Wood Working

[cfricker]

Anyone do any wood working? It's something I've been trying to get into, and so far I've just done a basic coffee table. I've been looking at a few other projects but been having a hard time finding lumber.

Where does everyone get their wood? Does anyone know where to get 4x4 posts that aren't pressure treated or cedar? Many of the projects I want to tackle requires these and I can't for the life of me find these.

[Hunter1602]

Contact Black Forest in Calgary. Great shop.

[Gunslinger257]

PJ White in Edmonton.

[regl]

Timbertown and Windsor Plywood have rough and finished lumber including exotics.

[cfricker]

Timbertown and Windsor Plywood have rough and finished lumber including exotics.

Couldn't find what I wanted at Windsor but they didn't seem to have much in stock that day. Will give Timbertown a try.

[cfricker]

Contact Black Forest in Calgary. Great shop.

Fired them off an e-mail. Thanks!

[Peterupnorth]

You need to find a local small sawmiller. There should be several in your area.
I have people like yourself who come to get wood when I saw and they get way better quality than anything in a lumber store. Most of the time they don't take enough for me to bother charging them.
Just need to ask around in some of the small towns. Phone Wood Mizer and ask, they are likely selling blades to operators in your part of the province.

[coreya3212]

A 4x4 in what variety of wood?

[cfricker]

A 4x4 in what variety of wood?

Preferably pine, but any would even take spruce. Most of what I would be doing is just basic rustic kind of stuff. When I made my table I wanted all pine but could only find most sizes I needed in spruce so I just used what I could find.

[jkav]

In Edmonton, the best wood selection is undoubtedly Chanin Hardwoods at 14615 116 Avenue. Gary has an incredible and ever-changing supply of woods. When you visit, set aside some time: Gary is generally quite busy there, and really knows his stuff - and is thus great to talk to about wood characteristics and choices.

Here's a fretless bass guitar I built some years ago now; I started it before moving to Edmonton and so the woods were sourced elsewhere (with the exotic woods mainly from Luthier's Mercantile):
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass1.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass1.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass4.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass4.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass8.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass8.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass5.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass5.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass6.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass6.jpg.html)

And here's a Telecaster in progress; the body is an incredible slab of Honduran Mahogany Gary sold me. I really do need to finish it:
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/Tele1.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/Tele1.jpg.html)

[CaberTosser]

Another hardwood supplier is Upper Canada Forest Products and PJ White Hardwoods (when I was taking shop in high school back in the '80's they sourced from PJ White) . Black Forest is unique in that it has the shop and classes but the wood prices are higher than the vendors without those luxuries.

jkav, that bass is exquisite! What variety is the wood in the centre of the neck, rosewood?

[jkav]

jkav, that bass is exquisite! What variety is the wood in the centre of the neck, rosewood?

Hey thanks, Caber - it was a labour of love, to be sure.

It's funny that you should ask about the center piece of wood, as there's an interesting story behind it. My uncle was a luthier, and made instruments for a few well-known musicians. The first instrument he sold was a bass guitar to Robert "Kool" Bell of Kool and the Gang; you can see it in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M).

Sadly, my uncle was killed in a car accident a number of years ago. I bought most of his tools from his widow, and used them to make the bass and telecaster, among other things. I didn't have the cash to buy his supply of wood, unfortunately; in it he had pieces of wood that simply can't be found anywhere on the planet today, such as flamed Koa in body-blank size.

When I loaded his tools into my pickup, I was unable to close the tailgate, so I secured the tablesaw by wedging it in with a piece of hardwood. When I started building the bass, I decided that the heart of it would be the one piece of wood I had from my uncle.

I believe it's bubinga.

[benamen]

Do the 4x4s need to be solid? You could always cut down a cedar 4x4 and wrap it in pine boards.

[^v^Tinda wolf^v^]

I find my best carving wood in the bush
Just plan a year ahead of time to let your wood chill
The bigger the log the more the chill was what the German guy who taught me to carve used to say.
if you use a heavy bark you can get some amazing designs on an unskinned log if done right.

[Red Bullets]

Get some free wood from stumps and such...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGe2iGmsDKs

"Chop with Chris" on youtube has some great projects. All with hand tools. No electricity.

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

I always wanted to get into furniture making. Ever since my first coffee table made in high school, I've loved working with wood. Just never was able to get the required equipment or space.

