Accoya

[DigitalM]

Yesterday I went to see a family member's new kitchen extension, and her windows are made from Accoya. I've heard about it previously, but this was the first time I'd seen anything made from it.

I've made a few windows recently for my workshop, and want to move onto upgrading a few windows on the house later in the year. After an hour of googling I can't find any info what accoya costs, or where an enthusiastic, ignorant DIYer with ideas above his station, such as myself, might purchase the stuff.

Can an average Joe like me buy it, or do you have to be in the woodworking equivalent of the Magic Circle, with a trade account and huge order volume?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=accoy ... e&ie=UTF-8

 

[DigitalM]

Exactly, no prices quoted anywhere right, looked for ages. So you're basically implying it's ringing major suppliers and getting individual quotes and/or trade accounts only? Rather hoped for a simpler response such as 'cheaper by about 20% than oak", but no worries.

 

[murdoch]

Funnily enough, we've just built a kitchen for an extension and all there windows and doors were accoya. We use it a lot and it is good stuff but not so nice to work as 'real' timber. You can buy it from Lathams, just give the a call and they will give you a meterage price for the sections you need. As a guide. 100x65 would be about £10m

 

[DigitalM]

And as another funnily enough, I just got off the phone to them before I read your message. Seems they're ok with counter sales to get around the minimum order delivery figure. Yay! No price list though, obviously it's too fluid, or subject to serious discounting if you're a major user.

Do you mind expanding on the "not so nice to work as 'real' timber" comment? I'd be using good quality consumer tools and hand tools, not big three-phase industrial spindle moulders and the like.

 

[flh801978]

Funnily enough after reading the op's post this morning a glossy advertising magazine dropped through the door and an article in there ( barely disguised advertising) stated that accoya is the trade name for softwood that has been pickled to dramatically reduce the decaying process
Something i learnt today always thought it was a type of wood

Ian

 

[DigitalM]

That's one of the things I love about this forum, and why I'm not totally apologetic for what seems like a rather lazy opening questions (sorry Phil!) – everything always turns into something like a highly informative pub convo lol

 

[murdoch]

Here we go, piccy of my price list, expect to pay a bit more though. It's really dry and brittle to work, splinters on scribble and small sections unless your careful. Also, you must use stainless fittings only or they corrode. On the plus side it's stable and rarely moves, you also by it in sections you need which saved time and wastage, I still chose old growth Doug for for my own house though!!!

 

[Mike Jordan]

I'm not happy with the idea of breathing in any level of dust from any timber, particularly one that carries an airy assurance that it's non toxic. I think I will stick with the principle that anything that is bad for bugs and mould is not beneficial to humans.
Mike.

 

[DigitalM]

Ah, bingo! Thx Murdoch. That's terribly useful, thanks for this. Lathams wouldn't give me a price list but were really helpful in every other way.

Surprised about the douglas fir (not that I know anything!) as haven't seen that mentioned anywhere for windows - or did you means for kitchen joinery?

Sweet Chestnut came up a few times for windows, and would have probably been what I'd be considering were it not for the fact I'm going to paint the window frames.

 

[murdoch]

Doug fir is great for windows, durable, stable and works well but it has to be old growth from Canada for clear straight boards, takes paint well but needs to be old fashioned aluminium primer as it's so resinous. we buy ours from Thorogoods.

 

[Doug71]

I love Accoya, wish all my customers were prepared to pay for it.

Think I pay about £1,900 a cubic metre + vat whatever size from Arnold Lavers.

Doug

 

[DigitalM]

Doug, they told me it was a little higher than that (as an unworthy small counter sales customer!!) and my heart almost stopped until I did the maths and realised there are 35 odd cubic feet in a cubic metre. Didn't believe it until I'd got my head around the geometry of it.

 

[Mike Jordan]

About the same price as prime quality KD Oak

 

[Bodgers]

Yeah looks to be about that. Those prices are certainly cheaper than 1900+Var cubic metre.

All a bit odd really as you can get imported furniture and flooring made from Accoya (of variable quality) at prices you couldn't even by the timber itself for...so obviously at source it must be significantly cheaper.




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[RobinBHM]

I make orangeries wth iroko frames and accoya door and window sashes.

I find its a good way to make joinery.

Im not a fan of accoya as a material, its a bit brittle yet soft.

Regards above -its not a treated timber, no risks from chemicals apart from a bit of vinegar.

Iroko is now difficukt to find in mild boards so am just starting to import Siberian larch laminated from Germany.

 

[Bodgers]

Have you tried Opepe? I recently got some at a knock down price to build some planters. The colour is a bit of an acquired taste (unweathered) but it's virtually immortal outside.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

My neighbour, who ran his own joinery for years before taking the easy option and becoming a lecturer at the local college always rated idigbo for windows.

 

[Benchwayze]

Doug fir is great for windows, durable, stable and works well but it has to be old growth from Canada for clear straight boards, takes paint well but needs to be old fashioned aluminium primer as it's so resinous. we buy ours from Thorogoods.

+1 as a sub for oak etc.

I use aluminium paint as a sealer if I ever have to paint over creosoted timber. Works fine.

HTH

John

 

[Doug B]

I'm surprised by the splintery comments is this with hand tools? I'd been told Accoya machines really nicely but isn't much fun to work with hand tools.

My main experience of Accoya is turning it & for that it is a breeze