Proposal

[KimG]

As woodturners we have a natural interest in a wide variety of woods, and the question "What wood is this" in a forum thread is a natural draw for many of us, almost like a mini quiz as we all offer our notions as to the identity.

Considering the wide variety of suggestions that pop up for any given item, (obviously only one ID type can be correct!) what about having a separate forum thread (with sub links similar to the "New to turning" thread), devoted to the subject.

The way I envisage this working would be, posts can only be for the purposes of identifying a timber, so in the main would be accompanied by a very good quality photograph, highlighting an aspect of the wood or the tree. Threads would be by timber names, this was if you had additional material to add to a type then you would post it in the appropriate thread.

The contents should be monitored for quality and accuracy with a moderator able to edit any errors or poor quality images.

I think this could prove to be a most useful resource, even for experienced woodworkers, as timber can certainly throw up some odd looking pieces that even the most experienced can be baffled by.

What do you think?

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Good idea for a potentially valuable resource.

It would be nice if it could be structured so as the content of the first posts were in a standardised format - for example, image of: tree, bark leaf, planed face, planed end grain. Or maybe reserve the first post to be populated by the best of images received.

Regards Mick

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Good idea, as long as it was searchable once it had built a bit as otherwise it would quickly become unwieldy to use as a source for identity. But what the strategy for making it efficient to search is in terms of what this forum software is capable of I'm unsure.

 

[Vic Perrin]

Like the idea, this could become a great reference document

Vic

 

[CHJ]

Pete (bodrighy) started into this for species found in the UK many years ago, I took up an interest but came across the very real problem of so many variations and reference sources that modify their web sites over time it became too unwieldy to manage.
One only has to look at the links in the existing Help Sticky to appreciate the task.

The main problems I encountered were:-
Small sample of log bark in isolation, and was it from old trunk, young tree or branch.
No leaf detail,
No log cross section. (growth ring pattern and close up end grain detail)
No cleaned up face grain.
No standard colour chart inclusion to clarify wood colour, (look at Hobbit House images to see vast variations)

If someone would care to take on the task of collating the information in a thread it could easily be linked in a sticky, but would it get referenced any more widely than existing web information.
Will the first port of call still be 'What's this wood' rather than a search of a new or existing database?

 

[Kalimna]

I like the idea, especially the discussions that follow from the 'quiz' aspect. I have a few lumps of timber that might prove interesting too....

Cheers,
Adam

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

Great idea, but the software used by forums & message boards is pretty specialised in terms of what it can handle. Some variations have a "gallery" plug-in for members to display their work/belongings etc.
Using the gallery with a heading for each wood type would be one way to do it. It would have to be locked though, to prevent it becoming cluttered. This would mean an additional workload for mods, so another potential issue.
It would be a really useful resource though, especially if photos of the tree were available too.

 

[Grahamshed]

It would be a useful resource but would probably not replace the 'what is this' threads. In many of them the OP already knows what it is but is challenging others to identify it for fun. These are quite a good learning experience.

 

[KimG]

Some good points Chas. What I had in mind was more of an internal rather than a mix of internal and external sources, so basically the sticky would have its title and a single post explaining the prupose followed by a series of links to new threads, each one a species, Ash, Elm etc, it would be in these threads (which for a while, due to the nature of a forums operation would populate the top of the thread lists for a while) that the relevant images and information would be added. So a single link for each species on the initial page.

The idea isn't so much to be a place to go for an initial identification, that wouldn't be practical in most cases because the searcher would need some idea in the first place, it would be more in the way of a verification or otherwise of suggested ID's in the usual "What is it thread"
So, for example, a poster pops up a picture, we then get suggestions from walnut to afromosia, pitch pine to balsa wood.
But the existence of a reference would at least enable those making their guess or ID to double check, this "Should" lead to a little less variation in the what is it thread.
On top of that it might make an interesting resource in it's own right.

Image wise I was thinking in terms of all aspects, Leaves, Bark, summer winter, end grain close ups similar to those produced for some recent threads, basically as much detail as possible on each timber type, anyone can submit an image, but it would need to be a good image, properly in focus, properly lit etc, otherwise it would have little value.

It is just an idea though, and I only threw it out there to see what the pros and cons might be.

 

[AndyT]

It's such a good idea that several sites exist already, doing some or all of what you suggest. As Chas has said, have a look at the sites in the sticky.

A possible addition to those listed already is http://www.wood-database.com/ which is an online collaboration, using blog software, with a large collection of pictures - including pictures of objects turned from the woods in question. Contributions are positively welcomed.

But probably the best is the non-commercial, collaborative http://www.hobbithouseinc.com which has thousands of photos of end grain, side grain, logs and finished articles.

I do think it is more use to contribute to something that has already got a lot in it, rather than attempt to start another similar resource.

 

[woodfarmer]

I have to confess using it as a bit of fun when I have come across bits of wood that are not mainstream. If I really did not know for certain what the wood was in the first place the answers would be meaningless as they would be uncorroborated.

Perhaps a better format could be "This is nnnn " with pictures of the wood from various angles, bark, leaves and "fruit" if possible.

 

[KimG]

It's such a good idea that several sites exist already, doing some or all of what you suggest. As Chas has said, have a look at the sites in the sticky.

A possible addition to those listed already is http://www.wood-database.com/ which is an online collaboration, using blog software, with a large collection of pictures - including pictures of objects turned from the woods in question. Contributions are positively welcomed.

But probably the best is the non-commercial, collaborative http://www.hobbithouseinc.com which has thousands of photos of end grain, side grain, logs and finished articles.

I do think it is more use to contribute to something that has already got a lot in it, rather than attempt to start another similar resource.

Actually Andy, I am embarrassed to say I missed these, they do the job perfectly well, I see little point in extending beyond them.

 

[AndyT]

No need for embarrassment - I found out about those sites from threads on here - resources like those are worth discussing from time to time to bring them to people's attention.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It would be a useful resource but would probably not replace the 'what is this' threads. In many of them the OP already knows what it is but is challenging others to identify it for fun. These are quite a good learning experience.

In the "what is this" type threads it would/could be of interest and value (especially to beginners) if people actually wrote what led them to their conclusions. People would learn what to take notice of and what not to - and maybe what garden paths not to go down. :idea:

 

[CHJ]

.....Perhaps a better format could be "This is nnnn " with pictures of the wood from various angles, bark, leaves and "fruit" if possible.

I think this is the premise that Pete applied and is certainly the one I attempted but I think it can only bear fruit if a number of individuals collaborate on a determined and consistent project over several years.
Kim's "Thread per Species" with a resultant edited collection of quality images and submitted notes would be good, I do feel however that they would require an individual, or numerous individuals, dedicated publishing attention on a par with the standards of the existing national databases if they are to embrace value added content.

Sorry if the latter paragraph sounds negative but having spent some considerable hours monitoring past forum threads and watched the bulk of them digress or die for lack of input I advise that such a project should not to be attempted lightly.

 

[CHJ]

...A possible addition to those listed already is http://www.wood-database.com/ which is an online collaboration, using blog software, with a large collection of pictures - including pictures of objects turned from the woods in question. Contributions are positively welcomed. ....

Thanks Andy, noted and added.