Rhymes with Lapel
This past Friday was the first day of the Woodstock wood show. My friend Bill and I usually head down to check it out. One of the best things about this show is you can actually buy wood! I know - imagine that.... being able to buy wood at a woodworking show. The show in general was a little disappointing. There were fewer tool and woodworking vendors and more people selling orange Ubertowels and dipping sauces. But... there was a new wood seller... so all was not lost.
Bill and I walked into the booth to see what he had. Not a lot of wood - but he had some really killer stuff. Some huge wide pine boards (not that either of us could ever remember using pine...not that there's anything wrong with that), clear cherry boards, butternut, walnut, ash, and standing right in front of me was this;
It wasn’t a big piece, but it caught my attention. “Appel?” Hmm... what the.... and then I smiled.
“Hey Bill - come check out this piece of Appel” (pronounced in a way that rhymes with lapel)
Bill walked over with the same inquisitive furrowed brow that I had. He looked at it... and faster than you can say “Red delicious” we both started chuckling.
I saw the guy in the overalls and plaid shirt and asked him how much his “Appel” was. He walked over half smiling and just said;
“Yeah - I know... but how often do you have to spell apple anymore?”
“$3 a board foot” was his next answer - which I am sure he low-balled just to try and make up for it. Still giggling, Bill and I sorted through the small stack and I ended up with 6 pretty sweet smelling boards. And even if he said $10 bd/ft, I would have bought the board with Appel on it just to have it. In his defense, he was a really nice guy and did have some spectacular stock.
It is not very often I run into apple in any form, let alone the rare appel variety, as sawn lumber. And it is quite wonderful stuff - 5/4 thick, 6"-7" wide and 6' long. Here is the little pile on the balcony.
And a close up shot of some of the grain. Thankfully - it has not been kiln dried. I should also confess that I have no idea what I will do with this little pile of wood - it seems to be a terminal affliction I have - collecting wood.
Actually - 30 seconds before Bill pulled up that morning - another friend stopped in with truckload of temptation. Not that I “needed” any of this either - but how can you refuse veneer grade, quarter sawn Douglas fir?
27 boards later...
This stuff is pretty amazing. It is 5/8' to 3/4" thick, 10" - 16" wide and about 6' long.
And while I am confessing... may as well mention this too...
Our neighbours have been doing some extensive renovations to their house, and one of the casualties was a very large pear tree. There were four 3' to 5' logs from the tree. I took them to a local sawmill and was able to get a pretty decent little pile of wood from it.
The color and texture is amazing. There are a few fantastic wide boards in the 12" range, some 8/4 stock and the rest is 4/4. And yeah - no idea what this will be used for either.
My Dad always joked with me - “you should have built a bigger shop!” Given the Sauer genetics of hoarding and pack-rat tendencies - I am starting to think he might be right.
Bill and I walked into the booth to see what he had. Not a lot of wood - but he had some really killer stuff. Some huge wide pine boards (not that either of us could ever remember using pine...not that there's anything wrong with that), clear cherry boards, butternut, walnut, ash, and standing right in front of me was this;
It wasn’t a big piece, but it caught my attention. “Appel?” Hmm... what the.... and then I smiled.
“Hey Bill - come check out this piece of Appel” (pronounced in a way that rhymes with lapel)
Bill walked over with the same inquisitive furrowed brow that I had. He looked at it... and faster than you can say “Red delicious” we both started chuckling.
I saw the guy in the overalls and plaid shirt and asked him how much his “Appel” was. He walked over half smiling and just said;
“Yeah - I know... but how often do you have to spell apple anymore?”
“$3 a board foot” was his next answer - which I am sure he low-balled just to try and make up for it. Still giggling, Bill and I sorted through the small stack and I ended up with 6 pretty sweet smelling boards. And even if he said $10 bd/ft, I would have bought the board with Appel on it just to have it. In his defense, he was a really nice guy and did have some spectacular stock.
It is not very often I run into apple in any form, let alone the rare appel variety, as sawn lumber. And it is quite wonderful stuff - 5/4 thick, 6"-7" wide and 6' long. Here is the little pile on the balcony.
And a close up shot of some of the grain. Thankfully - it has not been kiln dried. I should also confess that I have no idea what I will do with this little pile of wood - it seems to be a terminal affliction I have - collecting wood.
Actually - 30 seconds before Bill pulled up that morning - another friend stopped in with truckload of temptation. Not that I “needed” any of this either - but how can you refuse veneer grade, quarter sawn Douglas fir?
27 boards later...
This stuff is pretty amazing. It is 5/8' to 3/4" thick, 10" - 16" wide and about 6' long.
And while I am confessing... may as well mention this too...
Our neighbours have been doing some extensive renovations to their house, and one of the casualties was a very large pear tree. There were four 3' to 5' logs from the tree. I took them to a local sawmill and was able to get a pretty decent little pile of wood from it.
The color and texture is amazing. There are a few fantastic wide boards in the 12" range, some 8/4 stock and the rest is 4/4. And yeah - no idea what this will be used for either.
My Dad always joked with me - “you should have built a bigger shop!” Given the Sauer genetics of hoarding and pack-rat tendencies - I am starting to think he might be right.
posted by Konrad at
20:34
8 Comments
8 Comments:
I know the feeling Konrad. For I too am a member of the Wood Hoarder Club. Mind you I don't have any super rare old stuff like you but I have my fair share. Apple is a wonderful wood to work by the way.
I am looking forward to eventually using the apple. Not sure how and where yet...
and Paul - I know - just be happy I didn't post photos of the 50bd/ft of veneer grade 4/4 birds eye maple:)
Cheers,
Konrad
Perhaps a collection of fruit inspired planes is in the work hmmm. apple, pear, cherry...could be interesting-perhaps shoulder planes in various sizes:)
Konrad,
Never feel guilty about collecting wood. You get it as it comes. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Just remember, you're being a good steward of this stuff and using it for what the good Lord intended, that being woodworking projects and not all firewood. Jon Fiant
I pulled a gnarled and ugly apple log out of a ditch quite a few years ago. A friend who's pretty handy with a chainsaw sliced it up for me and it sat in my shop, then my next shop, for a number of years. When I finally got into it I was amazed and the colour and beauty. I turned the planks into a series of boxes and turned some more into very spalted bowls. Where I live apple tends to grow short and ugly but it's a beaut to work!
I pulled a gnarled and ugly apple log out of a ditch quite a few years ago. A friend who's pretty handy with a chainsaw sliced it up for me and it sat in my shop, then my next shop, for a number of years. When I finally got into it I was amazed and the colour and beauty. I turned the planks into a series of boxes and turned some more into very spalted bowls. Where I live apple tends to grow short and ugly but it's a beaut to work!
You failed to mention who the wood vendor was Konrad. It wasn't the guy from Smithville area was it? He had some real nice African Mahogony last year at the Kitchener wood show.
Interested people want to know.
Hi James,
I don't know who the guy is - but he was not from Smithville. He was south of Woodstock about 45 min. he said.
Cheers,
Konrad
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