Was at Edensaw in Port Townsend today (serious lumber supplier), and was looking at alllllll the different woods they had available. Saw a section labeled “Steamed Birch” (or was it beech? birch I think). Anywho, what is it? There were a dozen other people there, and only 2 people at the counter. Didn’t want to interrupt an actual paying customer with my query.
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
Forest Girl,
One thing that happens at a sawmill is steaming of lumber after it's been cut. I'm not sure if it happens at all sawmills but I think it's done before kiln drying to equalize the water content in the green lumber so all the wood going into the kiln has the same moisture content. Don't quote me on this though, I'm just guessing on this and it seems logical. I've also seen steamed cherry and such at the wood store. I'm sure someone can answer this correctley .
Jeffrey- the guy who just used his Woodworker II blade to cut off about 1/4" of his finger an hour ago. OUCH!! Those Forrest blades sure leave a smooth cut. Hah!
Jeffrey, no, no, NO! This is not a good idea! Please tell me you took some kind of safety lesson out of that close call!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Yeah, it was a STUPID move. One time I was ripping a shorter board to width. I was taking about an inch off it and after completing the rip the 1" x 28" off cut was caught by the blade and rocketed right into my gut. Now I know how jousters feel. So after that incident, I'm freaked out about offcuts being launched into me.
What happened today was I was ripping a small boxs parts and that ingrained fear of kickback set in. After one cut the 3/4" x 6" offcut danced right next to the blade. I stupidly, and I repeat stupidly, reached over to clear it out. It all happened so fast blood started to flow very freely. I later found the other part of my finger in the miter slot.
I know this was a very stupid thing to do so, PLEASE, I don't want this DISCUSSION ON STEAMED WOOD to turn into a, "Jeffrey, how can you be so stupid!? You should know better! In the future you should...blah..blah.." I've accepted and proclaimed my absentmindedness.
Jeffrey
Jeffrey
Been there done that,its a blink of an eye.Last year for me with a jointer(brand new blades)It took 1/4th of my little finger at an angle so when I point at something now I really point .I feel if you do not learn anything from this than its stupid.I know I learned a lot ,not just with the tool in question but all tools except maybe my utility knife,you see I slipped with it while cutting drywall last monday and it cost me 9 stitches in my wrist this was stupid.You know that little voice that whispers in your ear just before you do something stupid well I wasn't listening AGAIN
Look into those metal finger protectors at your local drug store and the little Velcro strap thingies ,that little baby is going to be very tender for a long time.
Take care Rick ADESIGNS
Forest_girl
The steaming process is used to even out the color,no.2 birch and 2 common has some red streaks in it and some gray also .They do this to Walnut all the time it can put color in the white wood and fetch a better price.Have you ever seen steamed Walnut I personally think it looks like crap,the steaming process turns it a grayish brown ,it just does not look natural to me .So it would be my good guess that they were taming down some color in the birch you were looking at.It was just a couple of hours age that I was out picking up a load of flame birch from a friend who is also a lumber grader and saves me some goodies from time to time.we had a talk about no.1 and no.2 common. I bought both kinds and feel some color mixed with the flame is a plus. Hope this helps Rick ADESIGNS
That's great info, Rick, Thanks! I wonder if the seller is 'required' to identify it as steamed or not? Interestingly, it was located in a different display area from the non-steamed birch. Thanks again, interesting stuff!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I honestly feel the think they are doing woodworkers a favor by evening out the color.I can see this in some applications but then most woodworkers I know are willing to cut out the unwanted wood and save a few bucks on there lesser grade purchase.
Rick ADESIGNS
I'm gong to throw out that ugly word blotch again. I wonder if steaming has any effect on the wood's tendency to blotch.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGG NOT BLOTCH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......
No really is this in the raw wood stage or the applying finish stage. I have seen steamed walnut that looked unusable to me .It had those B things in them and marks ware the stickers were,mostly the B things were in the part ware the sap wood used to be.Here in Wisconsin they mostly steam nut woods that I know of and I avoid them like a bad hair day.....................
