Brand new and asking for advice already!

[beardydan]

Hi all, I'm brand new to this woodworking lark, and would like a wee bit of advice about getting hold of wood. Basically, where's good for wood? I want to get some fairly small bits, about a foot long, inch thick, not too concerned about width. I've decided to try making chopsticks - I'm absolutely certain it'll more difficult than I think- and I just want a place to get nice-ish, inexpensive wood for that. If you've got any ideas as to what sort of wood would suit it as well that'd be great.

Any advice you lovely people could throw my way would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[RobinBHM]

You could try calling into a local joinery shop and ask to buy a few offcuts, for more interesting timbers try a shop that does more cabinetwork than windows.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Hello Dan, and welcome to the forum!

One source of smaller pieces of wood that I use from time to time when I just want enough for a couple of tool handles or similar is the blanks sold for woodturners. They tend to be either an inch or two square in section and about a foot or two long, or round 'bowl blanks' - typically about 6" diameter by two or three inches thick. I think a few squares might do you nicely. There are several woodturner's suppliers - try googling ' woodturning supplies uk' - but I've used Stiles and Bates in Kent (mail order, of course) several times with every satisfaction. It's not the cheapest way to buy timber in cost per cubic foot terms (the usual way of buying hardwood planks), but if you don't need much it's convenient.

Chopsticks, eh? That's an interesting idea - never tried making any, so can't offer much help, except that whenever wood in contact with food is mentioned, the usual advice is to use close-grained timbers like beech and sycamore (these are the traditional favorites for things like dairy shelves, butchers' blocks and kitchen chopping boards). Something like oak would be strong enough, but bits of food would get lodged in the open grain structure - not good.

 

[swb58]

Keep us informed with your progress please. As you say, it sounds a simple task but . . . . .

 

[Kalimna]

This might not be what you were thinking of, but you might try to source some bamboo blanks. Traditional chopstick material, no?
Good luck though.
Adam

 

[KevM]

Bamboo is a traditional material, but I heard recently that the US has become a major exporter of (I think) poplar chopsticks. The statistics surrounding chopstick production/consumption are pretty mind blowing.

 

[beardydan]

Cheers folks! I decided to go for apple, seemed like a nice wood to have a go with, reasonably easy to carve, from what I read. I got a couple of pieces from Sttiles and Bates (thanks for that Cheshirechappie)

Nice excuse to buy a new knife as well :wink: so I've done that too! The wood and said pointy thing are currently winging their way to me so when they arrive and I figure out how I'm going to do it I will post something interesting.

Thank you all muchly!

 

[wallace]

I notice your just up the road at Washington, if your ever passing spennymoor your welcome to some beech, maple, ash
Mark

 

[Benchwayze]

Welcome to the forum...
I would buy a fork to go with the new knife. Much easier to eat with than chopsticks! :mrgreen:
Best of luck of course.
Cheers
John

 

[beardydan]

Cheers Mark! That's very good of you! I may well take you up on that at some point!