That guitar is true art!! Gorgeous.

The only thing that I've done since then has been a few poker tables, even though the actual woodwork involved is minimal.


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2494.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/CalgaryDave/media/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2494.jpg.html)


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2498.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/CalgaryDave/media/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2498.jpg.html)


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2496.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/CalgaryDave/media/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2496.jpg.html)


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2501.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/CalgaryDave/media/Pedestal%20table/IMG_2501.jpg.html)

[cfricker]

jkay that guitar is unbelievable. You have a great talent. How does it sound?

Nice poker table Dave have been thinking about making one myself for a while but haven't got the ambition as my home poker games have really dwindled since moving to Calgary.

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

Nice poker table Dave have been thinking about making one myself for a while but haven't got the ambition as my home poker games have really dwindled since moving to Calgary.
Thank you. I belong to a local poker group here in Calgary. At our heyday, we used to have a home poker game on almost every night of the week.
Some of my home tournies had as many as 5 tables, 50 people and as much as $15,000 in the pool. I used to have theme-based parties too. Halloween etc.

Now there's maybe one a week, attended by only a small handful of people.

[jkav]

Thanks guys - it's much appreciated!

The bass sounds really good - it gets a nice warm, fat sound on the neck pickup that starts to really growl and sing (as only a fretless bass can) when you add the bridge pickup in.

I'll also note that I made the nut, tailpiece, and bridge out of brass bar stock. If you look closely, you'll see that the bridge is mounted to a solid brass block that is inletted so as to be flush with the body. Really helps couple the strings' vibrations to the body.

That's an awesome poker table, Dave!

[cfricker]

Thank you. I belong to a local poker group here in Calgary. At our heyday, we used to have a home poker game on almost every night of the week.
Some of my home tournies had as many as 5 tables, 50 people and as much as $15,000 in the pool. I used to have theme-based parties too. Halloween etc.

Now there's maybe one a week, attended by only a small handful of people.

Sounds familiar. Are you on Beyond.ca by chance? Thought I recalled a guy named Dave hosting games on there now that you mention it.

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

Sounds familiar. Are you on Beyond.ca by chance? Thought I recalled a guy named Dave hosting games on there now that you mention it.
That's me.

[cfricker]

That's me.

Oh, cool! My username is chathamf on there but I don't post a whole lot. Approx. how much does the materials cost for a decent table? Wonder if there is any money to be made selling them?

[jkav]

Wonder if there is any money to be made selling them?

I think the saying goes, "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking is to start with a large fortune." :)

[Hunter65]

Well this ain't no bass guitar or poker table that's for sure. But I didn't want those either. I wanted a simple table that looks simple, and was easy to build. Made entirely of 2x4's. Looks good IMO, and it's the look I wanted.

I didn't think 4x4's would be that hard to find, but I have never looked either. There are plenty of lumberyards and sawmills around, you'll find them.

[cfricker]

Well this ain't no bass guitar or poker table that's for sure. But I didn't want those either. I wanted a simple table that looks simple, and was easy to build. Made entirely of 2x4's. Looks good IMO, and it's the look I wanted.

I didn't think 4x4's would be that hard to find, but I have never looked either. There are plenty of lumberyards and sawmills around, you'll find them.

Nice table. My coffee table is kind of like that as well. I used all construction grade lumber I found at Home Depot. I actually found some 4x4's already by a suggestion of one of the members. So thanks for the help guys.

Nice to have a little woodworking post going though. Keep posting what you got guys! I'll post my coffee table a bit later.

[duckchaser]

I have a good selection of hardwood for sale as i have retired from my hobby of wood working. Selection includes 1x14x14 oak, Cherry, maple and assorted shorts. Located in Red Deer/ PM me if interested

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

Oh, cool! My username is chathamf on there but I don't post a whole lot. Approx. how much does the materials cost for a decent table? Wonder if there is any money to be made selling them?
Oh Holy sh!t. I know you!

No. No money at all. Market has died down and many larger companies are selling tables at almost what the materials will cost you.

The playing surface pad, poker cloth, vinyl and foam for the rail, cupholders etc will run you close to $400 or more. Plywood, stain, glues, staples, legs etc, another $100 or so. Plus about 10-20 hours of labour.

I see kijiji guys selling their tables for $600. That pedestal table went to a CTV News anchor for $2500. The pedestal alone was $500.

