Thickness of wood to use - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Hawaiilad · 07-08-2012, 05:41 AM

If I have asked this question before, please forgive me....old age you know@!@

I have played around a little with intarsia, but I want to practice more on it. We do not have allot of different woods here in the Islands, so I have to order it online. I know there are several sites I can shop at, but I was wondering what thickness of wood is best to purchase. I know I have to build up my stock, and just wondered what to order. I can cut down to thickness needed in my shop.

Thanks

Woodworking Plus · 07-08-2012, 11:58 AM

Hi Larry
I buy most of my lumber as 4/4 rough and do my own processing (resaw,joint and plane) Some species I will buy in 8/4 or 12/4 (walnut, maple, cherry) if I want to get either 1/4 sawn or flat sawn grain from the same board..

cpowell · 07-08-2012, 12:55 PM

Well, that is interesting and sort of answers an unasked question I have had. I wondered why the Woodcraft showroom always had mostly large blocks (4x4 or bigger) of the better woods. I knew that it would have to be resawn but didn't understand why. Now I do. Thanks!

Rolf · 07-08-2012, 01:40 PM

You can get away with thinner woods on the inner parts to some degree by using shims under the pieces, but it is a lot easier to start with thicker woods and thin down. If I can I do what Mike does.
CP Most of the exotic 4x4 blocks you are directed more to the turners not us scrollers.

Bill Wilson · 07-08-2012, 01:40 PM

Those 4X4 blocks may also be turning blanks for on a lathe.

Jim Finn · 07-08-2012, 02:21 PM

I also get rough wood in varying thicknesses. I machine them to 3/8" for intarsia.

Hawaiilad · 07-09-2012, 12:14 AM

Thanks folks

Jan · 07-09-2012, 01:06 AM

I'm one who doesn't have the capability to resaw. I usually get 4/4 lumber and plane it if I want it a bit thinner. I like having some depth to my projects, so I don't mind doing a lot of shaping to get the result I want. I occasionally get 2/4 lumber if I know the wood will be used in a section of a project that will be thinner than that.

Jan

Janette · 07-11-2012, 01:24 AM

I usually get 7/8 to 15/16" thick. If I want something thinner, I'll cut out the shape roughly then use the bandsaw to thin it down a bit before cutting out the individual piece. It's easier to make it thinner than it is to make it thicker.

Hawaiilad · 07-11-2012, 06:29 AM

Starting with the thicker wood might be better for me since I'm out here in the middle of the ocean. There is a lumber yard here that orders from the main land all types of lumber, but it is all at least 2" thick. So thicker might just be best.

Thanks again

07-08-2012, 05:41 AM	#1
Hawaiilad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Big Island in Hawaii Posts: 2,090 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Thickness of wood to use If I have asked this question before, please forgive me....old age you know@!@ I have played around a little with intarsia, but I want to practice more on it. We do not have allot of different woods here in the Islands, so I have to order it online. I know there are several sites I can shop at, but I was wondering what thickness of wood is best to purchase. I know I have to build up my stock, and just wondered what to order. I can cut down to thickness needed in my shop. Thanks __________________ Hawaiilad Larry

07-08-2012, 11:58 AM	#2
Woodworking Plus Having fun gettin it done Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 439 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Hi Larry I buy most of my lumber as 4/4 rough and do my own processing (resaw,joint and plane) Some species I will buy in 8/4 or 12/4 (walnut, maple, cherry) if I want to get either 1/4 sawn or flat sawn grain from the same board.. __________________ Mike "Why buy it if you can build it" www.midlothianwoodworks.com My Blog -- http://midlothianwoodworks.wordpress.com/ My CustomMade Page http://www.custommade.com/by/mikemathieu/

07-08-2012, 01:40 PM	#4
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 5,896 Thanks: 7 Thanked 105 Times in 96 Posts	You can get away with thinner woods on the inner parts to some degree by using shims under the pieces, but it is a lot easier to start with thicker woods and thin down. If I can I do what Mike does. CP Most of the exotic 4x4 blocks you are directed more to the turners not us scrollers. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can" Proud Member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club And the Long Island Scrollsaw Association

07-08-2012, 01:40 PM	#5
Bill Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 1,887 Thanks: 2 Thanked 82 Times in 69 Posts	Those 4X4 blocks may also be turning blanks for on a lathe. __________________ Homer : "Oh, and how is education supposed to make me feel smarter. Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."

07-08-2012, 02:21 PM	#6
Jim Finn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 1,012 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 13 Thanked 38 Times in 33 Posts	I also get rough wood in varying thicknesses. I machine them to 3/8" for intarsia. __________________ In God We Trust Hegner Polymax- 3 Hegner Multimax-3

07-08-2012, 12:55 PM	#3
cpowell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conroe, Tx. just north of Houston Posts: 388 Thanks: 176 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts	Well, that is interesting and sort of answers an unasked question I have had. I wondered why the Woodcraft showroom always had mostly large blocks (4x4 or bigger) of the better woods. I knew that it would have to be resawn but didn't understand why. Now I do. Thanks!

07-09-2012, 12:14 AM	#7
Hawaiilad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Big Island in Hawaii Posts: 2,090 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Thanks folks __________________ Hawaiilad Larry

07-09-2012, 01:06 AM	#8
Jan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 2,483 Thanks: 11 Thanked 27 Times in 26 Posts	I'm one who doesn't have the capability to resaw. I usually get 4/4 lumber and plane it if I want it a bit thinner. I like having some depth to my projects, so I don't mind doing a lot of shaping to get the result I want. I occasionally get 2/4 lumber if I know the wood will be used in a section of a project that will be thinner than that. Jan

07-11-2012, 01:24 AM	#9
Janette Intarsia Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 3,315 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	I usually get 7/8 to 15/16" thick. If I want something thinner, I'll cut out the shape roughly then use the bandsaw to thin it down a bit before cutting out the individual piece. It's easier to make it thinner than it is to make it thicker. __________________ Janette www.square-designs.com

07-11-2012, 06:29 AM	#10
Hawaiilad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Big Island in Hawaii Posts: 2,090 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Starting with the thicker wood might be better for me since I'm out here in the middle of the ocean. There is a lumber yard here that orders from the main land all types of lumber, but it is all at least 2" thick. So thicker might just be best. Thanks again __________________ Hawaiilad Larry

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