioned him to make us a bench settee and you can see the result in the photo. Just about bust a gut getting it up the stairs this afternoon but it was worth it.

If anyone likes solid wood furniture, look no further than Greg Taylor. For cash in hand, his prices are very sharp indeed:niceone: He has a website: http://www.branchcreek.co.nz/ although the photos simply don't show the quality of his work. Nice to see craftsmanship is still alive.

Now that's all done and Mrs B is happy, I can get back to riding:eek::eek:

Motu

30th October 2008, 20:36

Got to give credit to people who can work with wood - I've tried to weld it,but there must be a special rod to do it,or maybe a special flux.If I can find some good wood welding sticks,I'll give it a go sometime....

Ixion

30th October 2008, 20:41

Weld it? I'd settle for being able to tap a decent thread in the darn stuff. And have you ever tried to heat shrink a bearing into wood?

And don't be fooled by talk of ironwood. It's just wood.

But I did see an engine (stationary) with a wooden piston once. And it worked !

(Uh, don't like to rain on y' parade, but the top edge of the backrest is decidedly unlevel. Not workmanlike at all. But, a few minutes with a saw and plane will put it right. More seriously have you noticed that there appears to be a substantial defect, maybe even a crack, in the backrest ?)

Ocean1

30th October 2008, 20:51

I've tried to weld it,but there must be a special rod to do it,or maybe a special flux.

Pinecraft 22s.

BOC got 'em.

Big Dave

30th October 2008, 20:58

Ixion

30th October 2008, 21:03

Pinecraft 22s.

BOC got 'em.

But the material was specified as macrocarpa, not pine? Surely using Pinecraft rods on macrocarpa would be like using aluminium rods on cast iron?

What sort of rods are they anyway? And how do you use them? Oxy acetylene is a complete fail on wood (DAMHIK), they must be arc. AC or DC ? And do you need a shield gas?

Motu

30th October 2008, 21:32

You can get bush lawyer on a spool for a MIG welder,shielding gas comes from a DOC long drop.Use a teak handpiece with a slippery elm liner.....

Blackbird

30th October 2008, 22:01

And don't forget Haarlem Oil as flux......... or to drink if things aren't going well in the welding stakes.

Timber020

30th October 2008, 22:16

Nice piece! Just reminds me that I should finish making that chainsaw mill I started a few xmas's ago, I have a 48inch bar and the saw to run it. I have some 50cm X 50cm X 1500cm pohutakawa slabs that have been drying in my garage for 3 years now.

Would like to do something with all the trees I drop!

icekiwi

30th October 2008, 22:20

[QUOTE=Ixion;1790507]But I did see an engine (stationary) with a wooden piston once. And it worked !

Saw the same thing in my Apprenticeship....
Engine Wooden run rite...

blossomsowner

30th October 2008, 22:36

Nice seat for sure.........Working with wood is easy too........

new fangled things like stellite inserts.........

tct bandsaws..............

glues..................

vifferman

31st October 2008, 08:10

Nice bench, Geoff! :niceone:
Yet another reason to come and visit. :yes:

emaN

31st October 2008, 08:21

Nice bench, Geoff! :niceone:
Yet another reason to come and visit. :yes:
+1:2thumbsup

Hitcher

31st October 2008, 08:29

That style of carpentry isn't my cup of tea for "furniture". But it's good to see somebody enterprising enough to make something of value out of scroty old Macrocarpas.

vifferman

31st October 2008, 08:32

That style of carpentry isn't my cup of tea for "furniture". But it's good to see somebody enterprising enough to make something of value out of scroty old Macrocarpas.
+1
However, I'd imagine that "scroty old macrocarpa" seat will outlast the elegant imported hardwood one that's sitting on our front deck. It has a beautiful smell too (although it looks like that might be sealed in by varnish on Geoff's one - or is it oiled?)
BTW - the new deck looks very nice! :niceone:

Blackbird

31st October 2008, 09:23

+1
However, I'd imagine that "scroty old macrocarpa" seat will outlast the elegant imported hardwood one that's sitting on our front deck. It has a beautiful smell too (although it looks like that might be sealed in by varnish on Geoff's one - or is it oiled?)
BTW - the new deck looks very nice! :niceone:

Cheers Ian. Yeah, we already have hardwood table and chairs but these days, I'm a bit more sensitive about imported hardwoods as I've been working on an environmental certification project for CHH! It's been oiled with something called Haarlem Oil which soaks in and hardens. You're right about the smell, it's outstanding. Thanks too about the deck comments, we can seriously party on it now with a cast of hundreds:niceone:. It's around 370 sq metres in area. Just got to get the ballustrading on the stairs and the carpentry work is all done.

