• June 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn a Wand! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Carl Ford for "Rings of Raindrops in Living Color" being selected as Turning of the Week for June 16, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Carob and Huon Pine sources?

Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
TOTW Team
Joined
Aug 22, 2022
Messages
1,895
Likes
6,216
Location
Chattanooga, TN
Hi everyone,

I would like to make a small traditional calabash from each of these timbers, but am having difficulty sourcing material (no surprises there). Ideally, I am looking for pieces that are 4" cubed (4x4x4), but could go a bit smaller (down to 3" cubed). I don't have super high hopes, and suspect these (especially the Huon Pine) are timbers that you try to snatch up any time you come across, lest you never see them again. Anyway, thank you for any information about folks that would have these in supply!

Michael
 
Google shows this place having a bunch. Don’t know if they sell blanks.
No affiliations.
www.jdlumberco.com

Search: 0 results found for "carob"

JD Lumber Co provides quality lumber the right way to the right people. We distribute urban, salvaged and reclaimed lumber across the USA. Our sawmill and tree removal services are just the cherry on top to supporting fellow woodworkers in the SoCal area. Visit our store for inventory details.
www.jdlumberco.com www.jdlumberco.com

Also: https://rahlumber.com/product/carob/

Huon pine: https://huonpinetasmania.com.au/products/huon-pine/huon-wood-turning-material

And: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3537910662...tGRKyPbuOMWWIxbK1UtjKin89PtM|tkp:BFBM5rqSltxi
 
Last edited:
Thanks Alan! Not sure how I missed that Huon source, but it looks promising. I did see the carob links, but they're more in line with slabs and knife scales, epoxy, etc... That said, I didn't reach out to rahlumber--I just assumed they wouldn't be willing to send such a small piece. Might be worth a try though.

Thanks Kevin, good idea! I'm not familiar with woodbarter.com, but sounds like a good rabbithole.
 
Michael Anderson said:
Hi everyone,

I would like to make a small traditional calabash from each of these timbers, but am having difficulty sourcing material (no surprises there). Ideally, I am looking for pieces that are 4" cubed (4x4x4), but could go a bit smaller (down to 3" cubed). I don't have super high hopes, and suspect these (especially the Huon Pine) are timbers that you try to snatch up any time you come across, lest you never see them again. Anyway, thank you for any information about folks that would have these in supply!

Michael
Click to expand...
Michael,
I have a piece of Huon pine given to me by the late notable Australian woodturner Neil Scobie. It is 3" x 3.25" x 7" long with a small notch taken out. It is yours for the shipping to you, and that you somehow reference Neil Scobie as the source. I remember him as a very sharing person both with regard to techniques and wood with other turners. The growth rings are almost infinitesimal.
Paul Fennell
 

Attachments

  • Huon Pine.jpeg
    Huon Pine.jpeg
    374.8 KB · Views: 18
J. Paul Fennell said:
Michael,
I have a piece of Huon pine given to me by the late notable Australian woodturner Neil Scobie. It is 3" x 3.25" x 7" long with a small notch taken out. It is yours for the shipping to you, and that you somehow reference Neil Scobie as the source. I remember him as a very sharing person both with regard to techniques and wood with other turners. The growth rings are almost infinitesimal.
Paul Fennell
Click to expand...
Well that is quite generous of you. A legacy piece of timber. Thank you J Paul. I'll send you a message.
 
J. Paul Fennell said:
Michael,
I have a piece of Huon pine given to me by the late notable Australian woodturner Neil Scobie. It is 3" x 3.25" x 7" long with a small notch taken out. It is yours for the shipping to you, and that you somehow reference Neil Scobie as the source. I remember him as a very sharing person both with regard to techniques and wood with other turners. The growth rings are almost infinitesimal.
Paul Fennell
Click to expand...

Michael

I have a slightly larger diameter piece.... already round and slightly tapered, approx 3-3/4" long, 3-3/4" diam at larger diameter end and 3-1/4" at the smaller diameter end.

Has one nice area of branch inclusion. It came to me from a retiring music instrument maker's stock, so no special history to it.

You are welcome to it, however, it is here in Australia, so wouldn't get to you any time soon. I'll post some photos if still interested.
 
Last edited:
Michael Anderson said:
That’s wonderful, Neil. Yes I am, thank you. I’ll send you a message
Click to expand...

Here it is...

Huon pine - side view.jpg Huon pine - end view.jpg
​
So, it would be an end grain piece out of that. You can see the close growth rings in the second photo, giving a growth age across that 3-3/4" section of at least 150yrs.

I've sent a reply to your message.
 
Pat Wisniewski said:
I thought I’d taken a photo of it but alas…
Click to expand...
That’s pretty cool about Simon. I’m a big fan of his German ring turnings. Very creative.

I understand about the photo situation. I took very few photos at the Louisville sumposium this past summer. Didn’t even get a photo of my pieces in the instant gallery lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top