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Unusual Items |
This picture was taken just before the deadly flood of 1889. Due to the immense quantity and pressure of the logs coming down the West Branch of the Susquehanna River log boom and when the water ran high and swift log jams were common. It was a dangerous job getting them rolling again and many men were injured or killed in the process. Notice the two men sitting in the background.
In my 30 years or so in this business, I've been privileged to see hundreds of thousands of board feet of figured lumber. I never cease to marvel over the beautiful array of figure and wood configuration that Nature presents to my eye.
Occasionally I come across some items that are truly unique from the viewpoint of wood species or just plain physical dimension. We will list them here for your consideration. Keep in mind that what you see here are essentially "one of a kind" items that will not appear anywhere but here on our web page. Please call or email for availability as inventory is limited is some cases. I have based their uniqueness on what I have seen during my lifetime in the business. All lumber is kiln dried and sold in the rough state unless otherwise stated.
In my 40 or so years in this business I don't remember when I've seen this type of width in any material. Although it is not figured material I think it deserves a place in this listing just by the age and rarity of the material alone. This material certainly dates back to that time when Susquehanna Pine was the primary species that made this area famous in the last century. Will break the set up into smaller lots...call or email....$8.50/bf. Wonder how this one escaped all these years and where it was hiding?
Flitches are cuts from the log that are not physically dimensioned material. In other words the edge shape of the material takes the shape of the actual tree with the bark. Occasionally we come across some flitches of various wood species that include Figured Maple Flitches .They make ideal table tops just because they are naturally and irregularly shaped. Most flitches are at least 2 1/2" thick and have beautiful natural characteristics, which include some wood defects, that enhance the desired natural effect. They are generally all air dried. Sizes vary and pricing starts at $35.
You probably won't see this species at your local wood outlet. Sassafras is a lot like butternut in its physical characteristics. And the smell when you cut it......just like Sassafras tea!. This is an exceptionally clean grouping of unusual lumber. Priced at $10.00/bf.
The American Sycamore (or Buttonwood) is a hardwood tree found primarily in the eastern United States and Canada. Average height of the American Sycamore is between 130 and 165 feet and trunk diameters have a maximum diameter of 10 feet. This native hardwood is a long-lived specimen with lifetimes often exceeding 500 years, although many trees become hollow after 200-300 years.
Quartered Sycamore is an unusually beautiful wood. The downside of sycamore is that there is not a lot of sapwood present in the tree. The sapwood being the outer white growth and the heartwood being the inner darker growth. The area of sapwood that is present, a maximum of 6", if it is cut right will yield a beautiful figure as can be seen in the above link. Priced at $10.50/bf.
The figure in red oak almost always represents itself as a broad, vivid curl. I don't ever remember seeing it as a pin curl. I've seen it in many different types of figure including an unusual burly figure. When Curly Red Oak is present in floors or furniture it always radiates a warm, inviting characteristic. It never seems to radiate an over welling or abrasive tone. Curly red oak is a very forgiving wood to work and finish. You can have working defects in both your wood preparation and finish and you do not notice them as easily as in some of the other lighter close grained woods.
Like the other figured material we sell, figured red oak is all custom picked for outstanding figure and wood quality.While it is more difficult to find figured red oak than figured maple we always try to have at least a couple hundred board feet of this material available in 4/4 thickness at all times. Occasionally we have some other thicknesses available also. Please email or call me at (570) 584-5072) for availability. 4/4 Curly Red Oak....$12.75/bf ; 8/4 Curly Red Oak....$15.75/bf
