choosing and sourcing timber for sculpture

[angusmunk]

hi woodcraft forum peoples. am keen to start carving abstract sculpture out of timber. I have a background in traditional furniture making and the normal set of hand tools that come with that. but i'm curious to know what is the best method to sourcing some timber and what to look for? cheers

[Squaredy]

3 hours ago, angusmunk said:

hi woodcraft forum peoples. am keen to start carving abstract sculpture out of timber. I have a background in traditional furniture making and the normal set of hand tools that come with that. but i'm curious to know what is the best method to sourcing some timber and what to look for? cheers

I would say you need to develop relationships with arb workers in your area.   Also try and work out which species you want to work with ideally.  Some will be easier to work than others; and some will be durable for outdoors and some will not.

[angusmunk]

good shout, am based in north east london so can imagine theres quiet a few around. cheers

[ucoulddoit]

About 20 years ago I tried sourcing small to medium sized round timber for milling by advertising, phone calls, etc. but didn’t have much success at first. The small quantities meant I was probably regarded as a ‘time waster’ by busy people! But then I found a couple of businesses who cut and sold firewood and they had lots of timber waiting to be cut. One of them had literally hundreds of tons of round logs piled up and I was able to take my pick and they were able to lift what I bought into the tipper truck I hired, so it was easy to offload back at home or at a sawmill. Bought 2 to 3 tons the first visit for £100 and never looked back after that.

 

Andrew

[angusmunk]

thanks for this, going to contact some now. 

[Mick Dempsey]

Try and separate yourself from the spoon whittlers that occasionally contact me looking for wood.

Ucoulddoit has the right idea, get a truck and take a bit of currency with you.