Wood Turning

Woodturning – what is the best timber for this ancient craft?

Some of our regular visitors to the yard are the growing number of wood turners who look for the best off-cuts for their craft.

This ancient craft is still being enjoyed by many hobbyist and professional wood turners in the UK, and can prove to be a very satisfying and rewarding past time. The decorative qualities for wood are obvious, but wood is also a versatile and functional material for making all sorts of useful items. Bowls, boxes, platters, vases, goblets, clocks, lamps, candle sticks, salt & pepper pots, pens and jewellery are typical end products created by the seasoned wood turner.

Categorising this resource

Timber is grouped in two main categories – hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods are taken from deciduous trees that are preferred for turning as they are often dense in structure and take a good finish. Softwoods are taken from evergreen trees and are not normally used for turning quality items as they are too soft to take detail or create a good finish.

Many species of timber in the UK can be used for wood turning. Native trees such as Ash, Beech and Oak are easily available, and of course regularly pruned by our Tree Surgeon teams. These provide a cost effective resource for the keen wood turner.

Evidence of this ancient skill

One of the obvious locations in our own houses for wood turned products is in our kitchen, and Ash, Beech and Sycamore are regularly used for making kitchen and food utensils. The quality of the wood provides longevity for this type of use, and manufactured on a large scale around the UK and globally.

So if you are passing our yard in Kesgrave be sure to give us a call, we always have a fabulous supply of off-cuts for your wood turning creations.

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