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 solid wood for your home renovation, using Balau sawn timber to look perfect!

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kabyss87
post Dec 1 2017, 02:32 PM

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Nice stuff you have there TS! thumbup.gif

Those wood slabs with natural holes are great for the below projects, Its one of those projects that i'm interested with once I get move into my new home next years



drool.gif drool.gif drool.gif

This post has been edited by kabyss87: Dec 1 2017, 02:33 PM
kabyss87
post Jul 23 2018, 05:20 PM

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Greetings to Sifu Kayu Sekalian,

Being fascinated with the beauty of wood, i would love to incorporate wood element into the kitchen through open shelf and on the worktop just like as below :

user posted image

Before discover this thread, I've only found that Ikea had been selling these solid woods for the above project and choices are limited to either birch or pine.

So my questions are:-

1) Are there any better locally sourced wood that is better than what i can get in Ikea for the mentioned project?
2) is it the case that, the harder the wood, the better/long lasting it is?
3) Are there anymore alternatives to non toxic wood finishes other than bee wax, all the non rancid oils and shellac?

Thanks you for your patience to read through all these. Your insight is highly appreciated. biggrin.gif



kabyss87
post Jul 25 2018, 12:06 PM

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QUOTE(bigred @ Jul 23 2018, 11:32 PM)
Let's do the easy bits first ....

1) Are there any better locally sourced wood that is better than what i can get in Ikea for the mentioned project?
    Most definitely!  Ikea stuff are nicely designed but their materials are not the best (Ikea stuff doesn't last that long comparatively).  If you take the KARLBY worktop as an example, its not hardwood but rather particleboards (similiar to compressed wood boards but different manufacturing process) sandwiched by a top layers of wood.  So basically...

        1.  Ikea woods boards are not full hardwood but rather a layer of oak / birch glued on top of particleboards
        2.  The oak / birch used are strips not single a continuous piece
        3.  Ikea boards are going for RM600 -  8 feet x 2 feet countertop.  Basically a plug and install with no further wood curing required

  For Malaysia, best to use tropical wood (local Malaysian wood are best) - chengal, balau, teak, belian, etc. 

  As reference point (I bought some recently).
            - Balau wood 6/8" x 2 6/8" is selling for 2.60 per feet
            - Balau wood 6/8" x 3 6/8" is selling for 3.60 per feet

  There are wood planks which you need to put some effort to planned, joined and finished to make a nice countertop.  Joined wood are cheaper vs single piece of solidwood.  Downside is the joined wood might warp or split over time.



2) is it the case that, the harder the wood, the better/long lasting it is?
    For kitchen countertop you would want a wood that is stronger AND water resistant to a certain level - this shortens the options to belian (the best belian are those that was left at the bottom of the lake and resurfaced but those cost a fortune), balau and chengal are used to make outdoor decks so they are reasonably hardy to water and sunshine.  Again for countertops, you want to have a nice colour or grain for show ... balau doesn't really have nice grain and tends to be more greyish in colour (can always stain it to a different colour) ; teak is more yellow-ish, doesn't follow currently design trends. 
        When you source for wood, you would also want it to be kiln treated - moisture content of the wood is reduced so the wood is more stable and won't crack due to expansion and contraction of the wood.  Remember, wood is / was a living thing, hence it will crack as the fibres expands and contract. 

        For wood tops, excessive water left on top will cause water rings on the wood and you can't put pots direct from the stove on top of the wood top (will cause dark burn marks or for the wood to potentially crack - sudden heat applied to a concentrated area).  Notwithstanding all of this, if you put it as part of your dry kitchen or shelvings it would look good - just not as hardy as tiles / granite / solid surfaces .... ahhh, the price to pay for having a wood countertop.  Oh yes, your kitchen should also be well ventilated as dampness in the air (from heavy water source) might cause the wood to warp

        All said above, using wood countertop for a standalone kitchen island or at certain parts of the kitchen will look very good.
 
3) Are there anymore alternatives to non toxic wood finishes other than bee wax, all the non rancid oils and shellac?
    Wood stains, finishing wax, teak oil, decking oil, polyurethane wood stain ... plenty of options.  You can go to Ace Hardware (I prefer the one at IPC near The Curve or at basement of Starling Mall) and check our their wood care section, there is plenty of selection there.  If you are using wax, you probably need to apply it every 6 months once.
   
        You can also check out other wood care options here - ATKC Warehouse - Wood Care

*
Wow thats a huge amount great information right there. Tqvm for taking your time to share your knowledge with us. biggrin.gif

Ikea does actually have solid wood worktop, but there are only two options which HAMMARP is the most common one (AKA the butcher top).

