Cliff Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Turns out a cousin I've never bothered to meet (my family is odd, these things happen) was a woodworker and called it quits. My brother got in contact and got a price. $150. I said yes sight unseen. I figured unless it's nothing but pine offcuts, then it's probably going to be worth it. It came on my bro's trailer that he carts cars around on. Right away I saw a couple of 3 3/4" walnut boards, about 8-9 inches wide, around 3 foot long. I saw this board, which.. looks like oak to me but has wild grain. I don't know if it's just figured red oak or something else? Saw this, I have no idea what it is, looks cool. It's a weird size, I'm guessing he kept it because it looks cool. My guess is birds eye maple, but I've never actually looked at a piece up close before. Ended up with a giant pile of offcuts that may not be that useful, no pic of that cause who cares - though there was a 3' 5/4 piece of purpleheart in it. Oh and probably 5-10 2" square walnut table leg sized pieces. This was the big stuff, left is all walnut, I think. There was a couple of boards that were in the 16" wide x 10' long range. And more than a few that were BADLY cupped or warped. The right pile is a mix of hickory, red oak, black oak, pine, white oak. Then these short, thick but definitely usable pieces of walnut, including the two 3 3/4" pieces. I'm pretty pleased with the $150 for this. My wife is less pleased that I had to start stacking wood in the basement. Just the start though, I got about 250 bdft of pin oak drying and 3 full walnut trees that need to be ran through a bandsaw mill - including one that is 33" at the base and 55" at the crotch. All of that will have to move to the basement once it hits the 1 year per inch timeline. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 That ought to keep you in project lumber for a while. Pretty darn good score bud! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmotjr Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Some of those badly warped boards that you deem unusable could be cut up into turning blank sizes, and then sold on Ebay or CL. Probably recoup the cost of the entire purchase. Nice score. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Nice haul ! If you cut the badly cupped pieces into shorter lengths then rip into 2 -3 pieces then joint and reglue it's surprising how much you can salvage. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I'm rethinking this. Plenty of Wood Vs. No one To Share It With (Pissed Off Wife) $150. Vs. Child Support & Alimony Close Call 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Miakaes me wish I had a place to store would instead of buying for one project at a time. Nice score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Good score Cliff! The wife will get over taking that perfect spot in the basement for wood storage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 The piece of oak in question is more likely white rather than red. I'm 95% sure. The other one does look like BE in the one clear spot...but man that board is in bad shape... If you were so inclined, you could probably make a few cutting boards with the weakest scraps and sell them to recoup your entire expense, so it's not a loss if you look at it that way. Kind of a rough looking pile but sight unseen is risky business. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 4 hours ago, Eric. said: The piece of oak in question is more likely white rather than red. I'm 95% sure. The other one does look like BE in the one clear spot...but man that board is in bad shape... If you were so inclined, you could probably make a few cutting boards with the weakest scraps and sell them to recoup your entire expense, so it's not a loss if you look at it that way. Kind of a rough looking pile but sight unseen is risky business. That's really what I'm thinking too. Cutting boards to recoup. Even the most warped pieces should be able to be used for cutting boards or coasters for xmas gifts. I think some of it got pretty wet at some point. In my opinion the real prizes are the 2+ inch thick pieces of walnut cause they should be pretty good for table legs and such. I have 2 upcoming projects that I want to use those for. And there are other pieces of walnut that look like they came right from the mill. That's interesting that you think it's white oak. I would never have thought. But I trust your opinion over mine on that. Even that really bad looking piece of maybe-birds eye maple - might be able to get jewelry box drawer fronts out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 2 hours ago, Lester Burnham said: Man... With the gear you've got, the shop you're building, and the wood you've got stocked up, you're all set to build some awesome things. I'm looking forward to what you come up with. I think that's a good haul. I really hope you are right I need to step my game up. I'm still basically a 1 year old woodworker, cause I didn't do anything during the winter, and been doing this for 2 years. My winter hobby is buying tools I guess. But things are starting to click for me and I'm starting to see my mistakes as they happen when building (like sanding friggin joinery faces) and I think the next project I might just see them before they happen. That will be the key for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gixxerjoe04 Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 nice haul 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted June 14, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I think you done good. Not all parts in a piece of furniture are long or thick or wide. When people go with me to the yard they will comment on my selections. I'll have a 12 foot long 11" wide piece of 8/4 on the cart and they will point out a 3" end check or a 2" knot thinking the board is "bad". I nicely explain that I am buying material, not boards. Certainly its easier to breakdown larger pieces into smaller color-matching small ones but, with some of the materials I prefer, it is getting harder to do that. I have a general rule that if I find a decent piece of walnut, even if I'm at the yard to buy beech, I take the walnut too. Thank goodness for relatives with unused garage space. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 Good deal. Glad for ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 14 minutes ago, gee-dub said: I nicely explain that I am buying material, not boards. I need to make a plaque for the lumberyard: "You're buying material, not boards." Well put. I can't tell you how many times every day someone tries to haggle over a knot or a check, as if it's not part of wood. I'm surprised I've never heard, "I don't really like how the grain changes on this side of the board...can I get half off for this?" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I will take the other 5% of Eric's 95% on the "mystery oak" board and say Elm. It appears that there is some feathering between the cathedral grain, which is typical of elm, but it is hard to tell from photos looks like a good deal for $150. at least it will keep you busy for a few days, and that is worth the price of admission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 Interesting. First, I didn't know elm was so cool looking, but I see similarities. I'll have to run it over the jointer to clean it up and throw some mineral spirits on it to see it better. Elm I pulled from google - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 Frankly, $150 is not bad for a load of SPF construction lumber that size! Good haul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phinds Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 Cliff, Eric is correct that the piece you think is birdseye maple IS birdseye maple. If you particularly need ID on any of them you can send me a cutoff for ID (or just post better pics including closeups of cleaned up end grain) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 18 hours ago, Cliff said: Interesting. First, I didn't know elm was so cool looking, but I see similarities. I'll have to run it over the jointer to clean it up and throw some mineral spirits on it to see it better. Elm I pulled from google - Elm is an under rated species. Pieces with nice, swirly straight grain (oxymoron, I know... but I am talking about swirly non-cathedral grain) it can be absolutely stunning. The QS english elm in the link are amazing, IMO. Makes me want to have a log custom cut (despite the name English elm does grow here). http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/elm, american.htm http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/elm, english.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 But that's white oak. We know your record on internet white oak ID...you thought mine was hickory. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 4 minutes ago, Eric. said: But that's white oak. We know your record on internet white oak ID...you thought mine was hickory. LOL 1) your white oak was some kind of mutant species 2) that is why i said 5%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 I want Cliff to get us better pics so we can laugh and publicly humiliate me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 3 hours ago, Eric. said: I want Cliff to get us better pics so we can laugh and publicly humiliate me. Oh, damn I didn't know that was on the table. I'll make sure to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 There are at least two of these boards. Both dead straight. Here is two pics under the basement fluorescent lights. After running smoothing and block planes over it. Both of which need sharpened and cambored The grain tore the hell out, I can tell ya that. Added mineral spirits Sap - not planed, little bit of mineral spirits (the rag was drying) End grain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 16, 2017 Report Share Posted June 16, 2017 Sorry to disappoint everyone, but I won't suffer humiliation today. That's white oak. 95% sure. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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