From the library
Moisture & Movement
Shrinkage and Swelling
In the previous guides, we covered the three axes of wood movement — tangential, radial, and longitudinal — and the reasons behind each. Now it's time to bring them together.
Read →KNOW TIMBER. FIND THE RIGHT YARD.
Better timber starts with knowing where to look.
Independent sawmills, timber merchants and specialist yards — with practical knowledge and a marketplace built around real timber.
The curriculum
7 tracks to timber confidence
Work in order or jump to what you need — buying, moisture, species, structure, finishing and the maker's craft.
- 01
Foundations
How trees become wood and what wood actually is. The absolute basics every timber buyer and maker needs.
10 guides →
- 02
Moisture & Movement
How wood behaves as a material. The most important track for avoiding mistakes — covers why boards warp, cup, twist, and shrink.
10 guides →
- 03
Timber Properties
How species differ in hardness, strength, durability, and more. Connects directly to the species library.
10 guides →
- 04
Timber Processing
What happens between the forest and the workshop — sawing, drying, grading, storage, and buying.
10 guides →
- 05
Working with Timber
Practical material understanding. How wood science translates into craft practice — movement, joinery, glue, outdoor use.
10 guides →
- 06
Wood Identification
How to recognise, name, and read timber species. Complements the species library.
10 guides →
- 07
Advanced Timber Science
Deeper anatomy, chemistry, degradation, and engineering behaviour. For learners who want the underlying wood science.
10 guides →
Yards
Real mills, merchants and timber specialists.
A directory-led view of places that know timber properly — town, trade and useful context first.
Open the directory →A Hingley & Son (Timber) Ltd
Duffield, Belper, Derbyshire · Sawmill
Long Established Sawmillers & Timber Merchants.
View yard →
Egertons Timber & Hardware
Siddington, Macclesfield, Cheshire · Timber merchant
A family run timber business near Macclesfield.
View yard →
WL Timber
Hucknall, Nottinghamshire · Timber merchant
Independent Timber Merchant in Nottingham, offering quality timber and services.
View yard →
- Browse more yards in the directory →
On the board
Classified timber listings.
Know your timber
Meet the materials
A rotating selection of useful timber species, modified woods and common workshop materials — chosen for real project decisions, not just appearance.
Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata
Heartwood reddish to pinkish brown, often with random streaks and bands of darker red…
Profile →Iroko
Milicia excelsa
Heartwood is usually a yellow to golden or medium brown, with color tending to darken…
Profile →Sapele
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown.
Profile →European Larch
Larix decidua
Heartwood ranges from yellow to a medium reddish brown.
Profile →Quick calculations
Put the numbers to work
From the cab
Notes from the road
Short dispatches on the wood, the places, and the people behind the trade.
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