@nealgs:
@IPCG : Re sourcing wood suitable for scrolling - a bit more info:
1. IF you have good dust extraction/wear a mask, MDF, especially the "MR" (Moisture Resistant) variety is very good. It has a number of advantages, including stability (unless it gets wet!), very good finish on top/bottom surfaces, and very accurate thickness throughout. Disadvantages are that cut edges need sealing (shellac is good for that), & maybe even a bit of LIGHT sanding on edges, especially if using 2 or more coats of shellac on edges (edges soak stuff up like blotting paper)! BUT the main disadvantage of MDF is the dust - a lot of people reckon it's carconogenic, hence the point about good DE and a mask.
2. GOOD plywood has all the advantages of MDF above, BUT you MUST use a real good "multi-lamination" ply with AT LEAST 5 separate laminations for thin stuff (say 3-4 mm thick and below) and "the more the merrier" for thicker. AND the ply must have at least 1 good side (no "filling in"). And DO NOT use the so-called "Lite Play" which will have a thin, quite good-looking thin lamination on either side, plus a relatively thick single inner lamination, often of really white wood (often poplar I believe).
3. Both the above are relatively expensive to buy new, so a number of members here "haunt" charity shops and the like, looking for not so good-looking old, possibly even damaged furniture to break up for good bits of wood - maybe giving up hard wood, maybe softwood, maybe ply (though MDF is not so often found in old furniture, and particle board - chipboard and the like - is of course not very useful for scrollers at all).
4. There ARE timber merchants who will sell smaller bits of good wood, both hard and soft, and also sometimes good "marine ply", but that usually in large sheets. Model aero shops are also a very good source of excellent quality ply and often also obechi and beech, but these tend to be in smaller sizes and are - pro-rata - also expensive sources, But if chosen carefully, are sources of 1st class wood.
5. From time to time you'll also see some of our professional members here advertising smaller off cuts for sale here (they know that scrollers generally need only smaller pieces).
6. Because I don't live in UK myself I can't advise any merchants' names/places but if you have a bit of a search through both this Section (and "General Woodworking", plus the Timber Merchants sticky) you should pick up some clues for possible suppliers near you.
7. And don't forget "t'web" either, where amongst others, you'll find Hobbies UK a good source of good wood used by people such as scrollers, dolls house builders, fretworkers, etc, etc.
HTH
