Been driving around to all the sawmills around this part of Colorado looking to see what kind of wood might be available at less that a gazzion dollars a board foot.
The only species I’ve found are Engleman Spruce, Douglas Fir, Aspen, and what both local mill owners call “blue stained pine”. Both millers said the pine (Lodgepole and Ponderosa) gets the blue stain from pine bark beetle infestation. Almost all the species are harvested from standing beetle killed trees that have been dead for over three years, so the boards are quite dry, although some Ponderosa pine I ran into was fire killed last year and is still quite wet.
My question is, has anybody out there ever worked with “blue stained pine” and what did you think of it? I’m considering using it or Aspen for some desk drawers. Can’t beat 60 cents a board foot for either.
Thanks,
Chris
Replies
Chris,
Out here in western New York state where I live and run a small sawmill business we get some blue pine but it is from not milling it quick enough after the tree is cut and from what I am told it is the early form of decay setting in. I have had the experience with working with the blue pine that as long as the wood is sound it is OK to use and if it is finished with a stain you can sometimes get a beautiful effect. hope this helps. Andy
Andy,
Your post makes a lot of sense. It must take quite a few years for bark beetles to kill a tree, so early decay causing the blue streaks sounds reasonable.
BTW, one mill owner said a quick pass over the blue areas with a blow torch causes the blue to turn an interesting copper color. I'm going to get some samples and try that.
Chris
I often buy local white pine and air dry it. The blue will form if it is not dried quick enough. A mold will start to grow and it only grows on the sapwoood, turning these parts of the board blue. The worst part about it is that the clearest wood contains the most sapwood. When the mold is dead, the remaining blue wood is sound but always stains darker than good clean wood.
Does this sort of stain ever show up in birch?I bought some birch ply recently (from Menards, which is not known for its quality plys), and it had faint blotches of a bluish stain scatttered here and there over the sheet."I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
-- Bertrand Russell
I recently made some shadow box dsplays out some Aspen. (It was going for a buck a bf here in the Phoenix area.)
If you have never used Aspen for a project, don't start now. That stuff is terrible to work with. The tear-out is stupendous when you attempt to rout blind dovetails (or even run it across the TS).
If you manage to make something with it, you'll find that it's best finished with a coating product like paint or Minwax' gel stain or chocolate pudding.
-- Steve
Enjoy life & do well by it;
Interesting take on Aspen, Steve.
I recently bought the four pack DVD on woodworing with Rob Cosman from L-N. In his Hand Cut Dovetails he uses Aspen and thinks it's a great wood.
Different strokes, I guess.
Chris
Hey Chris,
Out here in the Pacific Northwest, the mill owners tell me that the blue stain is from an infection in a living tree, that it shows when they cut it fresh.
I've used it for shop cabinetry and try to match it like I do grain patterns. Unfortunately, with my usual finishes (shellac), it turns dark and is less attractive than when unfinished. I would be interested in any finish that lets the blue stay blue.
Tom
Hi Tom ,
I first used Blue Pine about 25 or 30 years ago . It went by the name of Blue Wormy Pine , we found out the worms were not the problem but as has been said beetles make the worm holes. I was told the stain or spalting begins after the tree is down , and is not directly caused by the beetles . I used Deft in those days to finish , but would use clear lacquer today .
The mills here in Southern Oregon used to burn any pine that was Blue , guy's that workrd at the mills used to bring home pickup loads .
regards dusty
Edited 4/22/2005 11:03 pm ET by dusty
Chris maybe it's different in the north, but here the "blue stain" is a fungal attack on the wood, similar to splauting. Here it only happens in the softwoods.
If the wood is air dried here it will have the stain. If kiln dried quickly, no stain. Doesn't have time to set up in the wood.
It's never affected the use-ability of the wood though.
Jimmy
as always I wish you enough
Chris,
If you're ever traveling near Moab, Utah (man has that town changed in the last 30 years!) check out the office at the Apache Motel. It's in the old part of town and was the only motel there for years. They tell me the "Duke" used to stay there. It's been about 10 years ago that I was there and they had just remodeled the office. They used the beetle kill pine for trim, wainscoat, etc. IMHO it looked great.
Also, in my area there are a couple of small businesses making log furniture. The pine beetle has added a lot of character to their work.
Here in the Uinta Mountains, the pine beetle has killed a lot of trees in the last 30-40+ years. Your neck of the woods too, I would imagine. It's good to see it being used for something other than firewood.
Probably not much useful info for you here, but was compelled to say it anyway.
Good luck with your project.
Onward through the fog.
Chuck Whitney
I think the blue stain comes from a fungal infection, which happens after the beetles attack the tree. Any dead logs that are allowed to sit around with the bark on will get infected, which is the first stage of rot.
For most uses, the stained wood is cosmetically unusable. It can be made to work sometimes, though. I have a rustic-pine dining table, where the stain works with the knots tp give a good look. No stain in the finish; just clear poly.
Chuck,
Thanks for the info on the Apache Motel in Moab. Amazing town, Moab. From Uranium boom town to bust, only to be resurected by, of all things, the mountain bike.
We try to bike there once a year, usually right about now. If we get over there this year, I will definitely check out the Apache.
Chris
You're welcome Chris. Wife and I hadn't seen Moab since the 70's when we decided to go there in 94. What a shock. Apache had the last available room in town! We get back there occasionally, but we bring the motel with us now.
Curious as to how the blue pine has held up, but we won't make it back this year. If you are able to see it would like to know what you think.
Thanks and happy biking. (is that a Harley? :) )
Onward through the fog.
Chuck Whitney
Here's a good start. A good use of 'damaged" material...
http://www.denimpine.ca/aboutdenimpine.asp"If 'tis to be,'twil be done by me."
That denim pine is EXACTLY the same as what folks around here call blue stained pine.
Chris
Chris,
I used blue stained pine a lot. If it's going someplace that needs painting or dark staining then go to it! If you want to coat it with a clear finish and show off the wonderful grain well, the stain is distracting.
I built my shop cabinets with blue pine, trimmed all of the shop and a heated potting shed I built for my wife. Lots of people locally use it for interior walls. It's fine to work with.
Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934, Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT
I made a boat out of straight grained Spruce long ago.. .. That was about 1962.. Thing still floats.. But a little worn from work.. 20 foot Cabin from plans.. Flat head engine in there...
NO it does not stay in the fresh water lake all winter!
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