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I’m in the process of finishing out a lakeside cabin in pine and like the look of rough hewn balusters, hand-rails, and posts. Various suppliers of dimension lumber in the area tell me they have no source for kiln-dryed, ‘hand-hewn’ round stock from which to make these pieces. Turning dimension lumber into this stock by hand with a draw knife is not cost effective for me.
Does anyone have a source for dryed hand-hewn pine stock or precut stair components that have a rustic hand-hewn appearance?
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Morris, You don't say where you live, but I would consider heading into the woods and looking for some trees the dimensions you need. You can cut 4-6inch diameter trees for your newel posts, a 4inch log for rail and 1-1/2inch or so for balisters. A sharp draw knife will make short order of peeling the bark. A hatchet or good knife will cut the ends for fitting in holes bored with a brace and bit.
Before you cut, check with ownership. If it is National Forest land you can get permission from the district office. Selectively thinning a few trees will be good for the forest.
Using green lumber will not be a problem either, if you keep the wood round.
walk good david
*Morris, Your right. Round dried wood can be hard to come by. Based on your cost effective statement, I assume that long distance shipping is also out of the question. Often when it's just alot of my labor standing between scratching my head and getting the job done, I will put it into major bust oss mode and not let up until it's done. No cost effective -- no nothing except coffee and gatorade and the problem is soon history. A carbide blade power planer, some sort of "V" plywood rests attatched to your sawhorses, some time spent weeding out any little annoying process problems that appear (cords, footpaths, clearance issues etc.) --- You can have that bill of materials list filled pretty quickly from just lumberyard stock. Break out the draw knife or hatchet for a quick cosmetic touch-up after it is all hogged out.Also local lumber salvage companys, telephone pole suppliers and older lumber mills often have round stuff stashed somewhere that hasn't been treatesd and has long since dried.Good Building,Jim Malone
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I'm in the process of finishing out a lakeside cabin in pine and like the look of rough hewn balusters, hand-rails, and posts. Various suppliers of dimension lumber in the area tell me they have no source for kiln-dryed, 'hand-hewn' round stock from which to make these pieces. Turning dimension lumber into this stock by hand with a draw knife is not cost effective for me.
Does anyone have a source for dryed hand-hewn pine stock or precut stair components that have a rustic hand-hewn appearance?