Howard Products

[fletty]

Looking to buy some small amount of timber to repair the two sections in the motif plus a corner chip on the desk. I can’t seem to find English Oak locally and the veneer I have found is American Oak and 0.6mm thick which is too thin. Is there another timber with similar grain I could use or should I continue the search for English Oak?

Cheers

I have an (I believe?) English oak desk top stored somewhere that I won’t be using in the near future. I’d be happy to take a slice off one edge? Im on grandfather-duty tomorrow but will check on Sunday after recovering from fairy bread overload?

[Lappa]

That’s very generous Fletty
I was taking to my BIL and he said he’s pretty sure my FIL had three large planks of oak in the garage. I will be up there in April to finalise the Estate so I’ll know more then.

[auscab]

Is there another timber with similar grain I could use or should I continue the search for English Oak?

Cheers

If you still need some after your BIL or Fletty I have lots or US white Oak and Plenty of Grown Here in Victoria what Im pretty sure is English. I could send some. It has to work with when Im going to town though because a trip to the post office is a 20 K round trip for me now .
I wouldn't think whats in your piece would be English though and it doesn't look like it .
There is probably more than one type of English as well and they were importing plenty as well.
What you normally do is get a true Oak that is the best match . Nice English has a more tight grain than Euro or US Oak . Its a great Oak but its a bit more like trying to polish a china plate compared to a US Oak . I just built a big table using My supposed English Grown Here in the top and US in the base and the off cuts that Im saving for stool parts are sitting on the floor next to the band saw waiting for the day I cut them up . What isn't stool stuff will be bum warming material for the heater. Some of the stuff closer to the edges which would be sapwood seems more grainy and softer as well . I don't mind sending a bit of each type for what ever it costs to do.

Rob

[Lappa]

That’s great Rob. Unfortunately for me, I have nowhere near the expertise to pick one Oak from another. I knows it’s Oak and that’s about it
I was told the timber at the FILs is Oak but I haven’t seen it so I don’t know for sure. Fletty’s offer was much appreciated but I’d prefer him not cutting a piece from furniture he may want to restore at a later time,
If you can send me various Oak bits and pieces I would be very appreciative as I can choose the closest for the various sections that need repair.
I’ll PM you my postal details, Send at your convenience and I’ll direct deposit any monies owing,
Cheers Peter.

[auscab]

Once the wood is in the finished piece and it’s years after it was made an experienced guess is as good as it gets with Oak . Having bought or self milled examples and getting to talk it over with the tree millers who I have bought plenty of wood off helps . Those guys spurt out botanical names and get into deep discussions about what they cut . And seeing plenty of English and European Antique furniture and having worked on it gives good clues . And then there is the info in the books as well . Oak is Oak though and a lot of them look close with subtle changes . The bought from timber yard stuff I’ve used is US , Russian , Japanese or somewhere within 10000 k of that maybe , Euro? , French , the tree millers stuff I’ve bought is Pin oak , English Oak , and a lot of stuff I don’t know . And the Antique stuff is judged by what it is and when it was made . The what and when is very accurate . A French Amoire if the 1780 or an English country chest of drawers weren’t using wood that was imported and carted inland in the 18 th c. England in a general industrial sense didn’t cart wood inland for use in one book I read until 1880 . Big pine boards from the US I think . That’s just my rough knowledge of it . And you never stop learning so I’m not certain on a lot . England brought plenty of wood ( Plenty is a huge under statement ) to its shores . The new fancy woods were mostly bought and used in the big city cabinet shops . You do see how the trendy Mahogany of the 1730s onwards made its way inland over the next 50 to 80 years to be used as a decoration on oak stuff as Crossbanding in country workshops .

What thickness is a good one for these pieces ? If sliced .6 is to thin . Is roughly 1.5 good or thicker and you cut it off ?

[aussiepens]

Send me a PM. I may be able to help with some oak.
John

[Lappa]

Rob, just measured the deepest section missing from the motif and it’s 2.2mm deep and approx. 7.5mm wide. Thicker (3mm plus?)would be fine and I’ll fit it and trim it down.

Cheers Peter

[aussiepens]

I don’t wish to hijack other offers already made but I can help with a piece for you since I am not far away.

john

[auscab]

Lappa, I cut these bits today out of larger off cuts .
See what you think .

The 4 thin ones stacked in pairs are the English Oak grown here in Vic, roughly
200 x 100 x 3 to 4mm. Two cuts off each side of a block.
The thicker piece on the right end is about 5 bits of US Oak
100 long x 8 or 10 mm thick .
Its an off cut from a table base that was laminated.
There are varying degrees of Medullary ray coming through and some plain stuff .
I can see rays in your bit for repair so hopefully something from these match up .
You can have the lot or If you want me to cut it for a smaller package I can do that. Or just take a smaller amount ? What ever you like .

PM me and we will work it out and the postage details.

IMG_0779.JPG

[Lappa]

A great selection of oak timbers arrived today from Rob (auscab).
Thanks Rob. “Ain’t” this forum great

[Lappa]

In this thread I showed a picture of a ladies desk with damage around the keyhole.

D9280134-EDAD-4C64-BC62-21720773F259.jpg

Auscab was kind enough to send me a number of samples of oak so I could try and match the grain and make an insert. I only got around to it this week but I think its come up a treat.

repaired keyhole motif.jpg

[auscab]

Great job Lappa !

[fletty]

Well done that man!