Species Of Timber To Use For Exterior Door and Frame?

[pollys13]

What would be a good species for a door frame to compliment a reduced stile exterior door? Have looked at Iroko then started to think about using Utile. Utile stable, reasonable cost.
Has anyone recommendations for species to use for the frame and door?

If so can you go into why and why not?
Air dried I think would be the ideal but kiln dried is more commonly available?
Cheers,
Peter.

 

[RobinBHM]

Both would be fine.

Iroko is by far the most durable timber, but it can have a lot of tension, which is sometimes not released until rebating.

Utile and sapele are very similar timbers, both fine for a door frame. Utile is considered to be milder working and more stable, more important for door stiles than frame components.

 

[pollys13]

I thought I could get a pleasing effect using one species for the frame and one for the door. Also thought might work well, having one single large raised panel in the lower half of the door. Panel would be made of the same timber as the frame.
Any thoughts on species of timber to use to achieve this complimentary effect?
Peter.

 

[custard]

I don't have huge experience of Utile and Sapele, but when I have used those timbers I've often found the contrary ribbon grain of Sapele to be very prone to tear out. Of course tear out can always be dealt with, but if you don't have a lot of woodworking experience maybe that's a challenge you'd prefer to leave for another day! Utile on the other hand seems a much sweeter working wood.

Iroko is very variable. When it's good it's great. But depending on the soil its grown on it can sometimes have a lot of silica trapped in the fibres, which will then blunt your tools pretty quickly. As Robin said it's also not always that stable, as an apprentice I made some winding sticks out of straight grained, quarter sawn Iroko that initially seemed very stable, but quickly became a disaster.

Different timbers for frame and panels? Personally I'd avoid it. Over time the timbers will progressively age to look much more similar in terms of colour, but there'll always be just a bit of a difference which will look pretty odd.

Good luck!

 

[pollys13]

I don't have huge experience of Utile and Sapele, but when I have used those timbers I've often found the contrary ribbon grain of Sapele to be very prone to tear out. Of course tear out can always be dealt with, but if you don't have a lot of woodworking experience maybe that's a challenge you'd prefer to leave for another day! Utile on the other hand seems a much sweeter working wood.

Iroko is very variable. When it's good it's great. But depending on the soil its grown on it can sometimes have a lot of silica trapped in the fibres, which will then blunt your tools pretty quickly. As Robin said it's also not always that stable, as an apprentice I made some winding sticks out of straight grained, quarter sawn Iroko that initially seemed very stable, but quickly became a disaster.

Different timbers for frame and panels? Personally I'd avoid it. Over time the timbers will progressively age to look much more similar in terms of colour, but there'll always be just a bit of a difference which will look pretty odd.

Good luck!

Uum, ponder, ponder, thanks again.