Smalser posted an essay on growth rings (I love his stuff) a couple of weeks ago. I have been working on this mess of an old house circa 1850 and removed some interior trim to replace an exterior door. I cut a peice off one end to get a better picture in my mind of what I was dealing with and voila!
I’m not positve this is original, but it seems to match some of what is left original in the structure. I’m guessing fir? I counted at least 20 rings on the 5/4 head stock. Cut was smoooooooth!
In the other photo is a front shot of the casing with one of the square cut nails that was holding it on. Imagine doing trim with those!
Eric
Edited 5/26/2004 6:28 pm ET by firebird
Replies
little ruff to tell from the pic..but a good chance ya got Sugar pine there..yer in New England ? New York?..looks like a NE Corridor wood. Sugar Pine was used a lot, it got big, slowly, and worked like buttah...with hand tools ofcourse.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
yeah. New Yawk.
Sugar Pine..........almost forgot about that one.
You seem to be pretty intelligent about species..........what's a good way/book to learn to identify wood?
BTW, I'm doing some work for a guy who has built several guitars, I was looking at a rough body for a left hand 5 string bass w/a lacewood body. Looks like he does some nice work although I'm not sure he finishes everything before starting something else. Gee, what an idea! Post some pics when I get some.
I love the digicam!!
Kill the snakes! I'm surprised the cat's don't offend them enough to keep them away.
Eric
Good book? Hoadley's "understanding wood." I think thats the title. I jus been messin with it so long I never read a book..lol
5 string lefty huh? if the bass aint completed yet there is hope to make it a righty!!! wait, I mean handed, not political..recut tha body wings , oh, I'm used to thru necks, nevermind.
A lefty is cool, if yer McCartney..or can get a bridge set up and cut a saddle for the thaing..almost all premade partz are for righty's...but the Lace might make it worth it..I can't play a lefty, barely tune the suckkas
sugar pine was prevalent up there in that period ( I restored pipeorgans from new england that era, a lot of sugar pine then, tite rings and dead straight)and used for a ton of things moulding an trim is not outta the question..chestnust is also a possibility ( it was paint grade then, a sign of affluence..ya could afford paint) or even cypress, Fla. was just getting outta the swamp then..thanks to railroads. Doug Fir? Could be.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I recently replaced the basement steps because a number of them had split down the middle. You think they'd last longer than 90 years. ;-)
I sure hope the recovered wood in the back steps is as nice when I build the deck next month.
Anyhoo, I ran 1/2 of one board through the planer and then matched it up to its mate. Got about 30 BF of it at 1-1/8" thick before planing. I'm thinking a pair of classic drop leaf tables would be a nice addition to the house, once I get done with *house* jobs.
The triangular section definately looks like Sugar Pine.
Hard to tell on the rest.
You need to sharpen you saw blade! :)
Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!