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Needing help in choosing a wood (yellow color)

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3K views 36 replies 20 participants last post by  woody123 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello LJ folks

I just received a request to build a young mans valet box shaped like a dump truck after seeing the fire truck box I built she wants the dump truck to look the same colors as Caterpillar machinery the box I have no problem with building it's the wood choice, so I'm thinking yellow and black, I'd like to keep it all natural without dye if possible and already know Walnut would work well for the black just not sure about the yellow, yellow pine comes to mind but a bit on the cheap side, was hoping for something of a higher grade, any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Randy
 
#5 ·
Never thought of popular, thats readily available at almost any lumber store, I like how the yellow heart looks, I believe it's the closest to what I'm looking for, I'll check my two local lumber suppliers and see if I can get Yellow heart.

thanks a bunch Monte and Alex.
 
#8 ·
I'll be heading to my local woodcraft next week and will pick up some die, that darn stuf ain't cheap either.
 
#9 ·
Bois d'arc is yellow too- though all these woods will darken with time and exposure. In my book I use dye on the Man in the Moon Box and use yellowheart on the Flower Box. Either way works, just use a good hard wood so it will not dent and will look good for many years.
 
#10 ·
Ya know actually maple can be turned to an amber which is close to yellow if the right finish is applied to it, just can't remember which finishes do that?
 
#13 ·
Ok here's my plan going down the line, first choice will be the Yellow heart, then I'll just wing if from there depending on my decision who knows I just might do what Donna suggest and die the wood, after going out to the shop and wiping the dust off the book I looked at your box donna that looks nice too. :)
 
#20 ·
If you wish to keep it natural, you can use a dye from a natural spice. Here's what I did on the beaks of my eagle busts when I ran out of yellowheart. I used pine, very light poplar or basswood. Dampen the wood and sand down to 320. Be sure to protect the surface your working on! Then with a wet ( not dripping) sponge, dampen the wood again and sprinkle it with Turmeric (the spice from your wife's cupboard or you'd have to buy it at the grocery store). Let sit a few minutes then rub it in to the depth of color you wish. The longer it sits, the darker it gets. I have at times sprayed it with a mist spray bottle to keep it wet longer. I did a test piece, of course. After it dries completely, gently rub off excess spice and sand with the BACK SIDE of a piece of sandpaper. I've not had any problem with the clear coat finish over the dyed piece.
 
#24 ·
The absolute most yellow wood I've seen is agarita bush wood- a local sorta weed. I don't think it gets very thick though, but it is intense yellow. I wonder if it darkens much with age too. I'll have to put some in the sun and see.
 
#25 ·
Donna that is some yellow wood, doesn't look like it get's that big though about like a red bud?
 
#26 ·
I don't think it is commonly over 3" D. I have some growing here, but they are multi-branched bushes. Maybe if they were pruned to one stem early on they would make a more tree-like configuration.
I just did a quick search and saw this pen:
http://aclassypenshoppe.com/catalog/i133.html
-and in images saw some bowls, so I guess some people have bigger bushes. I have a root ball here that someday I will do something with. Someday.
 
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