Rick ADESIGNS
Speaking of sticker-stains (this is approaching stream-of-consciousness, ya think?) I read a very discouraging letter this month from a woodworker who had built a fairly large table, and discovered sticker-stains upon applying the finish! They weren't noticeable before he finished it. Aaarrrghhh.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
F_G
Ahhhhh yes those darn ghost stains,they show up in the worst places.Im cool with a stain that is natural to the wood but not those nasty sticker stains.Was this wood you were looking at the other day flame birch.The reason why is this wood has a very wild grain and is somewhat hard to dry and get it straight,so sometimes it is steamed to straighten them,I will however stick to the color theory I made earler.
Now that we are on the wood subject can I say Fuzzies.Have you ever worked with Southern Yellow Popler.This is a wonderful semi-hard wood that cleans up nice and takes paint beautifully.We use it all the time on homes we build were the trim will have paint.If you can get your hands on some try it I think you will be pleasently suprised...................... Rick ADESIGNS
The birch I saw was pretty plain-looking. Next time I'm at Edensaw, I'm gonna ask what people buy the steamed birch for :)
I've had my eye on Poplar for awhile now. Was going to use for the jersey case project, if the people wanted it painted, but they want a stain, so oak is on the agenda. I saw some poplar at a different store a couple weeks ago, and some of it had broad purple splashes in it. Hmmmm. Does the purple stuff work/sand/paint pretty much the same?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Why is it that blotches, stains, etc., never show up until you're half way through the finishing process and dreaming about the paycheck. Have you ever found anything that gets rid of them. I've tried Min Wax pre-stain which has never worked for me and BLO which works about 50% of the time. One thing I've learned to do is stain or pre-finish prior to assembly. That way I usually only have to re-make one part rather than the whole piece.Steve - in Northern California
Hi Steve! (You're back! So much more fun now.) Just today, I picked up a book by Jeff Jewitt (nope, I've not heard of him before) called Great Wood Finishes. He gives a tip: to test a wood for blotchiness (or splotchiness, his term), flood the surface with naptha or mineral spirits and then wipe it. "The wet wood will telegraph a splotchy appearance."
I haven't had a chance yet to read this entire section of the book. I'll let you know if I see something new here.
BTW, on cursory examination, a real nice book -- good detail, lots of color photos of process, different treatments for woods, charts, tips, looks logically presented.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Jeez, Louise, can't type tonight!
Edited 5/22/2002 11:04:08 PM ET by forest_girl
Oak, you say ! Living in the Wine Country I just have to ask.... drum roll..... Would that be Red or White....LOL... I have a piece of 5/4 x 6" x 6' of both White and Red. And, a case of Souvereign 1994 Merlot too although I'm more into the Syrah's, (there's about 50 different spellings). By the way, can you send me the actual dimensions by email. The box joints might cause an adjustment here and there.
Steve - in Northern California
Edited 5/22/2002 4:49:10 PM ET by Steve Schefer
Oh, Steve, there you go again gloatin' about your wine country! I do miss that part of N. Calif.!
I'm going with red just because that's what's in the regular lumberyard most of the time. I'd like to work with white oak though.
Wine-wise, I'm partial to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon. Used to reallly be into Gamay Beaujolais (sp?) and red Zin back in my partying daze. Hardly ever partake anymore, though, more's the pity. They say red's good for the heart, and white's good for the lungs, so may have to put myself on a regimen soon though! LOL!
Le'me eat dinner, and I'll send that email to you.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Oh my , can't resist just once - don't think Andy has ever even considered deleting one of my posts. I'll never do this again Andy, I promise, just too specific to pass up!
Had not seen forest girl's byline before.
Met my wife 40 years ago when we both worked at a summer camp in the woods, 1/3 of my time was cutting trails......, a saying then was you can take the [forest] girl into the woods, but you can't get the wood into the girl. <G>
Maybe you could just delete it youself.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Ahem....Junkhound..... bad boy, girl or whatever, sounds like you're not making points with the FWW sweetheart. f-g....not all that funny was it. We really have changed with age havent we... Whoops, slipped again... dang floor, every time I bust out in laughter I end up on the floor........I just don't understand.....hic.. up... hic... up.... dang, not this again.... Hey, wait just a dang minute.... isn't it still wood working if you pass out on a hardwood floor.
