Help with getting correct size timber

[BluetangJo]

Hi All,

I need to replace a couple of rotted out stringers in my viscount. They are 1"x 1"x 6'6".
I have been to the local timber recyclers with no luck. The big green shed & others like them have either 18mmx18mm or 38mmx38mm DAR.

My thought is to get the 38mm in either oregon or maple & plane one side back, but its not something I have ever done before.

Any suggestions or hints?

Thanks,

Jo

[Roehm3108]

You're on the right track Jo. But a planer may not give you the finish and accuracy you want. I wonder if there is a v/vanner with a thicknesser, near you??? One zip through one of them will give you whatever dimension you need.

Or, you could try being bold and asking the nice man in the big green shed if he would demonstrate one of those machines for you, AND, Oh yeah, try it on this piece of timber ;D ;D ;D

You might also find that a specialist timber supplier may well have a thicknesser handy and for a small fee run whatever you buy through it.

Ray

[Franklin1]

G'day Jo,

If you can't find anybody to trim some timber down to size for you, the other option is to "build up" the timber from thinner pieces.

If you go to the 'Porta mouldings' section of the Big Green Shed, you'll see all sorts of shapes and sizes of timber mouldings. Have a look and have a think about how you might glue two strips of something together to make what you want (or what would suit the job).

For example, some rounded edging @ 30mm x 12mm. Glue two strips together to make 30mm x 24mm.

The Porta mouldings aren't cheap, but instead of the time you spend running around trying to find someone to cut something down to size, you'll have completed the job.

You can explore this website: Porta products, particularly the 'rounded edging' links down near the bottom.

Once you get a sense of what you could do with glueing bits together, you could perhaps go back to the recyclers and see if they've got thinner strips of timber that you could glue together instead of buying the Porta mouldings.

For example: 3 4 (heh heh, had a "senior moment" there ) x 6mm strips = 24mm // 2 x 12mm strips = 24mm // 18mm + 6mm = 24mm. You get the drift...

cheers,
Al.

[cruisindoug]

Or bite the bullet and buy a table saw / Triton workbench.

Once you have one you will never look back, and it will pay for itself over time because you will be able to use second hand timber, of all sizes ...

Best way to learn is by doing!!!

[drylander]

one thing that seems to be forgotten is a mens shed . they would be the go if there is 1 near you. Also maybe a woodworking neighbour there are a lot out there but are good at hiding ;D
I would do it for you but freight would kill ya
Pete

[BluetangJo]

Thanks Ray, Al, cruisindoug & Pete,

Seems I have a few options to think about.

If I had MY shed up & running I would think about buying a thicknesser because it would probably be used a lot in my hobby/obsession. But council is still fluffing around with application, so no shed yet

Also, as I'm living in Tilly, only minimal solar power so no power tools

Men's shed is a great idea, but a sex change operation is a little messy but, I was thinking along those lines....as in there is a woodworking club at Lake Mac that might be worth looking into.

Anyway, thanks again for your help,

Jo

[drylander]

woodworking clubs will be happy to help you out. mens shed is a group of men retirees ex services etc that do stuff to feel useful.
Usually a community thing

Pete