I'm planning on making a jewellery box for my wife. I'd like it to be oak, dovetailed, and be as perfect as I feasibly can make (as a moderately experienced amateur woodworker). I want timber that is quarter sawn, which I think should provide a really nice look and be pretty stable. However, I'm struggling to find anywhere that can provide this, especially in 'box size' dimensions (maybe 12mm thickness). Do you not really get QS in these small sizes? So far I've approached a couple of places with no luck.
Does anyone have any supplier recommendations? Or is there something else I should look at? Would rift sawn be ok? What would you use for a nice box?
i was wondering if it might be worth looking at a luthier supplier but the prices look horrible :(. I think they tend to like quarter sawn stuff for guitars though e.g. Alder Body Blanks | Luthierwood & Artisan Supplies
If I was still furniture making in my own workshop I'd sort you out with some no problem.
However, I'm not I'm afraid.
I would contact a couple of cabinetmakers/furniture makers and I'm sure someone would machine some up for you and give/send it to you.
Make sure to get some other material in the same dimensions so you can get plenty of practise first.
Edit- Maybe try my friend Tom, at English Fine Furniture.
https://www.instagram.com/englishfinefurniture?igsh=MWhydTEyNmx4OHhqaw==
Good shouts, thanks, I will investigate.
I was trying to find similar a while ago. The only place locally I could find is so expensive (it has a royal warrant even) but they at least had a bunch of samples I could buy for a reasonable price.
I just finished a skirting board with oak capping. I found it at B&Q and it's surprisingly good. Solid, and straight as a die. Mine was 46x21mm but they do 10.5 x 46 x 900mm for £11.97. It might not be exactly what you're after but worth a look.
For reference, I'm a carpenter and I make some very nice furniture, jewel boxes and a guitar. Not as good as Kayak23, sadly.
Phone up a few locals joiners and all of they've any scraps they can sell you.
Not sure where you are based but you can visit this warehouse & choose, or order online if not.
I used for my son's GCSE DT project.
Whitney Sawmill near Hay-on-Wye.
There are many more hardwoods you could use, particularly for small items. Elm, cherry, apple, maple are just a start.
I would contact a couple of cabinetmakers/furniture makers and I'm sure someone would machine some up for you and give/send it to you
If he's going to get something bandsawn/machined up, he might well start with some nicer bits than oak.
It will keep its colour quite well with a uv inhibitor, but will after some years fade to brown, but it is a lovely light chocolate brown.
https://www.woodwiseuk.co.uk/product/purpleheart-1195x205x53-mm-ph106/
I kind of agree with the above i don't really understand the love of oak, its a bit beige. Not sure i would pick purple heart though.
You don't want 12mm thick by the way, you want het a lump resawn to make a continuous grain.
Try the local Men's Shed. My wife volunteers with one and it is attended primarily by old men with a love of woodworking and garages full of heavy duty woodworking tools. I'm sure they'd jump at the chance to help out.
I kind of agree with the above i don't really understand the love of oak, its a bit beige. Not sure i would pick purple heart though.
It's all down to taste but Oak is far from beige imho.
It's pretty beige if you want it to be. I had to remake some drawers for a client one time as the Oak I selected (beautiful character Oak) was too interesting for her 😂
It varies massively in colour, tone and texture. You can get vastly different appearances depending how it's cut from the tree, you can fume it, bleach it, brush the grain out, scorch it, Lime it. The end-grain is insane.
Big shout going out to the Oak massive! 👊🏻
Purpleheart is pretty crazy when first cut but it's all about the colour. When/if it goes brown, the texture can be actually pretty bland.
Different strokes innit.