Secondary wood

[Jim Murphy]

I have several pieces of furniture that are family handdowns, purportedly with some value, although they just take up space until they go to the auction and get exchanged for $$$ currency, at which time you no longer have the handdown which was transformed into an heirloom just before the last hammer blow at the auction house. Since I have two sons, and each one wants the heirloom article, I intend to frustrate them by making reproductions. So, one was made by some old, unknown progenitor and is a real antique, while the other was actually hand made by dear old Dad. In that vein, I need secondary wood for drawers, webframes, backing, etc. Ply just ain't gonna cut it.

Since I have established myself as being niggardly, I don't like the idea of buying 4/4 and planing it down to 1/2" for secondary purposes. It wastes the wood and wastes the sharpness of the planer blades. That why I placed the order with Jeff... for the 3/4" gum. I can (and have) purchase 5/4 poplar and resaw it, but seeing how quickly the Woodmizer makes great slices, that's a lot of work, the prospect of performing being unpleasant. Yes, you can add slothful to my list of sterling attributes.

Yesterday, carousing around with the Gator, he mentioned that he purchased 1/2" milled poplar from a BORG, but the cost ran $10/bf. Admittedly, I'm parsimonious as well as penurious, so that's out.

So, here's my question: What do you use for the secondary, and where/how do you get it? Is there a market for 3/4" rough?

 

[4yanks]

Poplar, Wall Lumber.

 

[DaveO]

Jim, you are quite a word-smith. I had to do a quick Google look-up before I moderated you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_niggardly.


I would re-saw myself. Even if you end up with 1/2" and 1/4" slices from the 4/4, the 1/4" can be used on another project.
Dave

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

But Dave, if you were to "re-saw yourself", who would provide us with the interesting wikipedia clarifications??? :slap:

 

[NCPete]

I was okay with niggardly, but had to look up penurious and parsimonious...

boy, its a gud think I is a calledge stoodent!

 

[Jim Murphy]

I love tools, but they're expensive. I've been collecting words since I was about six years old. They're cheap (well, free), require no space to store, can be used (as opposed to merely viewed) anytime, and even when they just fall out unexpectedly, you always have a backup. Can't lose them (unless, like other things, you don't use them) and when stolen, you take pride that someone paid attention. Words rule.

Yes, I wholeheartedly encourage ALL NCWoodworkers to collect not just tools and scrap wood, but those lovely, exciting, enticing words that mean just exactly, I mean exactly, what you wanted to say when nothing else would do.

 

[walnutjerry]

Jim-what is your profession-attorney?

Jerry:eusa_thin

 

[Jim Murphy]

Oh my! Okay, Jerry, I won't take offense.

Why in the world would you suppose that reptilian vocation?

Take a look at my avatar and make your best guess.

Hey, wanna hear a few lawyer jokes?

 

[NCPete]

I'll bet Jim is a surveyor!

 

[NCPete]

You got good lawyer jokes?

 

[McRabbet]

Eschew obfuscation.

Rob

 

[mshel]

Jim,

All wordsmithing aside, if you look at many old fine antiques, you will see the old masters used lots of different types of wood for drawer sides. Poplar seemed to be a common choice for many of these cabinetmakers. Oak also found its way into many of these pieces. Personally I use whatever I happen to have on hand at the time. I have used poplar, oak, pine, and yes I too have used regular maple just to name a few.

How thick do you normally make your drawer sides? Mine range is thickness from 1/2 to 5/8". I have seen many drawer sides that were barely 1/2" thick and they have held up through many generations.

So, get some 5/4 and put that big white bandsaw to work and make whatever thickness you want. Why pay someone else to do what you can do yourself and a lot cheaper I might add. Personally I see no extrinsic value in making drawer sides out of curly maple or some other high dollar wood because when it is in use, who is going to see it.

Mike

 

[walnutjerry]

I was okay with niggardly, but had to look up penurious and parsimonious...

boy, its a gud think I is a calledge stoodent!

I bet all those strange words are in "Websters"-----------I started reading that book one time but the stories were too short:-? .................should have read it anyway:eusa_thin .

Jerry

 

[saw4you]

Jim, I have some 5/8 or 11/16 poplar I sawed when I first got my sawmill. I did not have a clue to what I was doing. I cut it at 3/4 but it shrank to 5/8. It is dry, it has been air drying for over a year.

Thanks Jack