British Hardwoods Online

[PerranOak]

I purchased a "hobby pack" of hardwoods from these guys.

I realise that it was gouing to be a mixed bag of odd shapes, sizes and species - and it was!

However, they didn't note which species they were.

I've emailed them three times over the past week asking how I can tell (i'm guessing it's possible as most of them have a colour painted on the ends) but no reply.

 

[ByronBlack]

If it's just a hobby pack, then I'm sure they don't record what goes into it, most will be off-cuts.

You could of course just post a few pictures here and the hive-mind that is UKW will try and help you identify the woods.

There are also some good websites/books that you can find with google that will help with wood identification.

 

[PerranOak]

If it's just a hobby pack, then I'm sure they don't record what goes into it, most will be off-cuts.

Thanks ByronBlack, I'm sure that's true and I don't mind if they tell me that. What I do mind is being ignored. :x

Can people tell just by looking at a photo of a scruffy old plank!? :shock:

 

[lurker]

Can people tell just by looking at a photo of a scruffy old plank!? :shock:

No but that will not stop em :roll:

 

[ByronBlack]

Can people tell just by looking at a photo of a scruffy old plank!? :shock:

Depends how scruffy - post some pics and we'll have a go

 

[matt]

Can people tell just by looking at a photo of a scruffy old plank!? :shock:

That looks like oak, and some iroko, and a bit of elm... Oh, damn, you've not posted pics yet. Rumbled...

 

[9fingers]

This is my reference for wood ID on line.

You will possibly have to take a plane to the sample and wipe over with a little white spirit perhaps and then compare with this gallery.

Takes a while to load but worth it IMHO

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/wood ... xtotal.htm

Bob

 

[joiner_sim]

http://www.sykestimber.co.uk/hardwood.html this link should help you to identify.

 

[joiner_sim]

I like the idea of being able to order it online. What is the service like from these guys, obviously apart from telling you what species the timber is?

 

[OPJ]

I was looking at this site the other day and would also be interested to hear more on their delivery service. Their delivery costs don't seem to bad, considering (I've seen higher for much less on eBay...). With the Hobby Packs, you can specify a selection of just one species or have a mix.

Might be worth a punt for those who were interested in making something from a specified amount of timber in the competition. :wink:

 

[BradNaylor]

I've emailed them three times over the past week asking how I can tell (i'm guessing it's possible as most of them have a colour painted on the ends) but no reply.

I bet they're having a right laugh in the office about 'one of those hobby guys' who bought a load of offcuts and can't tell the difference between oak, walnut, and cherry. No offence intended, but remember that they deal in timber every day and will just assume that everyone knows. I doubt that they will have a record of what they sent you anyway. Every email you send will probably just amuse them more.


Seriously though, British Hardwoods are a sound company - one of my favourite timber suppliers. These 'hobby packs' seem like a typical wheeze though. I've always been able to load up my van with offcuts like these free of charge when I buy a few boards from them - now they're flogging them online!

As to your dilemma, 90% of what BH sell is European oak, so I bet that is what most of your pack is. If you've got a dark brown board, it's American black walnut, if you've got a creamy white one it's maple, and if there's a pink one, it's cherry. If one looks like oak but is a lighter colour, it's ash.

That's pretty well all they sell.

Cheers
Brad

 

[Doctor]

I reckon I could supply a few hobby packs per day, what exactly do you get in these?
Brads spot on with his comments and I think ignorant is a bit harsh, after all its you who doesn't know what they are.
My guess if its off cuts would be a bit of rough oak, a bit of waterstained beech and a plank of freckled maple.

 

[Digit]

Identifying timbers would be one hell of lot easier if each piece of Oak looked like Oak! Same for all the others as well.
Timber has got to be about the most variable of materials in general use today.

Roy.

 

[jlawrence]

If you check on fleabay it's amazing how much a selection of what is really offcuts goes for.

 

[PerranOak]

Sure, I accept that I'm a noob and so easily ripped-off.

I've never even seen any hardwoods "in the raw". B&Q are my "timber suppliers"!

I wanted to branch out. I should have bought sensibly but can't resist things like the "bag-o-trash" buy: it was very cheap.

From my experience then, their customer service is cr@p. If they're happy enough to take my cash, they should be happy enough to answer a simple question. A "hobby pack" is likely to be bought by those who don't know much and so a courtesy email wouldn't kill them. The delivery was pretty good though, came the next day all wrapped in plastic.

I got one "usable" board and several long, chunky - what I can only describe as - posts. Most were water damaged but sound, really. I can't really use half of them as they are far too chunky - my fault though, I'm not complaining about that, I took the risk. I just thought that a "hobby pack" would be configured more for someone who doesn't have Norm Abrahm's workshop - more fool me, lesson learned! For you guys with a band saw though, you'd be ok.

I'll look at it all carefully in the light of your helpful comments, cheers. I will try to upload pics but it's hard on this site.

 

[PerranOak]

This is me uploading pics:

 

[joiner_sim]

I'mnot very good at having a go identifying, but this is what I recon they could be.
1. ash
2. oak
3. oak
4. ash
5. oak
6. ash

I think that some of the "ash" ones could be maple but unsure. Happy to not be of much help :shock: :roll:

 

[PerranOak]

Cheers joiner_sim!

That looks like oak, and some iroko, and a bit of elm... Oh, damn, you've not posted pics yet. Rumbled...

Here they are matt! :wink:

 

[Rob_H]

2. Oak.
3. Oak
5. Oak

 

[Ironballs]

Maple and oak