A baton of wood?

[boardgamer]

I'm really pleased you did post back as I have found myself wondering if you ever found out!

+1. So many people don't have the courtesy (memory?) to report back.

 

[AndyT]

I think your friend was saying 'batten' rather than 'baton'. Although nowadays it means wood of a very small section, eg for roofing, historically 'batten' meant a thick bit about 7 inches wide, narrower than a plank or a deal:

 

[lurker]

I visited the woodworker in question earlier in the week and it was interesting to have a chat and a look round a professional woodworkers shop. He make handmade furniture and straw backed Orkney chairs.
Phill

Was it Jackie Miller?
He made us a chair about 10 years ago

Guess "baton" is a dialect phrase originating from the Norse, although it sounds a bit french
I lived in Caithness for a few years and it was surprising how many "turns of Phrase" up there were similar to Lincolnshire & York (other viking strongholds) but nothing like south Scotland.

 

[skipdiver]

Round here (Lincolnshire) a batten is something you stand on, usually on scaffolding.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Phil, if wood is that hard to get, and obviously I understand why, have you got the makings of a business there, "importing" it?

Or is there simply insufficient demand, even for property maintenance, etc.

 

[linkshouse]

I visited the woodworker in question earlier in the week and it was interesting to have a chat and a look round a professional woodworkers shop. He make handmade furniture and straw backed Orkney chairs.
Phill

Was it Jackie Miller?
He made us a chair about 10 years ago

I'm afraid not. The chaps name is Kevin Gauld and he trades at the Orkney Furniture Maker - http://orkneyfurniture.co.uk/

Regards

Phill