KNOW TIMBER. FIND THE RIGHT YARD.
Find characterful timber from specialist mills and merchants, with the knowledge to help you choose the right material for the job.
From the library
Timber Properties
Density, hardness, and durability tell you what the timber is. This guide is how it behaves under tools, and how to see tearout, burning, blunt edges, glue trouble, and blotching coming.
Read →The curriculum
Work in order or jump to what you need — buying, moisture, species, structure, finishing and the maker's craft.
How trees become wood and what wood actually is. The absolute basics every timber buyer and maker needs.
10 guides →
How wood behaves as a material. The most important track for avoiding mistakes — covers why boards warp, cup, twist, and shrink.
10 guides →
How species differ in hardness, strength, durability, and more. Connects directly to the species library.
10 guides →
What happens between the forest and the workshop — sawing, drying, grading, storage, and buying.
10 guides →
Practical material understanding. How wood science translates into craft practice — movement, joinery, glue, outdoor use.
10 guides →
How to recognise, name, and read timber species. Complements the species library.
10 guides →
Deeper anatomy, chemistry, degradation, and engineering behaviour. For learners who want the underlying wood science.
10 guides →
Yards
A directory-led view of places that know timber properly — town, trade and useful context first.
Open the directory →Duffield, Belper, Derbyshire · Sawmill
Long Established Sawmillers & Timber Merchants.
View yard →
Siddington, Macclesfield, Cheshire · Timber merchant
A family run timber business near Macclesfield.
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Wem, Shropshire · Timber merchant
Premium oak timber and hardwood suppliers in Shropshire.
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Market Drayton, Shropshire · Timber merchant
Venables Oak is a timber merchant specialising in oak and hardwoods for over 150 years.
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Sparkbrook, Birmingham · Timber merchant
Proudly supplying the best quality timber for your projects.
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Hucknall, Nottinghamshire · Timber merchant
Independent Timber Merchant in Nottingham, offering quality timber and services.
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On the board
The board is quiet today; check back for real timber listings or add a genuine lot.
Know your timber
A rotating selection of useful timber species, modified woods and common workshop materials — chosen for real project decisions, not just appearance.
Quercus robur / Quercus petraea
Heartwood is light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast.
Profile →Entandrophragma cylindricum
Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown.
Profile →Thuja plicata
Heartwood reddish to pinkish brown, often with random streaks and bands of darker red…
Profile →Larix decidua
Heartwood ranges from yellow to a medium reddish brown.
Profile →Quick calculations
From the cab
Short dispatches on the wood, the places, and the people behind the trade.
Free guide + newsletter
An 8-page practical guide to choosing better boards, avoiding waste and spotting common timber problems before you buy.