Choose the Right Wood to get on the nice list
I talk a lot about understanding the technical properties of wood in order to choose the right species for the project at hand. On this episode I want to share with you a case study of a great customer who had some very specific, albeit mysterious, demands for a project and how I was able to help him find the right wood for the job. I hope you enjoy this special customer case study and if you have any suggestions of your own for the right wood for this project, let me know.
Merry Christmas from The Lumber Update Podcast!
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Hey Shannon, really enjoyed this episode. I know it’s not nearly as available commercially (especially green), but say that when your mysterious customer called you just happened to know someone who was cutting down a couple black locust trees – wouldn’t that have largely the same properties as white oak but superior rot resistance?
Well the first issue is the availability which is a major one. Since Locust is actually outlawed in many states due to the parasitic nature of its growth, the mainstream-ability of the species will always be an uphill battle. However the niche that Locust has settled into nicely for use as fence posts means that much of the material is grown harvested for that application. This means that the turnover rate of a stand of Locust is faster than a typical board producing plantation. The economic structure of the market around the species is pretty happy with that. But technically yes, the properties are similar. I would still edge in the favor of White Oak due to a lower density and weight and more amenable bending properties.
Merry Christmas Shannon, I’m out for a walk in the woods with my dog after a joyous Christmas morning with my family and just finished listening to your special case study. It put an even bigger smile on my face than I had when I started my walk and I have a strong suspicion your customer made great use out of your insight and load of White Oak. Thank you for the extra Christmas cheer and all the educational and informative content you provide on wood and it’s properties and in the wonderful way you present it!
Hey Shannon, thanks for the smile, I was so daft I didn’t get the joke until the short helpers and the reveal of the “Nic” name. LOL. I was going through my head over what on earth this person would be building. Totally missed on the red paint motif as well. That was very creative. BTW I’m the guy that asked about the blue staining and I’m currently working on four drawers with wormy maple sides and back and air dried white oak fronts. Not sure I concur on the wonderful smell of white oak, but to each his own. I’m taking your advice and building 1 drawer at a time from rough stock to finished drawer, it’s a good way to work, thanks for that.
Merry Christmas
I won!
I loved this episode. I said “white oak?” in my head really early on in the process, probably thanks to 60-plus episodes of SLIU. You’ve really created a great thing here, helping us all navigate the confusion of working with this fantastic….substance?
And then the revelation at the end with “Nick” and his short helpers….
Just genius, my friend. Really, really well done.