Hardwoods

[johnc]

Which hardwoods are nicest to work with?

[GearSlave]

Not too much experience here, but I did my baffles with Bird's Eye maple and it was pretty easy to work with. The only pain is filling in all the 'divots' left by the 'eyes' with the varnish of choice. I think I went through 7 coat-sand cycles to get the surface flat.

[Apocalypse Boy]

Yoh that a bit wide open. what do you want to do with it, some woods carve nicely and others you cant even drill without making a mess. What do you plan to do, light or dark wood?

[johnc]

Yes, tis wide open.
Light or dark, doesn't matter.
I would like to make various wooden items eg furniture & speakers, maybe even a guitar.
I want to saw, route, glue, and get a nice finish.  
Not keen on a wood that is impossible to cut with a hand saw and will destroy a router bit in 1 second.

I would like to give maple a try because I like the pics I have seen.
Gert, where did you buy the maple?

[alternativeroute]

I have found Kiaat and Oak quite easy to use as they machine (cut/route/drill) relatively easily...

On the other hand I had some Purple Hart that my machinery was not up to... Went to Apocolypse Boy here: http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php?topic=5976.0

I also have some Panga Panga and that stuff is shocking to work with; splinters that come off the size of nails (and straight into you)...

[Atjan]

I've had good results with kiaat and imbuia. The latter is very expensive these days but is great to work with - although on the hard side. And it finishes beautifully. 

[Heinrich]

+1 for kiaat/teak.

my personal favourite is rhodesian teak, specifically old rhodesian teak.

[---------]

Sadly, some of the most beautiful woods are also the most difficult to work with (wild olive, hard pear, iron wood, red elder, stinkwood, etc.).

[Apocalypse Boy]

Maple is a good Choice, But there is regular Maple and Birds eye maple, the latter having the little knots and more expensive. I've worked with Kiaat, Imbuia, Purple heart, Maple, Zebrano.... even the odd Teak and Pine, bang for buck Maple is you're best bet. On the east rand, you can go to Maple street timbers ( Funny that ), good selection and good pricing. Find them at http://www.mstimbers.co.za/default.htm Price list there too.

I have some Oak for you, Free nogal, you just need to come take the trees

[GearSlave]

I have some Oak for you, Free nogal, you just need to come take the trees

  Bring a chain saw and about 100 people - those mothers are around 40m high

[Apocalypse Boy]

Bring a chain saw and about 100 people - those mothers are around 40m high

Shhhhh... Don't tell then the details........ I'm bound to find a sucker

[JimGore]

Some of my easiest wood to work with are:
1.  American Walnut
2.  Soft maple
3.  Kiaat
4.  Jacaranda
5.  Mahogany
6.  Sapele
7.  Burmog

Medium to work:
1.  Hard maple
2.  White and Red oak
3.  Beech
4.  Pau Marfin

Hard to work:
1.  Birdseye maple (tearout)
2.  Teak
3.  White and Red Ivory
4.  Purple heart
5.  Any highly figured wood

Regards,
Ian.

[undefined.za]

Some of my easiest wood to work with are:
1.  American Walnut
2.  Soft maple
3.  Kiaat
4.  Jacaranda
5.  Mahogany
6.  Sapele
7.  Burmog

Medium to work:
1.  Hard maple
2.  White and Red oak
3.  Beech
4.  Pau Marfin

Hard to work:
1.  Birdseye maple (tearout)
2.  Teak
3.  White and Red Ivory
4.  Purple heart
5.  Any highly figured wood

Regards,
Ian.

Thanks for the list Ian, where would you say Oak fits in?

[JimGore]

Under medium, point 2 

[undefined.za]

Under medium, point 2 

Doh! Didn't see it there Thanks man