Where to buy PAR hardwood boards to make a bookcase

[Steve_B]

I've been reading the boards for a while now but this is my first post so hello everyone!

I'm a carpenter and I've been asked by a customer to make a shelving unit roughly W1700 x H1020 x D380 out of hardwood (they suggested European oak but that might be too expensive) and I'd like to know where the best place to buy the timber would be? Can anybody recommend any alternatives to European oak? They're not keen on using any white or lighter coloured timber though.
I've not had much experience of using hardwoods for joinery as I usually get asked to use pine or mdf to keep the cost down and can be painted or varnished, hence the reason I don't know the best place to buy the boards.
Do I need to get kiln dried timber and what moisture content should I aim for? Can I even get boards that kind of width or will I need to join two boards lengthwise?
I'm based in south oxfordshire so somewhere local would be great but I don't mind buying it online either.
Is anybody else on here from the south oxfordshire area?

Many thanks
Steve

 

[carlb40]

Hi steve and welcome.

Yes you can get boards 380mm wide in some species of timber and oak is one of them. However you may well pay a premium for such wide boards. Chestnut is a similar colour grain structure to oak and may be cheaper.
Your best bet is to google timber suppliers around you area. I am pretty sure there will be loads around the oxfordshire area.

 

[siggy_7]

Some companies supply wide hardwood panels ready for furniture making. Robbins timber in Bristol is one - a 405mm wide American white oak panel 18mm thick will set you back £44 for a 2.1m length. That's about £81 per cubic foot which is expensive compared to buying rough timber, but I don't think you're saving anything on the equivalent PAR prices from the same supplier and doing a glue up.

 

[adzeman]

Welcome to the forum. Most of the large timber suppliers do hardwoods but it can be very expensive for PAR. Some like SLH Croydon have just one charge which becomes cheaper if you order a large quantity. Others charge by the metre.

 

[jasonB]

For thin Euro oak boards I find it easier to buy oak flooring which comes 22mm finished thickness and ex 8", 10" & 12" wide. Its almost as cheap as buying sawn and there is no planing required plus being that bit thicker than 1" par is a bit sturdier. Just rip the T&G off and edge joint to the widths you want.

 

[Chrispy]

Hi Steve

Any one else in the area? I'm just down the road! Wantage.

 

[ian3006]

Steve,

Just be careful buying online. I've had a couple of nightmares when I've bought PAR online. I've been supplied with boards that were the correct dimensions but twisted. I've also had 3m boards which have had sections of up to 1m that have seen a plane's blade.

If you do buy online, be prepared for some surprises - twisted, bent or cupped boards.

If you have no alternative to buying online, take this advice; be prepared to p*ss the delivery driver off. Make him wait while you check through your boards. Perhaps offer him a cup of tea if you have a particularly large order, but do make sure that you check the timber on delivery. If you are not happy with any of the timber, call your supplier while the driver is still there. If they won't allow you to get the driver to return any unsatissfactory boards back on the same wagon, make sure that you write on the delivery note which boards you are not happy with and why. Take photographs of any boards that do not meet quality requirements. Make sure that you cover yourself for that possible argument over replacement boards or a refund.

Buying online can be convienient, but it can also be a hassle. If you can get yourself to a merchant and pick your own timber, that is much more preferential.

Good luck.

 

[joiner_sim]

An online supplier of PAR timber I can recommend is http://www.timbercut4u.co.uk/default.aspx

 

[Steve Blackdog]

These guys are extremely helpful. If they don't have what you want in stock, they will get it in. It's probably an hour from you.

They spent ages with me selecting timber for a project of mine and were happy to cut pieces to size on their machines.


Wythall Sawmills Alcester Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B47 6JG
0121 673 1579

 

[Alli]

I live just outside Lambourn, here are some companies that may be too far away but worth a mention:

I use Vastern timber for oak, they have racks of PAR boards that you can sort through and choose the ones you like. They are just south of Wootton Bassett http://www.vastern.co.uk/
Tyler hardwoods are just south of Hungerford, I think they sell sawn boards and would machine it to order. http://www.tylerhardwoods.com/
I think Acorn timber in Abingdon do some hardwoods http://www.acorntimbersupplies.co.uk/
Never used them but there is Deep in Wood in Besselsleigh which is just up the road from Wantage http://www.deepinwood.co.uk/index.asp

 

[Steve_B]

Hi everybody
Thanks very much for all of your suggestions, I'll give some of the companies a call on Monday and see whats available.
Hey Chris, great to know that you're just down the road, that could be very handy indeed. I had a quick look on your website and your work looks superb, maybe I'll stick my head in the door and introduce myself next time I go to Wantage builders merchants!

Many thanks
Steve

 

[Chrispy]

Please do!