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Author Topic: puzzles  (Read 1488 times)

Dav

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puzzles
« on: November 16, 2010, 06:15:47 pm »
lokking for a good desent priced wood to use for animal and word puzzles...any ideas?  Anyone use hickory?
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Offline BilltheDiver

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2010, 06:48:50 pm »
Hickory is good, but awfully hard if you are talking about 3/4 inch.  I make a lot of puzzles using poplar.  It's a hardwood with fairly close pores, and less expense than most hardwoods.  If you are talking about jigsaw puzzles of 1/4 inch or so, it's a different situation.
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Offline mrsn

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2010, 07:59:36 pm »
I had some 3/4 inch hickory that was really tough to cut. Maybe I got a really hard piece, but I wouldn't do a puzzle with it. Personally I wouldn't keep the blade true and would end up cutting at an angle, and that doesn't work for puzzles. You might have better skills then me, or more patience. I have used poplar, pine, cedar and plywood with fairly good results for different types of puzzles.
MrsN
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Offline jimbo

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2010, 09:04:58 pm »
I use medium to hard wood for puzzles 3/4" thick and have no problems
Jimbo
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Offline dgman

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2010, 09:35:05 pm »
I have used Alder recently on several stand up puzzles. It cuts easily but is hard enough to withstand abuse. It has a a nice grain and color when oil is applied.
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Dan In Southern California

Dav

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2010, 09:25:16 am »
where do you get your alder from?
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Offline dunk

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2010, 10:06:47 am »
I think Bluelucky (Michael) has switched from poplar to aspen lately.  He says it takes a stain real well but does scratch rather easily.  I'm still using poplar primarily  for my puzzles but as soon as I run out of this purchase I'm going to try some alder and see how I like it.  I do know I don't like hard maple.  Hard to cut and won't take a stain.
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Mike

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Offline dgman

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2010, 10:09:49 am »
Quote from: Dav on November 17, 2010, 09:25:16 am
where do you get your alder from?
It's readily available on the west coast, I don't know about the rest of the world.
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Dan In Southern California

Offline Judy Hunter

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2010, 10:21:20 am »
I birch for my stain puzzles and aspen for the painted kids puzzles
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Offline crusty59

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2010, 10:35:00 am »
I like cutting Walnut. I buy it on ebay. I have gotten some nice deals. It cuts nice and finishes really nice
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Offline julief

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Re: puzzles
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2010, 07:18:40 am »
Most of my standup puzzles are out of poplar and walnut.  Poplar because it is readily available and inexpensive.  Sands and finished well.  Walnut just because I love the grain and finishability of it and I get more money from them because they are so pretty.
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