Reglet wood

I’m thinking of making some new reglets and furniture at home. Any suggestions for the “right” kind of wood?

Saw Blade Sharpened,

Jody

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I think any of the common harder, closed grain hardwoods would do well. Hard maple would be my first choice, but cherry, birch, or beech would be good too.

Bob Walp
http://www.chestercreekpress.com

Hardwoods do indeed make good reglets and furniture…. but softer woods can also be used. We use a lot of poplar furniture in my shop. Our local hobby shop carries 1/2” wide strips in a number of thicknesses ranging from 1/32” to 1/2” in 36” lengths. They are very well-planed and nicely square. We buy a few dozen at a time, and then cut them to length. They make great reglets. Hobby Lobby and Micheals also have similar materials.

Due to it’s slightly compressible nature, poplar holds type extremely well, which keeps our lock-ups from working loose during a press run.

Great input, both of you. Thanks! I’ll check Michael’s, since Hobby Lobby is out of state for me. I wasn’t really looking forward to cutting the lengths myself, revving up my grandfather’s saw, but if I had to, I would’ve. The need for slim pieces and for small furniture in my little chase has driven me to work on making new ones.

I do like the compressible nature of the wood that WC refers to. When closing up my quoin, I like a little squish at the end.

I appreciate the input, and BriarPress.

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I’ve tried making my own at home — the problem is maintaining precision. If you use several pieces of furniture or reglet in one section of a lock-up, you may find it very hard to keep the forme from springing up or down. Professionally-made furniture is almost as precise as type and matching it may be pretty difficult. If you have a slug saw that will give the best results.

Bob