WyckedWood Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Id like to have a really nice wood floor in certain parts of the house Im working on. Even if it cost a little more Id like to know what the builders and woodworkers recommend...the best product for the best price. Whats the best type of wood to buy ? I notice Earth and Tree has oak wood flooring strips...Ive always thought oak had a bit of a large grain for miniatures...is walnut smaller grained? Mahogany? What thickness should I buy? 1/16th inch or veneers? Or?? This is not a subject I know ANYTHING about so please talk to me like Im 4 and tell me what to buy and where to buy it I have limited power tools, but I may be able to cut one inch flooring strips from a larger piece of wood if that's what is recommended. Ive been looking at the walnut veneers from woodcraft. Any thoughts at all are much appreciated, this is far from my area of expertise...I usually use regular houseworks flooring or Greenleaf siding strips. Not that theres anything wrong with houseworks type flooring...but the space is large and I would like to do one inch planks. Thank you Also....does anyone ever use the basswood sheets to cut flooring strips from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalesq Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Some of the "real" woodworkers will have better advice than me, but my DH bought me the veneer variety sample pack from Woodcraft and at some point I'll be cutting thin strips for doing my own floors. I love floor papers and haven't tired of them yet, but I'm curious about creating my own parquet patterns like others have done. The veneers are about as thick as heavy card stock and some of the wood patterns are really beautiful. Some of it is too coarse, but a lot of it looks like it will be useful. I expect to use card stock or something as a base to glue the wood strips to. That's my half baked plan so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I'm not much help; in the 1:24 haciendita I cut red oak iron-on veneer into 1/8" X 3" strips and laid them in a staggered fashion for the bedroom floor and stained them walnut. In aggie I used siding strips for the bedrooms and the self adhesive vinyl "wood" flooring GL sells for the parlor. In most of my GL & CC houses I scribe floorboards directly into the plywood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Thanks for the input Holly. What tool do you use to cut the veneer? This is the product that Im looking at http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2000707/9818/walnut-116-x-3-x-24.aspx just don't know if its the right choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalesq Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I've used the iron on veneer (in the Diana) and I just used scissors or an Exacto knife to cut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgansmith Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Karin, I sent you some info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Debora, I was looking at that variety pack, it looks interesting. Since this is a "rustic" project it might be OK to use several different woods. Just hesitating to pull the trigger on anything right now until I get some advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Thanks Morgan So for the veneers it can be cut without any power tools? thats good to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Minis Dollhouses Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I may be a wood worker but I'm extremely cheap so I wouldn't have any advice for you except, as others have already stated, the wood veneer flooring. I myself haven't had the luxury of using it yet and I have been building for decades....lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbytsdy Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 <quote>Also....does anyone ever use the basswood sheets to cut flooring strips from?</quote> All the time: Magnolia parlor: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?app=blog&module=display§ion=blog&blogid=82&showentry=2482 Willow parlor: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&image=85306 Willowcrest parlor: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&image=62046 San Fran living room: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&image=61915 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsea Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I've used the iron-on veneer, very easy to cut with a pair of scissors. It comes in birch and red maple. I stained mine walnut after I glued it on to a piece of cardstock template, then ironed it on to that. Iron it outside - it stinks when it gets hot! It costs a few cents short of $7.00 at Lowe's or Home Depot. It comes in a roll about as wide as a roll of masking tape and you would have more than enough to do a large floor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Thanks Gina, Im usually the same way but Ive had floor envy for years, really want to do the parquet kits, but just for this main room,its so big it would cost over 120. Im not that crazy yet lol. Rbytsdy....I love those floors, whats your favorite thickness to work with for using basswood? And how do you cut the strips, or do you buy them already cut to the width that you want? One big plus with basswood for me is I can get it at any of the hobby shops and not have to order it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 I've used the iron-on veneer, very easy to cut with a pair of scissors. It comes in birch and red maple. I stained mine walnut after I glued it on to a piece of cardstock template, then ironed it on to that. Iron it outside - it stinks when it gets hot! It costs a few cents short of $7.00 at Lowe's or Home Depot. It comes in a roll about as wide as a roll of masking tape and you would have more than enough to do a large floor. Ive never noticed that product before at Home Depot. Hmmm..Sounds interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biomom Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 My favorite real wood flooring is from Brodnax: http://brodnaxprints.com/parquet.aspx Lots of patterns and wood stains (cherry, walnut, maple) in both 1:12 and 1:24. I'm not sure it is the most economical option if you just want regular plank-style floorboards but I love them! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbytsdy Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Rbytsdy....I love those floors, whats your favorite thickness to work with for using basswood? And how do you cut the strips, or do you buy them already cut to the width that you want? One big plus with basswood for me is I can get it at any of the hobby shops and not have to order it. Thanks! For parlor flooring, I like to use 1/32"; I buy it by the bushel-full (well, usually 4" by a couple feet) and cut it to width and length with my exacto. (Then sand the sides...) For interior floors, I'll make a card template and glue the strips onto it. For attic and porch flooring, I like 1/16", usually cut a little wider, though for my Tennyson build I used 1/4" on the porch so alot of strips...! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamma Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 you can find a great variety of woods and shapes here http://www.dollshouse-tiles.co.uk/ I used their tiles for building the wooden floors of my "Neverland" and at "La chasse aux papillons" (see my albums), excellent quality, great and friendly service; I know this supplier is selling is product on e bay too but i do not know the shop name but, for reference, he has images of my floors at Neverland 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocGreen Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 You can view some of the choices in edge banding (iron on veneers) here. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=32101&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=edge%20banding&utm_content=pe&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=CL-xkJ_z17YCFQFnOgodxngAsQ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsea Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Ive never noticed that product before at Home Depot. Hmmm..Sounds interesting. THey sell it at Lowe's where they sell the narrow wood trims. Easy to cut into parquet size strips. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 Thanks so much everyone for the input and the links...I'll go check them out. I didnt know that tape edgebanding stuff existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocGreen Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 You can use it to make fancy floors similiar to this floor I have made for the lighthouse I have been working on. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgansmith Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I love wood floors and rugs and can't imagine putting carpet in a dollhouse. I've never tried anything fancy buy would like to upgrade my skills. This has been a great topic to get me going. Thanks everyone Great post Karin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Karin, I have rotten luck trying to cut wood with scissors. My tools for ripping wood veneer are a cork-backed steel straight edge and my retractable Stanley box-cutter utility knife with lovely new, SHARP! blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 I put in a new blade the last time you suggested it Holly lol. Thanks for the tips. Speechless Perry...that floor is....wow. bravo Morgan, thats how I feel....lately Ive been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeZZsi Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I was thinking of doing some woodfloors and you guys sure do give us a lot to think about! Thanks for making this topic! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris P. Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I love this topic. In my three builds, I have used 3 different flooring types ~ skinny sticks, pre-made,and etched. This has been an inspiring topic. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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