My wife made the emboidery lady and wanted an unusual frame with nice grain. I showed her a piece of Beetle kill pine and  

she loved it. She also wanted an unusual shape. This is the finished frame laying on the lady. It isn't installed yet, she hasn't made

up her mind on how she is going to do it. Maybe have some padding under it, etc. 

 That is a clear finish on it and that is how it looks. They sell it here for a lot of things. I guess that when the beetle kills the tree

the discoloring occurs. I like it.

The frame is super. Gonna look awesome when the embroidery is finished!

nice  frame.  Did ya band saw it like a band saw box or jig saw out the interior?

 

BTW y I had to look up beetle kill pine.  Never heard the term before.

I glued up enough pieces to make two halves. I clamped them together and drew the shape. (without glue, while it was easy.)  Then cut the inside on the band saw for each half.

I cleaned up the inside curves and sanded them while each was easy to sand on the end of my belt sander. I then glued the halves together, and  when dry, I cut the outside on the bandsaw. Then sanded, routed and finished.

Cliff, I had heard of it, but never seen it. Here in CO I saw entire foot hills with dead pine. I asked locals and that is what they told me. I didn't know that the wood was usable, I thought that due to possible bettle egg contamination, it was useless.. The biggest problem is that the dead trees create a vast fire hazard. Nothing burns as fast as dry pine. They use it for an assortment of things here, home siding, studs, etc. It is nice wood and is cheaper than normal pine. I've seen pieces that looked like the green color you see in Poplar. I have not idea of what it will do as it ages.

Edited January 1, 201610 yr by Ron Altier
wanted to add comment on green color

Ron, here is a gallery of work by a friend in South Dakota. He uses Beetle Kill Pine (BKP) almost exclusively.

http://lumberjocks.com/galleries/mojapitt