Author Topic: I need some wood... (Read 1467 times)

Double D · « **on:** September 07, 2010, 08:25:53 AM »

It's not unusal that some post here a need for wood for a project. Lowes and Home Depot carry a good supply that will serves mot needs. But the are other sources that don't require deep pockets.

In the garage when I bought this place was a storage cabinet and some drawers. I made good use of the cabinet, but the drawers were just a big pain in the neck. The drawers were the drawer pedestal from and old desk. The drawer slide were wooden and kept breaking down. The wood looks oak like. I pulled the drawer out and disassembled the whole mess.

Look at the stack of wood I got to build cannon carriages with. There wasn't a piece of plywood in the whole thing. Even the big side panel are sawn wood.

When I cleaned out the garage attic after moving in I found a completely disassembled oak chest of drawer. I used some of the planks from that last year to build the deck for my Cairo gun.

What source have you found for wood?

Soot · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2010, 09:32:57 AM »

I found a stack of mahogany today in the trash. I live in a condo, there is an area for larger trash, appliances, etc that I check for good stuff and today had a score. I was thinking of using it for my new work bench but then started thinking cannon carriage.

Spuddy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2010, 11:17:47 AM »

I am still working on some 3/4 inch maple flooring that has been in use for the past 50 years or so.

gulfcoastblackpowder · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2010, 12:36:48 PM »

A friend of mine used pallet wood to make laminated tables for a pirate fair he produced some years back. I've seen some real nice wood used in pallets!

I've used shovel/wheelbarrow handles and such for all sorts of things as well.

smokemjoe · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2010, 01:17:23 PM »

My boss gave me one side of a old oak bedframe, I had enought to make a sled for my Doms soda can mortar. Joe

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2010, 03:46:34 PM »

I've got a little walnut that was a bookcase.

A white oak 2x10 plank that a good friend gave me before moving overseas.

A couple of oak 2x6's that a fellow from work gave me because the grain ran the wrong way for making moulding.

And I just bought two 2x8 rough cut 8' long planks for a lawn tractor ramp set for $10 at the local yard (about 4 blocks from home). Hmmmmm. Might get a bunch more.

I worked in H.S. for a fellow who grew up in the depression. He remembers the bank calling. They didn't want to forclose as they had enough farms - they just wanted to know if his folks could make it. Working for him influenced the way I value 'things' - I look at not what they were designed to do, but what I can make from them.

THere is a WEALTH of material out there - and a good portion of it comes from a WEALTH of good friends.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2010, 03:51:54 PM »

AND pallets - many are oak.

(The average pallet weighs 13 lbs, and in oak will take 4 to 5 of them to make the 50 million or so BTU's to heat my house (3 story) in the coldest day (-5dF) here in Virginia.)

Which is to say, we need to have a pallet-wood mortar/cannon base making contest.

gary michie · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2010, 04:30:36 PM »

Hi

So, there is no one out there that cuts down old trees and makes lumber? We have 4 or 5 small sawmills out here but we allso have only soft woods great for building houses but not carriages.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2010, 04:49:58 PM »

Yes, there are dozens of small mills around here.

Find the guy who makes moulding and he'll know the ALL.

Double D · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2010, 06:02:56 PM »

Quote from: gary michie on September 07, 2010, 04:30:36 PM

Hi
So, there is no one out there that cuts down old trees and makes lumber? We have 4 or 5 small sawmills out here but we allso have only soft woods great for building houses but not carriages.

My son had some trees removed from his property. I hired the local tow truck company to haul a log to one of these small sawmill operator who cut it into planks for me. $30 for the truck. $30 for the sawmill. 750 bdft of white oak that has been used for the golf ball mortar contest and several 8 ft 2 inch planks have been given away or traded. The SAMCC carriage was made from this wood as well as six K.I.S.S. mortars.

