Whether you’re building a canoe, refitting a boat or working on a DIY project, there will most likely come a time when you need some plywood or timber cut to a certain size. Frequently supplied in standard 2m x 4m or larger – transporting sheets of plywood is a nightmare, let alone cutting it to the size and shape you need.
Doing it yourself
You may be tempted to cut the dimensions you want to save a bit of money, but when one slip of the saw could ruin your project, what’s the point? Although you may be happy to make cuts and alterations to sections of wood that won’t be seen, when it comes to that perfect curve or finer detail, a timber merchant who offers CNC routing is the only way forward.
A professional and experienced timber merchant will give you guaranteed cuts to your exact specification, and you can go away knowing that it’ll fit its purpose perfectly.
Professional quality cuts
Companies with high tech machinery and CNC cutting and routing services such as Booker Timber can give you accuracy to 0.1mm – you can’t argue with that! No matter how good your home workshop is, sometimes you need to bite the bullet and take your needs to a professional timber merchant who have cutting edge technology (no pun intended), and the knowledge to give you the best product.
During refits it’s common for strange angles or curves to crop up and it’s very difficult, if not impossible to get the necessary finish by hand. A CNC cutting and routing service can offer highly complex shapes in a very short space of time, often at great prices.
Fully comprehensive service
Time is money and when you’ve got a DIY project on, the more faff you have to deal with, the longer it takes and the more it costs. Sourcing the right quality wood may be simple but then you have to locate a company who will give you bespoke sizes. Wouldn’t it be handy if it was all in the same place?
Locating a timber merchant who offers a wide range of timber, plywood and MDF as well as CNC cutting and routing will allow you to get a full service from people who understand the materials and the shaping processes. Looking for a flawless chamfer? A comprehensive timber merchant will work with you to get the finish exactly right.
The environmental bit
So you turn your electrics off at the wall when you’re not using them, you never run the tap while you brush your teeth and you never leave the light on in an empty room. We are all aware that the environment needs to be looked after and that includes sourcing timber from sustainable forests with FSC certification.
You may have found a timber merchant who can provide you with the right quality timber and who will even slice is beautifully for you, but where have they sourced it? Choosing a timber merchant who ticks all the boxes needn’t be difficult. If they source their wood from FSC certified forests you can rest assured that the merchant and yourself are supporting the sustainability of forest products.
About the author – Kit Pascoe contributes frequently to websites and blogs about design and home renovation. She’s married to a builder, but claims she’s the better bricklayer. This piece was researched by visiting several websites, including www.bookertimber.co.uk.