Gday fellow wood Enthusiasts

Just thought i would introduce myself having perused through this forum for the last 6 months to answer my questions from other members queries- i have finally joined after a friend suggested i could ask more specific questions if i was a member :doh:I knew that just had a blonde moment thats all- made sense so here i am

i haven't done much wood work for the last 16 years since leaving highschool (well a bit of bush carpentry here and there) until 6 months ago when i came across a chinese kitchen bench in an antique store after seeing the price tag ($2000) i decided to build it myself- so to the saleperson's disgust i started taking photos of the table to give me an idea of what to do- then proceeding to the second hand building yard for some rustic looking timber which ended up being Oregan- i still remember the first time i cleaned up a bit of this and had that warm orange timber stare back at me and i have been obsessed with it ever since. So after a lot of trial and error (those chinese just dont do things with simplicity in mind) i completed this and am surprised with the outcome- very grateful to others on this forum that use oregan and have asked the same questions i was asking- So now have a sturdy kitchen bench that will outlast humanity itself (if kept indoors ) without a nail or srew in it.

But that didn't satisfy my addiction so i am now halfway through a huge octagonal poker table which has been a challenge to say the least especially with oregan.
Hopefully when/if i become more tech savy i will post some photos of my conquest's so far and would love to here some feedback
A big thankyou to all the members who have unknowingly answered my questions and got me through some frustrating times- thanks to your wealth of information contributing I now live in my shed and have no social life but surprisingly am the happiest i've ever been:U

I do have one question though as every good poker room needs a bar- where in Newcastle or surrounding areas could i find some clear oregan as hudsons Glendale don't stock the clear stuff anymore?

WoodbCam

Welcome to the forum. I understand how someone would be upset with you taking photos of the item that you are not going to purchase. :U I think next time you need to be a little more discrete. Ask him to take the photo with you in it so that you can compare how you look with the piece. :q

Hi and welcome Woodbcam, sounds like you have a few things to get you teeth into. Why Oregon? might be easier to pick something else thats easier to get and easier to work. Its soft and in some ways easy to work but its not a very attractive timber and it tends to want to splinter and be disagreeable.

Nice to have you aboard, welcome to the forum.:2tsup:

G'day WoodbCam and welcome to the clan!!:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

Tend to agree with Claw about the Oregan. The best I have ever worked with is very fine grained, and that was just a small percentage of what I had.

Welcome woodbcam

Oregon is an awkward timber to sand because of the hard and soft growth rings. It will keep diging into the soft timber creating a corrugated effect particularly if an orbital sander is used.

I did many years ago make a butler's tray from oregon and still have it but I agree it is not the best furniture timber. Interestingly I copied it from a table, which I couldn't afford, but I saw in a shop.

It's too many years since I lived in Newcastle so I can't offer any advice for timber suppliers other than asking those who don't have what you want where they would suggest you try. Hopefully answers will be constructive:).

Regards
Paul

Thanks for the welcomes-:2tsup:

To answer your question Claw Hama "why Oregan" - I guess it was the first piece of timber i came across at the yard and is perfect for the rustic look i was going for on the kitchen bench with it's knots and cracks- i had so much left over from this first project that i kept going with it- as well i do love the colour and the uniqueness of all the different grains. As for being not very attractive well- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder :o- Do you have any sugestions for alternatives for the future? with these looks and keeping cost in mind

I had that corrugated effect happen to me last night Bushmiller Paul on one side of the poker table but found as i went to a finer sand paper and kept the weight off the sander it smoothed out, the scary bit was running the router around the edge but that went off without a hitch as well so i'm a very happy camper today knowing i will be putting the sealer on tonight a great new years eve activity

Thanks once again to you all for the welcomes it's great to have a place where i can submerge myself in the topic
Have a great New Year all!

WoodbCam

Photos Woodbcam photos or it never happened:U When I have more time I'll give you some be-udifuuul alternatives.:D

hi Woodbcam, and welcome:D

I also fell in love with oregon when I pulled down a pergola out the back. It was the beginning of my woodwork journey. I was fascinated by the grain patterns. I found it soft and easy to work.

Sounds like you've got the bug, especially when you're shamelessly taking photos in the shop:D Next you'll be pulling out drawers and climbing under tables:roll::)