Steve - in Northern California
Edited 5/23/2002 12:36:04 AM ET by Steve Schefer
Maybe I'm just grumpy, who knows? Whether your fall is woodworking or not depends on how many knots you get on your head!! You're not trying to fume the oak floor are you?!? LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Ah ha,, caught you... No, just jokin around trying to have a little fun today.. The wine will be on its way.. save some for me. The new coop cabinet saw sounds like a great idea. Uh Oh... might have to go for a minute ....celebrity boxing is just about over.. Joey is up now...Jeeze what has this world come to...Steve - in Northern California
Steve, do you still have your office mail? I sent the email direct (not through Knots). When's your retirement again? Maybe instead of giving you a gold watch, they could present a gold engineer's square or some such? Ya think? How about a gold-plated Incra wrap-around rule?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
O.K. I'm on the floor now... LMAO... I love this place... (tears in the eyes)... No....darn it, you can't have my bud lite... O.K. lots of answers real quick. As I explained before... Steaming is a way to pull the color, (or colour), that is naturally in wood, to the surface... Yep that's usually the sap wood your pulling the color from so the end result sometimes is a weaker wood.
Jamie - Yes, the address is the same until August 1st, then it will be [email protected] until I get my email server up and running. Thats not a priority at the moment, the EPA, City of Santa Rosa, County of Sonoma and State of California are my biggest "SPRAY BOOTH/DUST COLLECTION" problems right now.. (Sorry for yelling but I had to vent). BTW, I will check my email as soon as I get done here. Thanks. As for the Wine, any particular vintner that you like? I'll send you a case. I've done a lot of work for them and chances are I have or can have something sent to you for shipping costs only. And no, you aren't obligated to drink it yourself, give some to your sig-o and your friends.
I probably havent answered everything yet so I'll head back to the thread and re-read.
Steve - in Northern California
Steve, oh my! I don't envy you trying to work your way through the bureaucracies! Didn't know you were tackling that. Speaking of spray, I think that's one of the solutions to the splotchy-blotchies.
I'm clueless on vintners -- if you insist, I'll trust you to choose. :-))) Hardly know what to say!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
F_G
Please let me know what they tell you why the birch was steamed.
As far as the Poplar, and the purple splashes they will react the same as the rest of the board, it is a type of mineral stain.I have been a antique restorer for a number of years and have found some of the pieces that I have worked on that were labeled as cherry were poplar.When poplar ages it will turn the same color as old cherry and is very heard to tell the two apart.Next time you are in looking at wood take a close look at poplar and cherry ,together if you can. You will see a very close grain similarity with the poplar being some what green with splashes of purple and flecks of black.All this color fades away as the wood ages.With exception of the black,as you know this to is common in cherry.Am I correct in guessing that OAK is heard to get by you.Here in Southwestern Wisconsin it is most common along with Hickory,Cherry,Walnut and Butternut.I find that I will not buy oak unless it is Curly or has rosettes .I recently finished a copper,stained glass and pin oak light fixture this is no.1 in a series of 3.It is posted in our on line Art Gallery .The oak has small (pea size) knots covering literally every sq.in. of this wood.I purchased all ten boards, some are 13"wide by 8' long.This even for around here is a very rare find.
Take care Rick ADESIGNS
Correct, you win the prize... There is light, medium and heavy steaming techniques that are used to bring out the color in otherwise light colored woods or balance the colors in darker woods. A word of caution, steaming can weaken some woods. Steamed Beech and Cherry are probably the most common.
Like you say, steamed dark walnut looks like muddy poluted water. I think they are trying to even out the light streaks of some of the lower grade dark walnut. It works and is probably suitable for use in some, non furniture types of applications.
As a side note:
Steamed walnuts are great on fresh trout when smothered in a lemon/butter sauce. I've been on a few steamy beaches, (in my younger days), and steamed cherries are great in a pie.
Steve - in Northern California
Edited 5/22/2002 4:33:20 PM ET by Steve Schefer
Edited 5/22/2002 5:00:34 PM ET by Steve Schefer
Edited 5/22/2002 5:01:56 PM ET by Steve Schefer
Steamed walnuts with fresh trout ooooooooh ya now your talkin.
As far as the BLAH steamed walnut, you are right it was a lesser grade more like heart wood or immature trees. It was used for trim in a house we built a couple of years ago.It acted more like ELM than walnut and the color was nasty.I have built what I call free range kitchens out of cherry were I match grains in stiles and rails and book mark boards in panels. I use a lot of sap wood for the color contrast.I have found however that as cherry mellows with age it all blends together .So what good is steaming cherry or is this a quick fix for the consumer.
I think I need to go FLY fishing.Thanks Steve Rick ADESIGNS
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