Source of wood for turning in the Worcestershire area

[Madefromnature]

Hi guys and girls, a new member here looking for advice on sourcing wood for turning in the Worcestershire area.

I've bought packs of wood from ebay in the past and whilst they have consisted of good quality wood I need a cheaper source.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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[nev]

Wyre forest?

Hello and welcome.
In all seriousness though the only cheap source of turning blanks is finding/ felling/ preparing and storing/ seasoning (for between 1 and 3 years) them yourself.
Contact any local tree surgeon, forestry types and see if they have anything, again though it will probably wet.
You may be lucky with a local joinery for offcuts of oak or ash or other common cabinetry/ fancy stair building timbers, but apart from that its either the likes of eBay or specialist shops like Yandles, Stiles and Bates, Turners Retreat etc.
There are plenty of how to prepare and store your own timber timber threads on the forum, just use the search facility on the right and you'll have plenty of reading.
hth

 

[Madefromnature]

Thank you for the reply nev, I've done well with sycamore from a neighbours tree that was felled.

I'll probably invest in a package of prepared blanks from a company to keep me going and then contact local tree surgeons etc.

There are one or two joinery companies close I'll try for offcuts.

Thank you

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[Orraloon]

Just an idea.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/11229676 ... rmvSB=true

Does not have to be that seller and you don't need to get a whole cube at a time but firewood can be a great source of turning wood. A chat with your local firewood bloke and explain you only want a few chunks and perhaps offer a couple of bowls as a swap.
Other tip is keep a saw in the back of the car for roadside finds. Turners need to learn a number of skills and how to scrounge wood is one of the main ones.
Regards
John

 

[Madefromnature]

Thank you for that John, I've often wondered about firewood and its usability for turning. I'll be sure to try a bag sometime.

Regards
Adam

 

[duncanh]

Thank you for that John, I've often wondered about firewood and its usability for turning. I'll be sure to try a bag sometime.

Regards
Adam

The problem with wood that's been dried for firewood is that no care has been taken to make sure it doesn't split during drying. Then it's split into sizes which are convenient for fires and stoves, which limits the suitability for turning.
You might find some which is suitable but you're likely to find splits part way through the turning process which may hinder you. Dealing with those is a skill which is worth learning but if you're having to deal with it all the time it can become a pain.

Try to find a tree surgeon and see what they can offer. Make sure they know to cut pieces long enough and not just circular discs. If you can get the wood freshly felled it can be much nicer to turn - easier to cut and less sharpening required. Either part turn and leave to dry or turn thin.

If you're lucky you might have a council depot nearby. Newcastle city council used to have a place they stored cut down trees and they were happy for me to help myself a couple of times but it has sadly closed..

 

[MrTeroo]

You could try Ragley Sawmill?

They only sell green timber

They are on the Worcs/Warks border

http://www.ragley.co.uk/country-estate-warwickshire/working/woodlands-sawmill/

 

[Madefromnature]

Thanks for all the input, I'll probably just give a small sack a try at some point and see how that goes.
Tree surgeon would definitely be a good shout cheers, there are a few local ones I've seen about which I'll try.
I've often wondered about Ragley but was unsure how much they did, I'll be sure to contact them to see what they have.

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[Madefromnature]

I decided to go to treetops in the end and managed to get myself a nice little selection of wood.
They have an amazing selection of wood on offer and at good prices.