RIGHT? Easy Rotate 1
Open panel
32
RETAIL TRAINING TIMBER
BEWARE!
All wood isn’t the same Warren Budde from Swartland’s Col Timbers, supplier of PAR timber explains how to select the right wood for DIY projects.
2
Rotate springbolt
N
3
Close panel
ovice woodworkers often make
softwood, or a combination of both.”
the mistake of thinking that all
LOOK FOR STABILITY
wood is the same. In actual fact,
Wood does change and ‘move’ over time,
it isn’t – there are a number of
however, the less it moves, the more stable it is
aspects that need to be considered in order
deemed to be. “Timber with a vertical grain is
to make the correct selection for your DIY
regarded as the most stable, and it is essential
project, says Warren Budde from Swartland’s
for making the likes of fine furniture doors for
Col Timbers. “The right wood will help ensure
example. Col Timbers offers PAR timber that
the perfect end result of your DIY project. It
is among the most stable on the market. The
will also dictate the strength and durability of
secret to PAR timber’s quality and durability is in
the finished product. In fact, choosing the right
the drying process.
wood is probably one of the most important steps for any woodworking project.”
Similar to all of Swartland’s other timber products, at Col Timbers we kiln-dry our timber to an optimal moisture content, which keeps
HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD
the wood in perfect balance with atmospheric
“Col Timbers, differentiated in-store by its
conditions, thereby stabilising the timber and
ends that have been painted yellow, offers
minimising natural movement,” explains Warren.
two different types of PAR timber – namely softwood (Pine) and hardwood. As its name
DIFFERENTIATING QUALITY
implies, softwood timber is softer than its
Warren notes that there are a number of
hardwood counterparts, it grows much
things that you can keep an eye out that will
quicker, and it tends to absorb and lose more
differentiate good quality PAR timber form its
moisture. For all these reasons, it is less
inferior quality counterparts.
expensive than hardwood timber.
FEBRUARY 2020 DIY & INDUSTRIAL TRADE NEWS
“Hardwood timber on the other hand,
Laminated timber: Laminated timber is made
comes from deciduous trees, which take
by gluing timber together, under pressure and
longer to grow. It is much harder, more
heat. The resulting product is strong, stable
durable, and generally more resilient to
and rigid. Col Timbers offers selected PAR
moisture, and therefore, it is situated on
timber that is laminated to improve strength
the upper end of the price spectrum. Due
and stability, providing stable lengths of
to its enviable qualities, it is often used for
timber for your convenience.
high quality furniture, flooring, and
It’s all in the finish: Look for PAR timber with
cabinetry. However, the project that you
a good quality finish. This will save you time,
select, as well as your budget, will largely
and ensure a professionally finished product,
determine whether you use hardwood,
as you won’t need to sand or plane the