Perhaps I can get back to riding now:clap:

Bass

31st October 2008, 11:25

Weld it? I'd settle for being able to tap a decent thread in the darn stuff.

I can help you there - used to do it quite a bit when I was racing model aircraft.

Drill your pilot hole of the appropriate size for the desired thread and then run copious amounts of thin cyanoacrylate into the hole. Allow to harden and tap away.
When complete, add more cyano and when hard, tap again.
Obviously coarse threads work best but you can get a surprisingly fine one that is still useful.

As for welding, I think people like Bostick and 3M make rods. They are about 50 mm in diameter as I recall and quite expensive. The welder however, does not require mains power and is completely portable. The weld can be very slow to cool. It can take up to a day.

ManDownUnder

31st October 2008, 11:32

If anyone likes solid wood furniture, look no further than Greg Taylor. For cash in hand, his prices are very sharp indeed:niceone: He has a website: http://www.branchcreek.co.nz/ although the photos simply don't show the quality of his work. Nice to see craftsmanship is still alive.

Now that's all done and Mrs B is happy, I can get back to riding:eek::eek:

Like it - and they'd good on my lawn me thinks. Might need regular TLC to stop them splitting though - or is there some way around that?

Got to give credit to people who can work with wood - I've tried to weld it,but there must be a special rod to do it,or maybe a special flux.If I can find some good wood welding sticks,I'll give it a go sometime....

Found some for ya. Stick (http://www.sz-wholesale.com/uploadFiles/upimg4%5C7--Pencils_45144.jpg) and MIG (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1089/1347606694_04310ceaf1.jpg?v=0) options

SPman

31st October 2008, 14:28

I have some 50cm X 50cm X 1500cm pohutakawa slabs that have been drying in my garage for 3 years now.

Should be ready to use in 6 or 7 years time........:bleh:

quallman1234

31st October 2008, 15:05

Wood welding.

"The technique is now called “mechanically-induced wood flow welding”, and it produces high-strength bonds in seconds without the use of adhesive. To “weld” wood, pieces of lumber are pressed together (at 60 – 330 psi) and rubbed back and forth at high speed for a few (3-5) seconds. After a few more seconds of clamp time, the bonding process is complete. Examination of the bondline suggests that the friction between the pieces heats and melts components of the wood (mainly lignin) and loosens fibers on the surface. These fibers intertwine in a matrix with the molten lignin and solidify to form a bond that is strong enough for structural applications. The bonds are not water-resistant, thus the technology is most promising for interior joinery and furniture."

Skunk

31st October 2008, 15:16

Now that's all done and Mrs B is happy, I can get back to riding:eek::eek:
Before you go riding you should paint that last weatherboard...:bleh:

Nice seat and deck too.

Blackbird

31st October 2008, 15:41

Before you go riding you should paint that last weatherboard...:bleh:

Nice seat and deck too.

No way - the whole exterior is due for a repaint now we live here full time and that's not going to happen this summer...:innocent:

Swoop

31st October 2008, 18:25

Weld it? I'd settle for being able to tap a decent thread in the darn stuff.
Quite easy really. You just have to have the right tool for the job.

Swoop

31st October 2008, 18:27

Now this is real outdoor furniture!!!

Hitcher

31st October 2008, 18:31

Oh how the tables have turned.

Ocean1

8th November 2008, 08:45

Oh how the tables have turned.

Started life as a pool table.

Madness

8th November 2008, 08:48

Who put the bloody chewing gum there?

Fatt Max

8th November 2008, 16:22

Nice one. There is a guy who used to make great wooden furniture just past the Kpou Taven as you turned into the ranges heading towards Tairua. Dont think he is there anymore but he made chice stuff.