I just found a woman who restored her home south of Boston and has a bunch of posts beams she wants to get rid of. They are around 300 years old. I’m getting more specifics as we speak, but I have a problem. I have only a small car. If anyone has a truck and wants to check out this free lumber let me know and as soon as I get any info I’ll pass it on. I don’t want a ton of it so I figure we can go down pick it up and then I’ll take as much as I need and you can have the rest. Otherwise I’ll just take whatever tiny amount I can fit in my car.
-Art K
Replies
I have a mini-van with a roof rack. I'm in metro west. I'm working in Wellesley on Wed, Thurs and Friday. I live in Hudson. Where do you live?
Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
Art,
Before you waste a lot of time and energy on salvaging these beams you should go and take a close look at them. The chances are that there will be little, if any, salvagable furniture grade wood in the beams.
John W.
JohnW,
Not sure where you live, but there are many 300 year old homes in New England that are quite solid - with original lumber. My sister lives in a home - half of which is 200 years old, and the rest is 25. Lots of heavy unmilled beams support the main floor. The only sag is a result of the foundation settling not the lumber.The condition of the wood also depends on where the beams were in the house. Basement? Coluld be bad news. Termites or other bugs could have found their way in over 300 years if moisture didn't destroy them.Upstairs? Different story.See if you can get a picture of the beams - preferably a cross section ...Worst case, they'll make great firewood :-)Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
Mark,
The beams might be solid, but between knots, reaction wood, usually heavy checking and cracks, insect damage, grit, hardware, and the fact that even back then they wouldn't use furniture grade trees for beam work if they had a choice, it is quite likey that the beams will contain little wood useable for furniture work. I did say he should go look.
I've had some good luck salvaging wood from old beams but typically less than 5% of the beams I've seen would have been worth the trouble and the trouble can be considerable. The fact that the beams are three hundred years old may give them romantic appeal but their age is no indication of the quality of the wood.
John W.
I'll let you guys know when I get more info I'm waiting for an e-mail hopefully with some pictures. I don't actually plan on resawing it for furniture. I actually want the rough exterior for facing something. Well, you'll know when I know.
-Art K.
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