1Southpaw · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2010, 07:53:51 AM »

Dumpster diving and other related fun .....
My daughter always cruises the new housing starts . Finds lots of "craft wood"
Pallets are good sources for oak . The steel dealer in Gt.Falls sets aside the oak "dunnage" used to separate steel in shipping . if one is there @ the right time good stuff is available.
I had 40 or so pallets I had saved from bagged herbicide purchases . Alas they went to daughters new house as temp. sidewalks . Might get then back in a few years .
I picked up the scrounging habit in my youth . We always made do till with materials there was nothing left to re use . Lots of oil field pipe was picked up and re used in making of farm equipment hitches , a frame supports for buildings etc. I was 40 before I knew one could buy new material !

dan610324 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2010, 08:03:03 AM »

I love dumpsters

Cannoneer · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2010, 10:53:51 AM »

My young cousin was working for a construction co. as an on site supervisor for about a year after he graduated from college, and during this time he got me some nice pieces of white and red oak. The best piece I got was a solid (not glued up) 9 foot section of white oak ¾'' x 15¼'' that was intended to be a window seat for a picture window (the couple buying the house decided they didn't want oak).

Freemax · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2010, 03:08:34 AM »

A good source for some nice looking wood can be found in your local cabinet shops. My experience has been to speak with the owner to see if they have any scrap pieces laying about. I tell them what I intend to do with the wood an they typically are very interested and give me way too much of what they have. Types range from Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry), Honduran Mahogany, Rosewood, Teak, Ipe and other types of hardwoods. I turn small wooden things pens, boxes, knobs etc. I just give them a few of these things and we are best friends. I just started trying to make a cannon, but a small cannon with a custom carriage as a gift would be the icing on the cake.

Soot · « **Reply #14 on:** September 09, 2010, 07:10:12 AM »

These are some of my "Green" hammers made from recycled furniture using oak, cherry, maple, and a few bits of Jatoba and Honduran rosewood.

GLS · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2010, 05:13:32 AM »

Whenever I need any boards or timbers I get out the timberjig and aquire some logs. This was cherry.

Dog approves.

dan610324 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 10, 2010, 08:17:08 AM »

yeah and need to wait minimum 5 years until its furniture grade dry

Double D · « **Reply #17 on:** September 10, 2010, 08:31:42 AM »

Quote from: dan610324 on September 10, 2010, 08:17:08 AM

yeah and need to wait minimum 5 years until its furniture grade dry

No problem, I plan on being around in 5 years.

. Wife won't kill me as her annuity will get reduced if I am dead.

dan610324 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 10, 2010, 11:04:54 AM »

that might be compensated by the life insurance , so dont be so sure about that

gulfcoastblackpowder · « **Reply #19 on:** September 10, 2010, 12:48:52 PM »

If you cut down all her trees she might...

Double D · « **Reply #20 on:** September 10, 2010, 01:29:22 PM »

Her tree, we only have one...and life insurance is no longer needed in this household as other means are available to her. Beside when I go she is going to post a garage sale notice on the GBO Classified and you guys and the Martini guys will spend way to much for all my junk... She'll get one of you guys to blast my ashes out across the prairie, and she'll take a cruise or two on the proceeds of the sale....but don't start browsing yet, the sale doesn't start for 25 or 30 years or more,if I have my way.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #21 on:** September 10, 2010, 04:40:05 PM »

Would you be so kind as to leave me one of your fine Martini's ?

Double D · « **Reply #22 on:** September 10, 2010, 06:23:31 PM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on September 10, 2010, 04:40:05 PM

Would you be so kind as to leave me one of your fine Martini's ?

Do you have a preference? My Martini's. There are few more.

dan610324 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 10, 2010, 10:52:49 PM »

is it a diopter sight on that holis??

Double D · « **Reply #24 on:** September 11, 2010, 04:37:25 AM »

No it is an old Lyman tang sight that that was cut in half to fit. It will be replaced with a BSA No. 8. I am looking to convert the Lyman into a cannon sight.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #25 on:** September 11, 2010, 01:55:29 PM »

Quote from: Double D on September 10, 2010, 06:23:31 PM

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on September 10, 2010, 04:40:05 PM
Would you be so kind as to leave me one of your fine Martini's ?

Do you have a preference? My Martini's. There are few more.

Ahhhh, it's simple. The most accurate one with plain based bulelts.

Something I can leave you in my will?

KABAR2 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 12, 2010, 03:10:00 PM »

Well I will be recycling this..........

yes the 1919 is off topic but it does show the scale of the piece of oak......

it was a display base for a very well made dummy 50 cal aircraft gun that was sold

years ago, I tried to sell the base a while back but no takers so now it will become

some oak bases for golf ball mortars..........

BoomLover · « **Reply #27 on:** September 12, 2010, 10:03:39 PM »

Beautiful collection, Double D!

And there are a few more? Wow!