I was out this weekend at a friend’s place where some logging is being done (I’ll be posting about that in the near future).
I started to think about the process of gathering lumber for use in the design and building of furniture projects. The work being done at my friends was very small scale when compared to any kind of a commercial operation however, it made me think about the benefits that small operations like this offer to the average woodworker.
I buy rough lumber from small local sawmills for use in virtually all of my woodworking projects. I think that there are a lot of benefits to doing this. I examine some of my rationale for doing so in a new post in my blog. Take a look and let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com
3 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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11923 posts in 645 days
posted 375 days ago
... and don’t forget the joy of watching the beautiful smooth surface appear as you remove the roughness. And .. you can use the rough edge if you want (my preference always) when you get the wood in a more natural state.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Karson
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12902 posts in 885 days
posted 375 days ago
I agree with the rough lumber concept. I do it for price and availability of stock.
You have the ability to bargain for what you are buying and you can buy all the wood from a log which gives you consistent wood colors.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Mark Mazzo
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293 posts in 397 days
posted 374 days ago
Debbie: good point on revealing the new surface as you plane the rough wood to smooth…that’s really an enjoyable and exiting part of the process!
Karson: Getting all of the wood from a log for consistent grain is another good benefit if it is available. Unfortunately, for me that’s not always the case :(
Thanks for the comments!
-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com