Why Wood Map Of The World?
When I was 16 and at college I started woodturning as a hobby. This was social with a friend, a shed in the back garden, a cheap lathe and a small fan heater which regularly used to have a go at setting the place ablaze! We both had part time jobs alongside education so had a bit of money to spend on turning blanks, I was always flicking through the craft supplies home of woodturning catalogue and had the wood species poster on the wall (this will soon be back on the wall in my current workshop!). I think we turned some pretty nice pieces and learnt a lot, other than how to keep a sharp edge. Bowls ended up on every family members spare shelves. But then at 18, the pubs were open to us and the turning slowed down. I still had an obsession with the amazing variety of woods that I could get my hands on, the shelves in the shed soon filled up! fast forward to the present with a wife and 3 young kids, turning time is more furniture making time and is fairly scarce.
My poor wife has had too many years of the dining table being covered in wood, family surround by blanks at the Christmas dinner or days out being based on where I have planned to get my next wood fix. So for a few reasons I have decided to significantly reduce the collection. If I don't then my wife will take a match to it in the near future, I need the space to upgrade some of the machines in my workshop and also, it just needs to be used and enjoyed!
The collection will continue but in a different format for my making needs, there is no way I could let some of the pieces go and I will continue to add special chunks to it.
I find so much interest in all of the different species of wood in my collection, be it just based on look or feel, but also how the tree has grown, what conditions it grew in, which woods sink in water, which ones fluoresce under black light, there is so much to learn. I've often thought that it could make a really good evening session at a woodturning club night, but then I remember it's probably just me that would find it entertaining!
Resource can be found in so many places but without doubt the best that I use for a quick check up is The Wood Database I have linked to this on most of my wood listings so that you can know more about what you are buying. They sell a brilliant book and poster also!
Given how much fun it gives me to explore new pieces and find treasures, I will continue to buy wood when the opportunity comes up. There could always be that chance that it contains a piece that I have not owned before and have coveted. As a minimum it allows me some fun being it's temporary custodian, hopefully then with this website it can pass on around the country to someone else who will value and use it as it is destined to be.
