timber for windows

[Springer]

I'll be making my own window for our house.

What I need to know is whats the best wood to use (at a reasonable price)?

The property is in Normandy, so needs to cope with these weather conditions.

I've used tanalised softwood over here for exterior work and it ok, would it cope

in Normandy if stained and varnished.

John

[Bobc]

Dear John,

I would generally go for oak.

Given the small amount involved in making a window the cost is not high.

We have a very good local timber yard, as I am sure that you do in your area. From there I buy large planks of Chene Burgouyne - this is top quality dried oak for cabinet making and is a reasonable price.

With a decent table saw and a router with some basic cutters you can produce windows 'fairly' easily.

If you wish to produce double-glazed units than you will need to find a local company that can make up the glazing components to your sizes.

If you need more advice re reference materials, router cutters, etc, then please e-mail me directly at the address in my profile.

Kind regards,

Bob Clarke
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/grindoux

[Alane]

Bob

You say that you can buy dried oak planks at reasonable prices - can you elaborate on "reasonable" as so far I've only bought the green stuff from my local sawmill?

I'm thinking of some bulk buys for a project in the UK.

 

Best Regards

Alan

[Bobc]

Dear Alan,

For precision joinery and cabinet making I buy my wood from Ets. Coste near Domme in 24.

www.parquet-coste.com

If you select the English menu from the top left of the screen and then Species of Wood from the bottom of the page, it will give you an idea of the range of seasoned woods that they carry.

Basically, they have huge open sided, covered hangers full of complete trees that have been sawn into slices and then stickered (re-stacked with thin wood spacers to allow air-flow.)

I normally go along with a cutting list for the project and we sort out the planks that will provide the wood most economically with the minimum of wastage.

Generally I use Chene Bourgouyne which is the highest quality of cabinet making oak - for my last order in July I paid around 900 Euros per m3. I have no idea what oak of this quality would cost in the UK, even if available.

Ets. Coste also have huge stocks of old oak beams from dismantled barns, etc. these are from managable sizes to those that would require a low-loader to take them away!

Without knowing where you are based in France it is difficult to advise further, but there must be similar timber yards in most areas of France. You need to look for one that specialises in Bois Secs.

If you want to let me know what your project in the UK involves, then I may be able to help more.

Kind regards,

Bob Clarke
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/grindoux

[Caterham7]

The air dried oak used for my windows in the UK (Lincolnshire) is available locally from a specialist oak dealer at approx £70 per cubic foot,this appears to be considerably more expensive than in France assuming my conversion factor is correct.Green oak in comparison is approx £16-17 per cubic foot.

Regards Tony

[Bobc]

Tony,

If you are using a conversion factor of 35,31 that the oak in the UK seems incredibly expensive.

The oak price that I quoted is for the highest quality cabinet making wood.

Where is the oak from your supplier sourced from?

Kind regards,

Bob Clarke
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/grindoux

[Alane]

Bob

Thanks for the info and link reference - it is certainly much much cheaper than prices I was quoted in the UK which equated to more than £2k per cu m for air dried oak from a specialist supplier in the South East. I guess that is in line with the quotation of £1400 for a professional buying in bulk (and presumably excludes the VAT in my quote).

As in the other posting, I'm thinking of making a number of doors, although not sure when I'll get started yet. We're in Normandy but for a big difference in cost it would be worth a journey with a van - I'll check out the local prices. I know that green oak is very cheap from the sawmill and that old beams can be had very cheaply as well due to the number of timber frame agricultural buildings in these parts that are falling down but I've not seen the cost of fresh air dried timber.

XLB - if you aren't going into long term production most of the equipment you describe can be picked up cheaply these days from the likes of Machine Mart and Screwfix - not of the quality that your joiner is using but good enough for a body of work that will be finished during the guarantee period. I've also seen professional wood working machinery going cheaply on e-bay although you'd then have the problem of transportation of some pretty heavy kit.

Regards

Alan

 

[Bobc]

Dear Alan,

Re workshop equipment.

Most of my work with wood is done between the workshop and on-site. The best piece of equipment that I have ever bought is a Triton Workcentre system.

If you have the luxury of being able to do all your work in a workshop then a spindle moulder is a big plus, but if you have to combine workshop and on-site then a powerful hand-held router together with a router table is far more versatile.

The basic Triton Workcentre gives you the combination of a table saw together with a cross-cut saw and with the optional sliding extension table you can easily handle doors, shutters, etc.

Their router table gives you the facility to safely produce mouldings, etc and handle large workpieces when used with the extension table.

Triton’s own ½" router has many unique features, including the facility to remove the plunge spring which make it far easier to use inverted in a table.

Full details of the Triton system on their website: www.triton.net.au/front.shtml

I purchased my system through their UK distributor: www.sharpend-uk.com

First-class service with low cost shipment to France.

From my experience and research, the Triton system is completely unique and ideal for anyone who needs a high quality, portable workshop system.

I have no connection with Triton or Sharpend Services other than a very satisfied professional user.

Kind regards,

Bob Clarke
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/grindoux

 

 

 

[Dave&Olive]

first hello

           What is the best wood for window frames?? Oak with out a doubt but I have seen well treated pine out last un treated oak so no matter what wood you use out side it must be treated. Do not use(sorry machine) tanalised timber without some sort of heavy duty breathing equpment it will KILL YOU it contains arsnic and other other **** . Price of wood I live in N wales (just bought in79 hope to out there in feb) I pay for air dried oak cheery ect £30 / sq foot kiln dried £50 /sq foot= £810+£1350 per cb yard so wood is cheap in France. Just cannot wait to get my hands on some french chesnut.........