Where to find hardwood panels?

I've been tasked by the in-laws to try and repair a couple of old (possibly antique) cabinets and need some wood to replace a few panels and drawer sides.
Unfortunately I've no idea which woods were used, but they're definitely hardwood. Colur looks to be something like European oak/ash/elm, American red elm, perhaps even a walnut. I could possibly stain the wood, if needs be.

Here's the real problem - I need five or six panels, each about 450mm x 240mm - ideally 15mm thickness.

I have some experience with DIY, but simply do not have the equipment for joining boards or thickness/planing on this scale myself.

Obviously furniture and cabinet and jewelry box makers get their wood from somewhere...
Does anyone know where I'd find such a thing?


Thanks.

I'll say some hardwood pallet panels would sound perfect. I've boarded my whole loft using only pallets (both for spacers and for panels).

But I could definitely see a problem with the with the with of the panels- most EU pallets carry 150mm wide panels max. Can't you borrow or buy some t-bar clamps?

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Originally Posted by Bonebreaker777

I'll say some hardwood pallet panels would sound perfect. I've boarded my whole loft using only pallets (both for spacers and for panels).

But I could definitely see a problem with the with the with of the panels- most EU pallets carry 150mm wide panels max. Can't you borrow or buy some t-bar clamps?

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I think most pallets are made with softwoods (much cheaper than hardwood)

I used to use local saw mills that were mainly set up for flooring. I took a look, and one is now a Jewson's and the other is now the M40 Beaconsfield service area.

There has to be something similar still in existence near Reading.

You are not going to find the rarer hardwoods at any old DIY store, you need a specialist supplier.

http://www.goodtimber.com

http://www.exotichardwoods.co.uk

http://quest42.co.uk/woodwork/html/ws.html

Can you post any photos of the timber? I might be able to identify them for you. I worked at a saw mill for 4 years.

If you need things cut to size, these guys are good. My old company.

www.toolsandtimber.co.uk

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Originally Posted by Bonebreaker777

Can't you borrow or buy some t-bar clamps?

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It's not the sort of thing anyone I know owns, and I'm trying to avoid buying in a stack of professional kit that I'll never use again... I'm not a professional and by the time I get jigs and planers and table saws and whatever else, I'd have spent a good fifteen times what the cabinet itself cost.

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Originally Posted by TeePee

There has to be something similar still in existence near Reading.

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None I've found that offer the machining services I need.... even if I buy wood by the ton.

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Originally Posted by g8ina

You are not going to find the rarer hardwoods at any old DIY store, you need a specialist supplier.
http://www.goodtimber.com

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These guys seem to have what I'm after, yeah.... Cheers, I'll give them a go.

Depending on where the panels are you can use (a carefully chosen) softwood and a series of wood dyes to get the effect you want. NB dyes, not stains. There are some good youtubes on the subject. Hardwoods don't come cheap, and have sustainability+ethical issues with several species. There are still suppliers however and joinery tends to benefit from needing smaller panels than structural uses etc where it's pretty much a non-starter these days.

And to think those lovely old teak science lab benches I got taught on all got cut up and dumped in a skip... :(