Illegal Logging

[Paul H (admin)]

There is an interesting report on Channel 4 news tonight about illegal logging of hardwood in South America.  Indigenous families are forced out by the illegal loggers as they move further into the rain forest. Some local activists against illegal logging have been killed.

Illegal logging is a huge business, supplying luxury hardwood to richer countries. Saw mills fiddle the paperwork to hide the illegal logging. The estimate is that 80% of hardwood is illegal.

That's why I never use exotic wood. MilliBee has some recycled Oak from North America (a bookcase), but the original plywood is of dubious origin. For the last year Buildbase have supplied better quality ply which they claim comes from sustainable sources. Everything else is softwood painted with good old Jotun 2-pack.

-Paul

[Jeremy]

I have a policy now of only using wood from European sources.  My local sawmill has been a goldmine of information (freely given) and I've got some really superb timber from them.  They're able to source Scandinavian timber, and stuff from France (like Oak) that's really good quality, as well as locally grown larch, ash, chestnut etc.

Plywood is the main problem, as, at a guess, much of the affordable marine ply is probably from illicit sources.  My next ply boat will be built using birch ply from Scandinavia, as my experience of using this for aircraft components suggests that it is strong and affordable.  It isn't considered durable, or of "marine" quality, but I've convinced that, once covered in epoxy and paint the durability isn't an issue for small boats.

[Alan]

I'm currently building a boat framework from teak, all recovered as scrap from where I worked. It was mainly bench tops from a building which went up in 1963 and I guess that it was forest cut in the Far East. It is absolutely beautiful when cut.
Next time I go to Beale or hopefully to a HBBR meeting I'll take a car load, there is literally too much for me to use. I might suggest a donation to charity.

[LASER41420]

Hi,
Don't underestimate what you can make from recycled wood especially old furniture, all the wood in this paddle came from either skips, garages or a bonfire.
Steve