Whats the diffrence between something like wickes or b&q timber and joinary timber?

Question

Whats the diffrence between something like wickes or b&q timber and joinary timber?

Answer 1

Wickes timber will give you a greater range to choose from. B&Q etc only supply the most popular sizes and they charge more for it. Wickes timber will generally be of a better quality.

Answer 2

I am not in Europe but from looking at their web pages it all seems about the same stuff.

B&Q might be more saintly by refusing to buy timber from known illegal sources.

Other than that I would say you can only go by lumber grades and individual selection.

Most marine suppliers choose to carry the higher grades of material and charge for that.

Most standard timber suppliers carry only construction grade material or lower which will be knottier and more full of weak grain.

Answer 3

no, its not just price, its quality.

pick up a bit of long wood and look down the edge, how strait is it?

Answer 4

price only, I guess !!

Answer 5

Very likely all comes from the same sources. There's a difference between "sawn timber and "planed timber" and between treated and untreated, it just depends on what you're looking at (and the price).

Sawn timber is at it comes from the saw, planed timber has subsequently been planed smooth - which is more likely what a joiner would use.

Answer 6

Here in the US there are generally 3 grades: No2, No1, and Select.

No2, has some knots, and wanes (round edges from the outside of the log where the bark fell off)

No1. has no more han 1 knot per foot and no wanes (or bark).

Select has no knots or wanes, is straight, and comes from about the inner 1/3 of the log.  Tight grain and no sap pockets.

Then there is the planing.  All the above grades can be surfaced on any of 4 sides, S1S, S2S, S3S and S4S

A Species which is Select S4S is used primarily for Milling, trim and cabinet joinery.  

Some species are better than others in terms of durability, strength and appearance.

Answer 7

It's the quality of the timber, the number of knots and the tendency to warp. The cheaper the timber the higher probability that it will warp after you have built it into something.

Tip: if possible buy individual pieces as a multi pack may well be straight only until the wrapping is removed.

Answer 8

Nothing.

It is all the same - 'though the price might be different. And the quality is reasonable, for normal joinery.

If you want better quality, go to a regular, local trade timber supplier.

If you want best (eg, for boatbuilding, furniture making etc) go to specialist craftwood suppliers - you will need to machine it yourself, but they supply whatever you want pretty much. Ie: if it is still available, by original source or by recycled stuff. Pitch pine, for example, is for all practical purposes, extinct. But it is available from recycled sources such as demolition of old buildings like hospitals, where it was used extensively for floorboards. Craftwood suppliers will buy up that sort of stuff, so can usually get what you want.

But between the DIY stores, there is no difference other than price. (And all you'll get will be knotty pine - so select for best, yourself).