Timber Lab
A space for making and prototyping with a comprehensive range of woodworking tools, materials and machinery for all forms of timber joining, forming & finishing.
The equipment in this Lab enables users to work with sheet material and solid timbers, under the guidance of our technical staff who have a broad range of expertise across carpentry, furniture and model making.
Accessing the Timber Lab.
Plan ahead and come prepared for your session with your DMaF Competency Card, USYD Student Card, closed shoes, your own PPE (also available for purchase at the DMaF shop), and any drawings or prototypes to help realise your project.
Our facilities.
The Timber Lab has a comprehensive range of woodworking tools and machinery available for use following the appropriate inductions.
DMaF operates with a colour coded system of Competency Levels on all machines. Successful SICU completion allows access to the Level 1 machines. Level 2 and 3 equipment require machine specific inductions; please see technical staff to request an induction.
As well as access to our range of tools and equipment we provide basic materials including various glues, fastenings, finishes and timbers. We encourage the re-use and repurpose of timber offcuts.
We also have a broad selection of timbers in lengths, sheets and dowels for purchase.
Please see technical staff if you would like to bring in your own timbers as some materials are banned to ensure a safe working environment.
Timber processes.
Forming.
Timber can be used in its raw, unfinished state or dressed through the Lab’s planer and thicknesser. Available as a sheet material or in solid lengths, wood can be machined and cut using reductive processes such as carving, sawing, woodturning, routing, CNC machining and sanding.
Our range of hand tools and industry-standard machinery allow for 1:1 construction, as well as detailed model making.
Joining.
Handmade and machine-made wood joinery is possible in our lab through a range of joint configurations commonly used in furniture construction and house building.
We stock a range of adhesives for joining timbers to create solid blocks and laminate sheets, and fasteners to allow permanent and temporary joins.
Finishing.
Every piece of timber has unique characteristics and visual patterns; it is a sensory material with distinct qualities of scent, sound and tactility. It can be sanded finely, left in its most natural state or treated with varnish, oils or paint; it is best to choose a finishing method that enriches the natural aesthetic qualities of the material.
Machine competency levels.
Level one.
Level 1 equipment is accessible to all users who have completed the SICU training. All L1 machines are labelled with a green Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) document.
L1 equipment includes: Bandsaws | Drill press | Disc sanders | Bobbin sander | Jigsaws | Nail + Pin Guns | Cordless Drills | Scroll Saws
Level two.
A Machine Specific Induction is required prior to Level 2 machine use; users can then operate the machine unsupervised. All L2 machines are labelled with an orange SOP.
L2 equipment includes: Plunge routers | Table router | Lathe | Slot Mortiser | Thicknesser | Drop saw | Linisher | Biscuit Joiner | Power Chisel
Level three.
A Machine Specific Induction is required prior to Level 3 machine use AND staff supervision is required during machine use. All L3 machines are labelled with a red SOP.
L3 equipment includes: Track saw | Electric Wood Carver |
Level four.
Qualified Technical Staff only.
All Level 4 machines are labelled with a black SOP.
L4 equipment includes: Table saw | Jointer Planer | Power Planer | Circular Saw