I'm struggling to find an online source for lengths of about 6mm sided
square cross section wood.
It just needs to be strong enough to build a box frame for tacking warped
3mm plywood to.
Is there somewhere nice and cheap?
Thanks,
Scrim
B&Q square softwood is 8mm minimum (in the stripwood rack) B&Q
"hardwood" 12mm - in the mouldings rack but it's just pine and so not
hard. I was down there rooting through their stock only the other
day.
Best place for 6mm hardwood is a model shop - ask for balsa. You never
said how hard you needed and balsa is a hardwood :)
Thanks chaps. Actually I never mentioned hardwood (that was TT_Man) just "It
just needs to be strong enough to build a box frame for tacking warped 3mm
plywood to", which pretty much cuts out Balsa I reckon!
I was hoping there might be some nice online sources. My usual experience
with travelling to a shop to buy is that it's too much hassle to look at
alternatives for the cheapest. Add in the travel expenses and paying for
postage buying online doesn't seem such a pricey alternative.
I think I'm going to go for 8mm square wood instead of the 6mm I originally
chose. The stronger the better, but not at any cost.
Cheers,
Scrim
I would suggest that you are on a hiding to nothing with this project.
The warp in 3mm Plywood will be much stronger than any 6 or 8mm square
timber of any specie will be able to correct.
You haven't said how 'warped' the plywood is, or it's other dimensions,
so it is difficult to offer any good advice but if you can find 12 or
15mm square Ramin you might have a chance.
Ramin is what all small mouldings & dowels used to be cut from up to
about 20 years ago but due to excessive harvesting is now restricted.
Balsa (ochroma lagopus) is an oddity as far as being a 'hardwood' is
concerned. The quick and dirty method of determining 'Hard' or 'Soft'
wood is that Evergreen is 'Soft' and Deciduous is 'Hard' but Balsa is
described as Evergreen or 'dry season deciduous if the dry season is
long'. It's 'strength to weight ratio' is its prime benefit.
JG
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