Michael Perkins of Vintage Perkins in Brunswick, ME, specializes in building furniture from reclaimed lumber that is salvaged from old barn and vintage building tear downs. In this interview at the 2006 Fine Furnishings Show in Providence, R.I., Perkins talks with Fine Woodworking managing editor Mark Schofield about the challenges and benefits of working with wood salvaged.

A furniture maker and wholesale distributor of reclaimed lumber, Perkins discusses some of the nuances of working with reclaimed lumber, including how to repair damaged boards with epoxy, how to construct furniture to deal its excessive wood movement, and how to get the most from the aged “skin” unique to reclaimed lumber.