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I am interested in trying some sandblasting. What timbers do you recommend and why? I have spoken to the timber people with not much of a result. I have a few pieces of camphor to try and will be picking up some blue gum soon. I would prefere something that will not warp etc. outside. I have also ordered some of the much talked about'pelucid'.I will use this to finish the project.I hope it stands up to its' reputation! Any sandblasting books or tips that you could recommend would be great too.
Thanx!
-------------------- Linda Seymour Bundaberg, Q.L.D Australia
"DARE!" Signage of Distinction Bundaberg freeloner2001@dingoblue.net.au Posts: 94 | From: Q.L.D Australia | Registered: Jan 2001
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Hello Linda...Your Aussie buddies might have a better local answer for you.
Shipping is a big factor in the cost of wood. Redwood was the material of choice on the West US coast for years because of its abundance, physical stability, and beauty when sandblasted. Redwood is almost unavailable now, and west coasters are now using the East coast favorite - Cedar. Surely there are other woods around the world that sandblast like redwood and cedar, we just don't hear about them here. The story here is that redwoods are only found here, but a forestry student tells me there are coast redwoods in China that are similar to our Redwoods.
If you hear about other good woods be sure to tell us about them. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Thanx for the replies, I havent yet found an Aussie sandblaster but alot of suggested woods for carving. One I will look into is Paulownia, it is a prized carving wood in china, next to no notches and very high tensile strength.The hunt goes on!
-------------------- Linda Seymour Bundaberg, Q.L.D Australia
"DARE!" Signage of Distinction Bundaberg freeloner2001@dingoblue.net.au Posts: 94 | From: Q.L.D Australia | Registered: Jan 2001
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Linda, I have only tried blasting one timber and they were 200x50x1200mm radiata pine clears, they blasted nicely and left a modicum of grain. I had a guy blast them that normally does earthmoving equipment and the blast left a burnt blackish tinge to the timber, something that the purists might not like but which suited the purposes at the time. The signs were used on roadside vending trailers in the CBD here and have weathered well under an umbrella (part of the franchise olde fashioned look). I'd be interested to hear people's responses here to blasting hardwood as I think Quilla would make a beautiful sign owing to its colour and continuity in the grain but short of using industrial blasting equipment I think it may be hard to get good definition/depth owing to the density of the timber. Anyone got 1st hand info on blasting hardwood? Thanks, David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've blasted oak and mahogany with good results, but they don't leave the grain pattern of redwood. and it's time consuming going deep. I think carvers tend to go for the harder woods and for blasting you will probably want to use soft stuff. I have no clue as to what you folks have down there.
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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