wood gloat!!!

Woodworking forums invariably have threads started by enthused members who just came across a good wood "score". There seems to be an unwritten rule that these threads must always be titled "Wood Gloat!!!" and while I'm not starting one on woodnet.net myself(at least not *yet* but the more I look at this the more I want to!), I thought Dad would like to know the shipment has made its way down to my Oakland garage.

From a windstorm during the Autumn of 2003 in my parent's neck of the woods, scores of trees went down. Their driveway (1 mile to the county road) had trees fallen across with great frequency. They worked with their neighbors, helmets on, and chainsaws screaming to clear the way. In the wake, a small contract logging operation milled some of the larger ones on site. Many of the hemlock planks were used to repair fencing for Mom's horse pastures. But much of the alder and doug fir was reserved in the barn. During a recent visit, Dad asked me to make a few choices for shipment back to my shop.

It almost goes without saying that there is something special about working wood from the land you grew up on. I spent 18 years among these trees. They are inked into the lore of a farm that my two intrepid parents built from the ground up in the middle of the woods. They did this when they were kids; 22 or so. I'm honored to have a part of that history sitting here in front of me in my garage...pondering what sorts of things I can make for them from it. a cabinet? a box? ideas roll and ebb. Thanks to Mom and Dad for this gift!

The longest boards are 10', no knots. most of the alder is 2x10" the fir is 1x8.


A 250 Pound package wrapped in cardboard, then tyvek, and then metal strap reinforced wood banding for good measure:



Staples didn't go too deep into the wood itself


clear vertical grain doug fir


This will be a first time for me working with the alder. it looks like it will behave really well with hand tools, so I'm looking forward