Question about using pine

[lwhughes149]

Before I start my next project I would like some thoughts on continuing to use pine for the drawer runners. I have a storage building full of pine about 4" x 4' that is getting in the way and the husband will not toss it in the truck and take it to the trash. It is great to work with but I have concerns about what it is doing to my machinery. I think it stopped up the jointer and I know it clogged up the planer. I can deal with those issues but my main concern is what it is doing to the blades. To take a tablesaw blade off and clean it isn't a big deal but removing the other two blades would be a pain. If it isn't causing the blades to get dull then I might continue to use it. Thanks for the help.

Lorraine:BangHead:

 

[Steve D]

Lorraine,

It won't really cause them to get dull but the sap & pitch build up and have a similar effect. Pine also isn't a good drawer slide material over time because it is so soft that it tends to wear quickly. Jointer knives can be cleaned up easily without removing but the planer knives are a different story.

Woodguy loves pine:eusa_liar , I'm sure he would take it off your hands.:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[woodguy1975]

Throw it away. Stay away from soft woods!!!!!!!!! :lol::lol::lol:

 

[Ray Martin]

I use a bit of pine. The youth program at our affiliate of Habitat for Humanity has a number of projects to get younger folks involved. One of these is making / selling bird houses. I cut the parts to size (out of pine) and put them in a bag with some nails, sandpaper, and a set of instructions. These kits seem to be popular.

No such thing as useless wood.

 

[PeteM]

If you decide to take Woodguys advice and throw it away give me a call. I'll come over and you can throw it in the back of my truck. I promise to keep it far away from Woodguy's shop :lol::lol:

I agree it's not a good choice for draw runners but I use it for some crafty stuff.

pete

 

[Ray Martin]

I'm with Pete / Tekkadan... I'd be happy to help keep pine away from your shop and Woodguy's too.

Ray

 

[erasmussen]

I have to cut soft wood's for working on the house from time to time:cry:
I keep a cheap "lowes" blade just for that:lol::lol:
of course I am not about to run it through the new planer:eusa_hand

 

[lwhughes149]

If pine is so bad why does everyone want it? If it wears so bad how come so many old pieces are out there that are made of pine? I really did like it on the inside of my nightstand but I want to know that there want be any breakdown in the years to come. Remember, I plan to make an entire bedroom suite. Guess I will have to go to Lowes and get some poplar. I will think about giving away the pine. Must be something it would be good for. Lorraine

 

[jeff...]

Lowes ?!?! oh no not Lowes :eusa_naug

 

[Ray Martin]

Pine isn't as horrible as may be thought by all the comments about gummy blades. It really does have its uses. As I said in an earlier post, I use it for our youth program. Since younger teens (anyone under 16) can not be on a construction site, building things like bird houses, nesting shelves, etc. is a great way to introduce young folks to Habitat for Humanity and woodworking. Bird-Houses-R-Us (me) will be milling up a bunch of kits on the last Sunday of the month.

A type of "Colonial" furniture, which was quite popular (at least in the northeast) through the 70s and 80s, is all softwood with dark stain.

Peace,
Ray

 

[Joe Scharle]

There's pine, and then there's pine. If I can smell the pitch in the lumber, then I know it will move/skrink/blotch etc in my piece. But if you look in HD you'll find 'white pine'. Generally clear and cost the same as poplar. I like it for frames as it antiques well with stain and has a pleasing grain to me. Ethan Allen sold a ton of pine furniture in the 70's using white pine.

 

[mkepke]

Lorraine - there is nothing wrong with pine. Pine's biggest threats to your jointer and planer are that i) it tends to produce fluffy shavings that clog things and ii) it tends to have a lot of knots. But the knots in pine are softer than, say, the knots in oak - they are just more of them.

Pine was used as the dominant furniture-building wood for years in various parts of the country. I have a project book called "Country Pine" that is essentially measured drawings and plans for historical examples of pine furniture from Quebec down to the Gulf Coast.

Again historically, even fine furniture was made using pine as the secondary wood, in areas where pine was plentiful. Secondary wood meaning for carcass dust frames, drawer slides,...

Yes, I even said drawer slides. It is easier to replace the slide than the drawer. Make the drawer of poplar or oak..or heck even Southern Yellow Pine..but make the slides out of Eastern White Pine (red, lodgepole, ponderosa, whatever).

-Mark

 

[Kyle]

I have a walnut chest of drawers from the 1840's that all the drawer backs were blind dovetailed pine. It was pretty common as a backing in the 1800's and adds provenance.