[cfricker]

Yea by the looks of those costs be hard to make any change. Definitely worthwhile investment for personal use though. Thanks for the info.

[flange]

Thanks guys - it's much appreciated!

The bass sounds really good - it gets a nice warm, fat sound on the neck pickup that starts to really growl and sing (as only a fretless bass can) when you add the bridge pickup in.

I'll also note that I made the nut, tailpiece, and bridge out of brass bar stock. If you look closely, you'll see that the bridge is mounted to a solid brass block that is inletted so as to be flush with the body. Really helps couple the strings' vibrations to the body.

That's an awesome poker table, Dave!

Shades of Alembic. Beautiful bass active or passive ?

[bearhunting]

hey guys don't forget to look at the often free supply's of smaller pieces of hard wood lots of free pallets out there
my son just did a very nice chest and most of the materials cam from them

you guys truly have a great hobby

[ghfalls]

If you know anyone with a jointer and planer, I'd just laminate up a few 2x4s to make 4x4. The wood is more stable that way and you won't get checks like you would with real 4x4s. If you were in Edmonton I'd laminate them for you.
Cheers

[jkav]

Shades of Alembic. Beautiful bass active or passive ?

Good eye! My uncle used to build basses for Alembic before striking off on his own; before that he was a guitar technician for the Grateful Dead.

I have an Alembic that I used as a model to figure out some aspects of the build, and definitely modeled my own bridge after theirs (with some mods/improvements, IMHO). I got to know Ron Wickersham, Alembic's co-founder, through different avenues. He's definitely one-of-a-kind!

Although Alembic has their own unique take on pickups (very low impedance winds with sophisticated active amplification and filtration) and my uncle was partial to active Bartolini p'ups, I used passive Q-Tuner pickups in the bass. I have absolutely no regrets going that route. They're neodymium sidewinders, and were apparently so labour-intensive to build that the maker couldn't make a profit on them and so shut down production. (The good news is that he's now got a version 2.0 out.)

Plus, they look really cool, and the copper winding nicely plays off the colour of the center bubinga stripe:
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd511/35mm_67_4x5/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass3.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/35mm_67_4x5/media/JK%20Bass%201/jk_bass3.jpg.html)

[flange]

"Plus, they look really cool, and the copper winding nicely plays off the colour of the center bubinga stripe"

Devils in the details and it looks like you got them perfect on this one. Wicked work.

[jkav]

Devils in the details and it looks like you got them perfect on this one. Wicked work.

:happy0180:

Many thanks, Flange! She's a joy to play on every level. I only wish I had more time to dedicate to guitarmaking. And to playing.

[Ultimate Predator]

Wish I had more time to do it! I'm selling it all table saw ,jointer,planer,drill press , routers it's all going.

[kylelaw]

Great Jobs

[albertadeer]

Wish I had more time to do it! I'm selling it all table saw ,jointer,planer,drill press , routers it's all going.

Any chance your around GP? I'm looking to buy haha

[Kim473]

Can allways glue wood together to make larger pcs . Then skin if needed. Lots of veneers out there this days.

[Ultimate Predator]

No edmonton area

[fallen1817]

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11745366_10155867149845541_361083281886912581_n.jp g?oh=3b93b63694492ae2497262d311443f08&oe=5734FE44

This was a table I made. It's made out of pallet wood, then the borders and braces are out of cedar fence boards. The legs are pieces of oak I got from my father in law.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/11904701_10156033467780541_4108612979003628141_n.j pg?oh=422393dd5e072d4c314bb2e9f7036293&oe=57339A96

This was a wine rack I made for my sister-in-law. It's just pallet wood with some minor restructuring.

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/12037963_10156109334395541_4981294886520902921_n.j pg?oh=59f66daf472833402c741d9065ec50f0&oe=574427DC

Finally, this is a clock I made out of various pieces of pallet wood. The mechanism was ordered online, and I just used stencils from Michaels for the numerals.

Nothing fancy with these projects, but the lack of finesse adds to the rustic feel. There's a very steep learning curve for me, and it's very easy to say "I should have done ____ differently." Don't get discouraged when you have to cut and screw and cut and screw ten times over. You will feel really good about the finished product knowing you did it right.

And when we sold our house, the buyers tried to work that table in to the deal. Too much sentimental value, being the first solo project I did as an adult, but it felt like quite the compliment!

Jeff

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

I love the wine rack!!