Replies

1. 
   davidmeiland | May 09, 2004 01:12am | #1

   I think it depends on where you buy it. When I was last in N. Cal (left last summer) the quality from most yards was as you describe.... fourth growth, wide rings, sap on every piece, etc. It's not very good wood. There's a place in San Francisco called Van Arsdale-Harris Lumber that specializes in primo softwoods. You could probably go there and pick up what you need in very high quality material... and pay a freaking fortune for it. I once needed an 8x8x24' VG fir post to match some that were 80 years old--I went there for a piece of old growth and paid about $800 for it. Where are you in the country... and is there a Neiman-Marcus style lumber yard there?

   Does the spec you're working against should give a grade for the material that's also stamped on the material you buy. Any such luck?

2. 
   Sphere | May 09, 2004 01:47am | #2

   yeouch!!..yer not gonna find old growth RW unless ya pay a kings ransom..and order it from a recycler.

   But as to the HO and his "problem" can ya photograph the installed wood and show him the sapwood was scrap?

   BTW the definition of "clear" used by most wood people I know means "sound, no knots" I don't think Clear is the same as " all heart'' RW..there is also a designation for softwoods that allows, "tight red knots"..tho' THAT would not be clear. CVG is clear verticle grain and is that what may have been speced? Basically that is quater sawn to achive the VG, and any Sapwood is on one edge only..maybe he just needs an "education"

   and last, where'd ya find that in Lex? esp.5/4?

   View Image

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

3. 
   VaTom | May 09, 2004 03:35pm | #3

    Are you guys getting redwood without any vanilla in it?  

   Nope.  One of several reasons I do without.  Sphere got you covered with redwood terminology.  All heart ain't the same thing as clear.  AHVG we used to get with the individual boards wrapped in paper liners.  Haven't seen it in Virginia. 

   I've been successful in getting customers to go with other woods.  Clearly you had a communication problem there.  With that customer I probably would have tried to switch him to heart pine from the recycler up the road.  More expensive than redwood, but great stuff- for heart pine.

   Walnut's a less expensive, good choice for paint grade.  Still gotta cut off any sapwood, but it's readily available.  And the painter will love you. 

   Good luck with the attorneys.  Seems like they're the only ones who'll make out well.

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!