Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
I got an itch...
Mark Kuzee
>To use some hand tools.
I was talking with SWMBO and we decided that a nice arbor with a japanese influence would be a good addition over the steps of our deck.
I'm looking for a reference on a book or website that I could peruse for ideas.
What would be a good wood for such a unit? I may need to use some pressure treated to get it out of the ground but I intend to cover it with something else. Spruce? Redwood? Ipe?
Re: I got an itch...
Todd Stock
>Redwood and either red or white cedar are nice, and both work well with handtools; however, ipe is just too hard to be much fun. Really requires carbide tooling, which means that electrons will be spilled.
Old growth spruce is nice stuff, and about as decay resistant as most lumberyard red cedar, but the spruce available at the Borg will likely rot quickly without poisoning it with preservatives.
Might also consider African and Central American versions of mahogany as well as Spanish cedar - both are available in thicker sizes and take paint or stain OK. Also - cypress, if it's locally available.
Re: I got an itch...
William R. Duffield on the Cohansey
>I like the designs these guys do:
You should find lots of great ideas on their well illustrated website.
Re: I got an itch...
Bob Hackett
>For a rot resistant hardwood that`s fairly easy to work catalpa is hard to beat.It`s easier to work than white oak or locust but harder than cedar or redwood.I`ve made planters out of it that are still going strong after being out year round for 4+ years(no liners,ground contact),quite a feat in Maine.
Mainely,Bob
Re: I got an itch...
Ian N
>As to ideas you could try:
A Japanese Touch For Your Home, Koji Yagi, Kodansha International, 1982 Paperback Edition 1992 and
A Japanese Touch For Your Garden, iyoshi Seike, Masanobu Kudo, David H. Engel, Kodansha International, 1980 Paperback Edition 1992
I think I got my copies from Japan Woodworker but if you're lucky your local library may have copies.
Another alternative could be a largely western design that utilises Japanese joinery techniques