I think i can consider chengal. it does look good as a worktop biggrin.gif Dont really mind joined wood thou, but a single slab can be quite tempting if the price is within my budget. tongue.gif



kabyss87
post Dec 17 2018, 03:28 PM

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QUOTE(PowerPC @ Nov 29 2018, 03:53 PM)
Just wanted to share with you guy, a England husband and wife found my company on net, and make order for a house building in Langkawi.

Today, they come to me for seeing the sample and further discuss on the order. What's really surprising me is the husband make a beautiful model to show me piece by piece ! And the whole house is design by him ! He is 65 Years old. I was stunning when he mentioned that he bring along the model he have created, and looking for the way to built a wooden house without nail and screw ! I am respect for his passion.

Further surprising me is, he is the carpenter to built (with help from few ppl). When i saw the model with even furniture inside, i am get touched by his dream. I do hope you guy do the same  notworthy.gif
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[attachmentid=10125159][attachmentid=10125160][attachmentid=10125161][attachmentid=10125162]
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damn.. mad respect to them! notworthy.gif

need to look at the completed project badly
kabyss87
post Aug 23 2019, 08:50 AM

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QUOTE(kabyss87 @ Jul 23 2018, 05:20 PM)
Greetings to Sifu Kayu Sekalian,

Being fascinated with the beauty of wood, i would love to incorporate wood element into the kitchen through open shelf and on the worktop just like as below :

user posted image

Before discover this thread, I've only found that Ikea had been selling these solid woods for the above project and choices are limited to either birch or pine.

So my questions are:-

1) Are there any better locally sourced wood that is better than what i can get in Ikea for the mentioned project?
2) is it the case that, the harder the wood, the better/long lasting it is?
3) Are there anymore alternatives to non toxic wood finishes other than bee wax, all the non rancid oils and shellac?

Thanks you for your patience to read through all these. Your insight is highly appreciated.  biggrin.gif
*
Hi PowerPC

Been following your thread since it was first open. Its really cool to see how wood was use and learn quite a lot through so many knowledge sharing by so many wood enthusiast rclxms.gif

I've recently took my keys to my new home and i'm happy to try out some diy wood project of my own. Albeit, its a simple wall shelf but still i'm quite exciting about it

Long story short, i'm trying replicate the wall shelf as per the picture above.

So far i think its either pine wood + varnish could achieve such effect. I'm not sure if there is any other type of wood would replicate that light color feel. My choice would be limited by budget itself. probably expecting it to cost 400+- for 3 planks. (150cm L, 40cm W, 2cm Thickness)

If it were to custom cut, will be any limitation in terms or size, thickness or etc etc? would really like to see if there is anything you recommend.

Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.


kabyss87
post Aug 27 2019, 12:29 PM

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QUOTE(ar188 @ Aug 23 2019, 10:53 AM)
yes we have gluedup pine panels which could be made to those size. no issue. 400 can do. thickness is 17-18 mm standard.
finishing, you can just buy rm10-20 clear lacquer spray.
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Im a bit worried about the glue part. not so sure about the durability throughout the years of usage. i mean i'd be using it as a kitchen shelf, so naturally it would have to hold heavy stuff. I think most pine in malaysia are the soft type, but so long it serve it purposes then im fine. Else rubber wood would be the best alternative in terms of budget build?

Kindly advise. tqvm laugh.gif

QUOTE(PowerPC @ Aug 26 2019, 11:05 AM)
Hi, thanks for your following, biggrin.gif

Wood does make very natural looking all the way for home, and yes, you can done it by buying those short prank, but our process wood is heavy to use as such proposed, you should consult ar188 for his recommendation about other light wood.
See ? This is what i mention above.
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So using those hardwood is a bit overkill for kitchen shelves i guess.. but it looks so good! laugh.gif

Wait till i have more budget. thumbup.gif

kabyss87
post Aug 29 2019, 08:50 AM

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QUOTE(PowerPC @ Aug 27 2019, 02:55 PM)
It is too heavy and overkill for them  biggrin.gif  Such wood need to step by lorry ~~ ahaha
Ya ya, over kill ~~

But then if you have extra land, you can buy some slab from me and make table there, can enjoy moon light during night, chit chat with friend.
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ar188 actually poisoned me with his white oat.. so now my shelves will be hard wood instead.. laugh.gif

next time if i have a bigger house, a slab is a must rclxms.gif

 

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