Dense wood selection

[idris]

I'm looking for a dense / heavy wood with a relatively light colour, and the sort of thing I'm likely to be able to source in thicknesses of around both 3/4" and 2".

Any recommendations?

 

[Harbo]

Depends what you are going to make - Maple, Sycamore come to mind?

Rod

 

[dickm]

Depends how big pieces you need, but holly might fill the bill? Assuming box isn't in big enough sections.

 

[jasonB]

Unsteamed beech would be another option.

J

 

[andersonec]

Ash

 

[woodbloke]

The heaviest and densest native timber that's light in colour wot I can think of is hornbeam, and available from Wests at Petworth (I think) in goodly dimensions - Rob

 

[Digit]

I was very suprprised to find Hornbeam commercially available Rob as it rarely achieves tree size, makes a good hedge, and the wood is as hard as hell!

Roy.

 

[sue denim]

Box.....or Buis if you're in France

 

[woodbloke]

I was very suprprised to find Hornbeam commercially available Rob as it rarely achieves tree size, makes a good hedge, and the wood is as hard as hell!

Roy.

Agreed Roy, but although I've not been to West's, I have heard that's it's available in decent sized boards...about 50lbs/cu' if memory serves, which is a tad heavier :-" than oak - Rob

 

[idris]

The biggest piece needs to be about 16" x 16" x 2".
On reflection I should possibly have described the coulour I'm after (with or without staining) is a slightly orangey yellow. (Reaches for pantone chart ... :roll

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Orangey / yellow could be cherry - don't know if that would be dense enough though.

Regards Mick

 

[dickm]

If you want orangey colour, Acacia/Pseudacacia (Robinia) is pretty dense. But like hornbeam, doesn't usually come with trunk diameters much over a foot. Could the piece be edge jointed?

 

[Ateallthepies]

Osage Orange or Hedge Apple is very yellow/orange but may not be widely available. It is also very dense.

Steve.

 

[idris]

Thanks for the advice. I shall see what the saw mill can come up with.
DickM - I'd rather not.