What is this timber?

[festive]

Hi Can someone id this timber for me please. i would like to make some garden gates out of this, looks like it may be expensive so any cheap alternatives or how to a similar finish with a different hardwood or even pine, although i believe i need to use a conditioner if im using pine (ie before staining it).

thanks for your time.

Festive.


Clicky on pic for bigger

 

[oilman]

Can't tell from the picture what it is, and it could be several possibilities You needed to have a hi-res picture to help more.

You will have less trouble with softwoods than with hardwoods in general, unless you want to have oak. If you use larch or douglas fir, you will not need much in the way of treatment, and I wouldn't use anything that does need treatment.

 

[festive]

Okay how about this one click image for full size.

 

[noseall]

from a distance it looks like cedar.

 

[Thermo]

looks that way to me too. doesnt appear to be lapped so i cant imagine its pine otherwise it will be intresting as it contracts in the summer

 

[Jasonb]

I'd go with cedar as well. It does not really need treating but will turn a silver grey within a year or two if left in the natural state.

Jason

 

[festive]

Fabulous well looks like ask the audience comes up trumps.. any idea what id be looking at spending making a side gate say 6ft x3ft wide gate.
Not sure what's the standard was hoping for something like 15cmx2cm lengths.

 

[oilman]

Cedar is available from sawmills round the country. You do NOT need to buy it from places selling it shrink wrapped. It would mean you had to work on it, but it would be an interesting exercise. That way it might cost £20 for the materials.

 

[^woody^]

Yes, cedar.

What the concensus on leaving cedar to weather naturally or to treat it to keep it looking as in the picture?

I know most designers/users prefer to let it age and grey and often choose it for that reason, but the common public perception is that it is then old and needs replacing!

I prefer it as in the picture.

 

[JohnD]

I'm not keen in the bare end grain facing up (to gather the falling rain) and down (to gather the drips).

 

[Scrit]

I know most designers/users prefer to let it age and grey and often choose it for that reason, but the common public perception is that it is then old and needs replacing!

Is it chosen because it will go silver grey a few years down the line? Or is it specified because of it's low maintainance requirements and the fact it doesn't rot that quickly? Strikes me that having a fence you need to revarnish/lacquer every year is a high maintainance option.

Scrit

 

[oilman]

I'm not keen in the bare end grain facing up (to gather the falling rain) and down (to gather the drips).

A capping strip would help here, but just as bad IMO is the end grain facing down, and they should have a weather board. Having said that, I have 2 cedar buildings, with no end grain rot, and one is well over 30 years old, the other is 20 years old. Do I treat them? oops, I forgot....

 

[festive]

fkinell, if i could just find a supplier of Cedar in the dorset area...is this wood that rare surely???
Anyone know of a decent reputable timber supplier in the south of England.
I found one but he wants to charge me 230 sheets for some 15mm TGV to make a 6x3 gate (plus some bracing) sounds alot to me.

 

[oilman]

Ask the forestry commission for a few names.

Or try http://www.timbmet.com/html/products/softwoods/cedar_wes.php