Advice on timber supply please

[Malcolm H]

I need a piece of good quality hardwood for a shelf with the following dimensions (mm):

Length: 1180 Width: 250 - 315 Thickness: Enough to support 24 volumes of Encyclopaedia Britannica without bending, 35 - 50mm ?

The shelf will be supported at the ends only.

I have tried all my local timber suppliers without success. I suppose, if pressed, I could use two pieces each of half the required width.

If anybody knows of a suitable piece of timber within sensible driving distance of Camberley, Surrey I would be prepared to pay a sensible price for it.

Many thanks for any suggestions.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Wood kitchen worktop is the best bet..you need a GOOD thickness to take books over that sort of span without sagging.

Otherwise try a local joinery place.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Dont they have trees in surry?

Try some double glazing firms that make frames in this wood. I cant believe woodyards by you dont have hardwood?

[Mike Dodd]

Maybe easier (and certainly cheaper) to use thinner material, and use strengthening ribs on the underside. If you'd accept the aesthetics of that solution.

[Malcolm H]

Thank you for your response SBM. They have hardwood but not of the required dimensions. I don't think there is any requirement in the double glazing world for hardwood with my required dimensions.

[Malcolm H]

Excellent suggestion, I will try the kitchen suppliers! Thank you

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Try ebay if no joy

search for *hardwood timber* on ebay, some planks on there. ;-)

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Yep plenty of hardwood on the ebay

[dcbwhaley]

This is quite good for calculating thickness

[dingbat]

You don't necessarily need hardwood. A veneered blockboard is usually the best option, in terms of strength and (most importantly) resistance to deflection. It's usually supplied with an anonymous brownwood kurtzii veneer on it and you can put your own lipping on the front.

3/4" is the usual thickness, but if you're supporting encyclopedias over this span, then set a small vertical strip underneath it, about 3" high and 4" back from the front edge. This is relatively invisible but it stiffens things up massively. If they're really heavy, then run a second stiffener further back too.

Blockboard isn't all that common, but any half-decent _plywood_ specialist will have it. Most timberyards won't.

The Sagulator is also worth a play with..

[Stuart Noble]

I guess you've tried Champions. Their main depot is over your way somewhere. 250 x 25 shouldn't be difficult to find. Any thicker than that might look like a railway sleeper. I think I'd stick EB on EBay instead :-)

[Pete Cross]

Are there any specialist fireplace shops nearby, they would have hardwood for the tops of fire surounds that should meet your measurements.

Pete

[dom]

These people will supply exactly what you want:

regularly supply thick and wide oak boards.

A cheaper alternative is to phone around and ask for sapele or meranti (dark brown hardwood), however over 250mm wide is uncommon.

Cheaper still will be red pine, which you should find at most timber merchants up to 75*250 (make sure you ask for joinery grade or similar).

I'd be a little uncertain about kitchen worktop, as it's intended to have support under all 4 edges.

Maximum stiffness usually requires a batten along the back edge, and if necessary a dropped front edge as well.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I've got it running as a shelf in the kitchen with a bloody great 17" 20 year old TV on it and a pile of cookbooks..

[Richard Bates]

[The Wanderer]

tried hardwood in Surrey and it came up with 58 matches.

I'd be surprised if nobody amongst that lot couldn't supply.

[Malcolm H]

Gentlemen - Thank you all for a wealth of good suggestions.

Malcolm H

[Malcolm H]

Thank you Stuart, Champions eventually got my business. Not the cheapest but convenient and very good service!!