The timbers I work with tend to be either those that I have cut myself, which are products of the Urban Forest or second hand/ recycled timber. The urban forest includes all garden, park and street trees that have blown over or been cut down because they have outgrown the urban environment in which they were planted. This means I often find myself cutting timbers I have never seen before and having the thrill of working with timbers that are never available commercially and are often of significance for all sorts of reasons other than just their species.
I also often work with second hand materials particularly those that are of historical or sentimental significance.
Timber in any form remains a valuable carbon storage facility until it is either burnt or allowed to rot, and that alone is reason enough to encourage its growth and use. However timber also requires far less energy to process than most materials used in the building and furniture industries, and as we so often hear, it is a truly renewable resource.
BEDSIDE TABLE
This version, the third in a series, is made from (Liriodendron Tulipefera) commonly known as Tulip Tree and this specimen grew on a nature strip in North Balwyn a Melbourne suburb. In the USA this timber is commonly called poplar and is used for scantling and other structural purposes. I found it soft but pleasant to work with, the heartwood is initially a yellowy green but oxidises to a tan and the sapwood, often in a very wide band tended to age to a nondescript streaky appearance, no beauty but ok to work with. This piece was finished with Feast Watson Fine Buffing Oil.
GIRAFFE CUPBOARD
The timbers in the giraffe cupboard, to the best of my knowledge, are Oak (Quercus), species unknown, Plane (Platanus), and Poplar (Popularis). The feet are stained with Black Japan and the whole cabinet is finished with Organoil, easy to rub on and fine odour!
HAT STAND
As with the giraffe cupboard the timbers are Oak (Quercus,) Poplar (Popularis) and Plane (Platanus) as well as Beech (Fagus). The finish is Organoil.
ALBERT PARK LOG BOOK
This piece is made from one of my favourite timbers, Elm (Ulmus procera). The timber came from a log salvaged from the debacle that involved the removal from Albert Park of hundreds of mature trees to reduce the dangers to speed freaks of collision with trees! The finish is Feast Watson fine Buffing Oil. More can be read about this piece at: http://kitezh.com/gkw/artists/hill.htm
DOOZY WOODEN HANGERS
These hangers used an assortment of timbers including:
Brush Box (Tristania conferta) recycled second hand building timber.
Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) cut from a private garden in Malvern approximately twelve years ago.
English Oak (Quercus robur) cut down in the Dandenongs approximately fifteen years ago.
Victorian Ash (Eucalyptus sp.) the dowels used for the rails are various eucalyptus species.
Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa) cut from Melbourne University Gardens by garden staff at the University approximately ten years ago.
Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) blew down in Toorak in storms early in 2005.
Plywood, part of a very elaborate package of technical instruments sent to the University of Melbourne from Germany.
All hangers are finished with Organoil.
ORGANISTS CD RACK
The timbers in this piece are Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipefera) and Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), all having been cut in the very early 20th century they were fine grained old growth timbers with beautifully clear straight and clean grain. The connecters are cherry (Prunus serotina) and they were already threaded at each end with beech (Fagus) wooden nuts to attach.
Finish was Feast Watson, Fine Buffing Oil.
ORGANISTS LIBRARY
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipefera) is the bulk of this piece although there are also parts of Mahogany (Swietenia), Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) and a few unidentified bits.
Finish was Feast Watson, Fine Buffing Oil.
ORGANISTS MUSIC CENTRE
This Piece is also principally Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana) and Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipefera) with the handles being small organ stops.
Finish was Feast Watson, Fine Buffing Oil.
FAIRY DOOR
The timber I chose for this door was Merbau (Intsia) a rainforest timber that is very durable, but these days not recommended, for environmental reasons.
The finish used here was external grade timber oil.
GARDEN BENCH
This bench was made as a commission for Trinity College the timber used is all English Oak (Quercus robur) a reasonably durable timber, but I did supply a maintenance schedule with the installed bench to give it some chance of being cared for.
This piece was finished with an exterior wood finishing oil.
BOOKCASE (A wedding present for my niece)
All black casing is from dissected bindings for Building Design magazines discarded by the library at the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne.
The front of the bookcase notes the year that Kirstin and Jonathan met 1998.
The frame is made from Pin Oak (Quercus), which is a North American species, this one, (like Kirstin) was raised in Australia. It grew in the Dandenong’s, near the then home of the maker.
The Lid has a springy catch made of Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna), as are the handle supports, Sydney being the home of Kristin’s birth. This tree actually grew in South Carlton, near the makers then residence.
The wedges holding the uprights and the angled catches are made from Beech (Fagus sylvatica) a well-known Scandinavian hardwood (Kirstins maternal background is strongly Swedish).
The handle itself and the two push buttons are made from Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) a noted West Australian hardwood. Western Australia was her home for many of Kirstin’s childhood years.
The round-headed brass screws with washers, holding the spring in place, are from the old Melbourne Town Hall Organ.
Finish was Organoil.
PHILLIP ISLAND HOUSE
Wherever possible I have used found, old or second hand materials for this project including Oregon/Douglas Fir from the Melbourne Town Hall Organ, second hand pine and OB hardwood framing.
Contact:
Hamish Hill
Designer and Maker of Wooden Objects
113 Shaftsbury Street
Coburg Victoria 3058 Australia
Phone: 03 8344 7884 Mob: 0428 577 878
Email: Hamish Hill
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