Thread: Would like recommendation of what wood to use

Hey guys,

I'm a high school student on my last year before I head of to uni next year.
I'm doing a technology project for one of my subjects and I need to build a wooden case for a electronic device I'm making.

The electronic device is actually a LCD Watch but a bit bulky, it measures 2" by 1.7" by 10mm thick. I would like to build a wooden case to house the electronic watch and be able to strap it to my wrist.

I have attached a PDF with drawings of what I would like the case to look like

What kind of wood do you guys suggest I use and are they any other suggestions?

Cheers
Roman

Hi and welcome. Wow! that sure would be an unusual piece. I see you are in NZ. I would use one of your local timbers,. Mattai or Rimu comes to mind or if you want something a bit more exotic, why not check out. Rarefind Timbers NZ Ltd - Timbers / Species List - Machined They stock your local New Zealand timbers and more exotic timbers too including some from Australia.

Roman,
I fear that those dimensions and the detail wont be feasible in most timbers. A really dense and fine-grained timber might work but I worry that you are heading for a disappointment. There are alternatives and I would suggest plastics (especially marbled available from wood turning supplies), resins, metals, stone or even bone.
One possibility would be to carve it in wax, submerge the wax master in plaster of paris, drill a hole into it, melt the wax out and get your local jeweller to cast it in metal for you, or fill it yourself with resin. Another great source of assistance would be to find a friendly dental prosthetic tech because they work with metals and resins and do a lot of casting. In my erxperience they are also frustrated artists and bored witless !
Up until 50 years ago,such things were carved out of bone. Bone holds fantastic detail, is easy to work and looks brilliant.
I love what you are doing and, if it was me, I would be carving it out of bone.
fletty

Your design cries for something flashy. If you have the time and patience why not laminate aluminium (for strength) and some highly figured timber. I also agree with Fletty, bone would also be fabulous.

Some thing art deco or steampunk... or both

He did ask for wood.
As suggested, a dense, tight grained wood will probably be best.
Being from the U.S. I am not familiar with all your woods.
But anything in the Rosewood family would work well. Osage Orange is my #1 'go to' for unusual projects, especially those requiring strength.
That said, I believe that will be a pretty bulky wrist piece when completed. Pictures please when you get it. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Rifleman1776

Pictures please when you get it. Good luck.

I second that