American white oak

[Anonymous]

Well I've finally given up buying AWO, what a pile of rubbish I've been delivered over the last year. This is not just from one supplier, but 2 or 3 the colour is so inconsistent from one board to the next, when its sprayed up it looks ginger rather than brown.
So its european from now on, sod the cost, so much easier to colour match and it looks nicer when finished, RIP AWO.

 

[JFC]

I thought it was just me that was having trouble with it . It does seem to be getting worse .

 

[Waka]

Sorry that you're experiencing problems with AWO. I have been using AWO for 10 years and never experienced any of the inconsistancies that you have.

The only suppliers I have used are BH and Atkin & Cripps.

 

[Scrums]

AWO cheaper than European ?

If Waka's BH means British Hardwoods - then their European is cheaper than their AW and a lot more available in various sections.

Chris

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose it has to be based on similar grades but european is usually 40% more than AWO.

Apparantly the AWO is reduced quality because of the large volume going to china etc.
But it has always been inferior to European in my opinion, I always quote for european and if costs have to be cut then i'll go with AWO.

It may just be my suppliers but as i said this is from 3 different suppliers and from talking to people in the trade I think theres a general feeling of inferior quality compared with a few years ago.

 

[Scrums]

Sounds about right - I was doing a bit of 'undercover' research on styles/prices in a local Pine shop that had recently rebranded itself as 'Pine & Oak Furniture' the manager told me that the Chinese were buying up every bit of American Oak in sight and sending it back as furniture in containers to the US and Europe.

And sadder than sad - This shop is in the Ground floor of the old Warring & Gillows Factory.

Chris.

 

[Anonymous]

Agree completely about the inconsistancy of AWO. This is one reason why I always go and select my own boards. At my most local yard (Irmass in Trafford Park, Manchester) the price difference between AWO and European is only around 15% but I still try to find a few nice American boards to mix in with the European.

As Scrums says though, at British Hardwoods (my favourite supplier), European can actually be cheaper! They are specialists in European oak, however.

Anyway, I think that with all these cheap Chinese imports, oak will become old-hat over the next few years.

Brad