Oh what a month for wood finds!
This summer I was sitting at the computer as I received a guild wide notification that a local church was replacing it’s pews – 12 foot long oak ones, if anyone was interested. I immediately replied, “if it wasn’t too late, could I get my name put on one?” (I’d figure out how to transport it later).
Yep, one was reserved for me, (should be available late Aug, early Sept), but after a few months I thought I missed the phone call when the time came to come and get em. Long story short, someone didn’t take as many as they requested and I now have two pews taking over my front porch! They were installed in the 50s, and are still in pretty good shape… eventually they’ll turn into a bench for the house, and a daybed for my daughters room, as well as several other projects… Eventually.
This week I finished a basement remodel for a retired woman (barely a stones throw from the same church) who’s late husband was a woodworker. After hearing about the dumpsters full of clutter that was cleared out before we began the job, I inquired about a some lumber in the corner of the former workshop – I spied a few natural edge slabs in a dark corner, presumed they were pine – she told me that they were black walnut that her husband was going to make a grandfather clock with. These were originally purchased from a sawmill in PA in the mid 50’s (so does that make it antique lumber?) . She was going to keep them, and I was glad to hear they weren’t going to be tossed out. She surely was aware of their worth. Hopefully she had a nephew or neighbor who’d do something with them.
Then, this morning she told that she had no one to give them to, and when she passed, they’d most likely be thrown away. So, if I would do something with them, then I could have them. I told her that I wouldn’t make a grandfather clock, but perhaps a Nakashima style, natural edge bench. And I certainly wouldn’t burn them. – no matter what happens to the price of oil. The kitchen table, and 70s era coffee table (pine stained to look like walnut) would keep me warm on a cold winter night, followed by green wood from the back 40, long before these old slabs.
the one on the left was dimensioned S4S, some years back, still a little rough, but pretty. One of the other two still has the bark on the edges.
Oh, did I mention, these were the 3 smallest slabs? Here are the 3 wider ones I had to go back for!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
15 comments so far
Russel
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2059 posts in 834 days
posted 396 days ago
Beautiful wood and it comes with it’s own history as well. I’m some nice pieces will come from that.
-- Working at Woodworking www.VillageLaneFurniture.com
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1056 days
posted 396 days ago
how wonderful and I’m sure that knowing you, my friend, you respect the story behind the wood as much as the wood itself.
perhaps you’ll find a way to record this story and keep it with the piece you create so the story can stay with the wood.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
scottb
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3402 posts in 1222 days
posted 396 days ago
You know, Ms Debbbie, I have no desire to make a grandfather clock – just wouldn’t go in this house, style/scale wise… but, I was thinking about making a scale model of one, as a mantel clock, or for a dollhouse or something… that way the wood will, in one way become what it was always intended to be. That, and sooo much more.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
trifern
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7894 posts in 662 days
posted 396 days ago
Wow, I am happy for you and anxious to see them repurposed.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 959 days
posted 396 days ago
Excellent score, my friend!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
CessnaPilotBarry
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1277 posts in 598 days
posted 396 days ago
nice..
I have a buddy that was hired to remove old church pews. They turned out to be genuine Cuban mahogany from the early 1900’s! They’re now beautiful cabinets on Nantucket and Martha’s Vinyard…
-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...
Karson
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25801 posts in 1296 days
posted 396 days ago
Scott: A friend bought a plan for a junior grandfather clock. I helped him build it. It mostly made from 1/2” wood. the plans are sold by Mark Sommerfeld at Sommerfeld tools
He bought the entire kit of templates and glass and brass shells.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
oldskoolmodder
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707 posts in 575 days
posted 396 days ago
MMMMM! Black Walnut!
-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric
John Gray
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1753 posts in 781 days
posted 396 days ago
Great deal!!!!!
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Clarence Oliver
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3 posts in 396 days
posted 396 days ago
My dad (passed away) retired from the electronics industry and did woodworking. Guess it is in my blood as well. “IKE” hit us bad south of Houston, Texas. What hurt the most was a beautiful cedar tree that was three feet across, was blown over and then cut up and burned. I had no was to save any of it. It will take another 50 years or more to produce another one.
CEO707
-- None yet
RobS
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1243 posts in 1202 days
posted 395 days ago
Great story and find, I’m sure it will be put to good use, clock or no clock. Definately keep the story alive, if only a link to this post hidden somewhere on the final projects. Enjoy!
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
matt garcia
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719 posts in 567 days
posted 394 days ago
I just love situations like that. Remember my mahogany find? I’ve started my Lolling Chair with that mahogany, just today!!! Great find Scott!! You’re starting to sound like me!!
-- Matt, Houston Texas
TexPenn
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284 posts in 583 days
posted 22 days ago
SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!
-- Ted, TX or PA www.around-the-bend.com
a1Jim
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16851 posts in 472 days
posted 22 days ago
Very nice wood
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Dusty56
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3466 posts in 583 days
posted 22 days ago
Nice find….Have you made anything with it yet ?
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .