Hi there
Here in South Africa, it’s particularly difficult to get hold of quarter sawn white oak so I was wondering what other people are using to make Arts and Crafts furniture?
I’m leaning towards Mahogany after seeing some beautiful stuff on Darrell Peart’s site.
The other problem is that my wife is not fond of the fumed look so I need to find a suitable alternative.
Trust everyone has a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year.
Replies
Both mahogany and cherry were used by A&C makers "back in the day".
I've used red oak combined with walnut, and maple combined with cherry to make really nice "neo-Arts & Crafts" stuff.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
While white oak was the primary wood for period A&C builders, modern builders use all kinds of wood -- cherry, mahogany, bubinga, you name it. I suggest you choose local woods, so your furniture is truly unique: A&C with a South African twist.
Edited 12/17/2008 11:02 am ET by Jamie_Buxton
Hi, I am also from South Africa . I have done some good looking peaces in the A & C style using Kiaat. It came out very nice. I have incorporated some Green &Green into the pieces. Early next year i am doing a bedroom suite in the A&C with Kiaat. It gives a African touch to the style.
Seasons Greetings
If you're looking for something unusual, you might try Wenge. It lends itself well to Arts and Crafts, and you might be able to get it at reasonable cost since it's African in origin. Of course, it's a matter of taste...I like Wenge but some people really don't.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
The choice of white oak was driven in part by the desire to use "common" materials in a display of quality workmanship.
There was quite a bit of white oak available, and the stability, hardness, (hard enough to be durable, but soft enough to work easily), and stiffness of the quarter sawn white oak, makes it a good choice for cabinetry.
I recommend looking up the properties of the qs white oak, and the woods you can get readily, and selecting a wood with similar properties that you find aesthetically pleasing. The US Forest Products Lab "Wood as an Engineering Material", (if you Google it you should get a link to downloadable PDF document) has the properties of the oak, and quite a few "exotics" from outside the US.
I'd offer more advice, but I have no idea what woods you have available locally.
Echoing the sentiment of many; while QSWO was the typical choice for many A & C builders, others, such as Greene & Greene (the inspiration for Darrell Peart) used mahogony.
Use what YOU like. After all, you are the one that has to live with it.
Hi, I am placing this picture of a two seater that i made from Kiaat.
Nollie ,
Nice looking two seater , the seat is cool is that Rawhide ?
Nice Work thanks
dusty
Thanks.
Correct it is raw Kudu hide with the hair removed. Kudu hide is the strongest for riempies. You can see that the thikness of the riempies differs . Riempies does give a more natural look compaired to braided nylon.
Regards
Make it in whatever wood your mate likes! You will be thankful and she will be happy!
Never heard of anything that said Arts and Crafts has to be made of white oak wood. Local workers used local woods or what they liked!
It is just a style of furniture in my mind.
Hilton,
I grew tired of q/s white oak. My new living room furniture-2 prairie couhes, 1 matching chair, 1 morris chair, etc. is coming together in walnut. To liven the room up a bit, I just bought some wickedly beautiful and, for my budget sinfully expensive pomelle Sapele (http://www.exoticlumberinc.com) to build a sofa table. Other projects in the room will be a maple entertainment center, and taborets to be decided when my wife makes her pick. You have much beautiful native lumber from which to choose. Don't worry about being faithful to a movement: the guys who started the arts and crafts thing were rebels. It'll look good in anything you use. Have at it and have a ball.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Stay well and safe
Steve
There are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.
1. Let her think she's having her own way.
2. Let her have her own way. President Lyndon Baines Johnson
Thanks guys, I will take the advice and look at some local wood and make it unique to South Africa. I see that Wenge wood is from the Congo, looks interesting.Thanks again for the feedback. The boss is happy.Hilton
Hilton,Kiaat is very similar to black limba, one of your more native walnuts.
Turns into some really great A/C or G & G pieces, especially if your doing anything with breadboards and wenge/ebony splines or insets.All wenge is good also but watch out for the splinters!Boiler
Ah yes I know it as Mukwa, having grown up in Zimbabwe. Thanks for the input as I love that wood.Hilton
Hilton,
In my mind, 'authentic' is a mediocre substitute for good and pretty.
Make what pleases your and your wife's eyes, and make it well.
Best wishes,
Metod
Hilton,
Metod is a really smart guy. He said "Make what pleases your and your wife's eyes, and make it well." That is the best advise you have gotten.
In the same vein, I would suggest not beating your head against a stone wall. If you don't have access to quartersawn white oak, then either use whatever is available that your wife likes, or forget about Arts and Crafts. You could always start your own movement "Hilton's Quasi Arts and Crafts" style, which uses whatever woods you have available and whatever joinery that turns you on.
THe history of furniture is that of people using what was available to make furniture. That shows adaptiveness and creativity. No time to stop that now.
Merry Christmas,
Mel
PS you could always learn how to do fake graining. :-)
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
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