awesome work Gerald!

WOW! If that's a typical example of BP, it's easy to understand it's attraction. Although, it likely takes a master turner, with an artist's eye for finishes, to reveal it's beauty. Just fantastic, Gerald.

Gerald, the top looks like an eye. Both are beautiful but my preference is the top one.

This is a great on going topic if anyone wants to chime in. Been missing Gene too. He's fine, guess he's just taking a break from all the riftraft.

I have come to really love Spalted Pine and Spalted Maple. It's just out of this world stunning and beautiful and that's before a finish is applied. Simply gorgeous stuff!

I find that any wood that was FREE really turns out fantastic. Granted mostly for my wallet....

Walnut used to be my favorite lumber, till I went to the hardwood store and got a single plank of it, about 12' long, a foot wide, so what, 12 BDFT? Cost me 150 bucks! Jeez.

Clear pine is my new favorite 😄

8 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Walnut used to be my favorite lumber, till I went to the hardwood store and got a single plank of it, about 12' long, a foot wide, so what, 12 BDFT? Cost me 150 bucks! Jeez.

Clear pine is my new favorite 😄

I find the best way to buy hardwood especially walnut, cherry, and maple is to get it S2S. Wood that has been planed on two sides is referred to as S2S (Surfaced Two Sides) or sometimes PBS (Planed Both Sides). This type of lumber has been run through a planer to produce two smooth, parallel, and flat faces (top and bottom), while the edges are left rough-sawn.

You can finish the rest yourself and save alot of $$.

12 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Clear pine is my new favorite

So you are using 2x4's from Home Depot???

Just now, MrRick said:

is to get it S2S

That's all I get Rick.

Our only hardwood lumber retailer in the area is Reel Lumber, they aren't selling BORG style lumber, it's S2S.

Actually, here's a little tour of our lumber store.

7 minutes ago, Gunny said:

So you are using 2x4's from Home Depot???

Same place I got the walnut.

I recently found a new local source of kiln dried, but somewhat rough, walnut, white and red oak, hickory, and few others. Board foot was $4 - 5 for the walnut and white oak. He had a gorgeous 15 inch wide walnut board - that one with the thickness and length was $75...I was very tempted but left it. Would have made a great waterfall bench (yes, I was already picturing that in our house!!).

@BB1 seriously...... $75? Buy it. Buy it as soon as you can! You won't regret it.

I really admire the wonderful selection of lumber you all have up there in Canada land and flyover USA and Eastern USA, out here in the wild west, the prices are really wild too. It's just plain ol expensive out here.

1 minute ago, MrRick said:

Buy it as soon as you can! You won't regret it

Too late. He knew I liked it and texted my husband that it sold. My concern was the width was beyond my tools capacity (I know, hand tools...but that's beyond my skill or current tools too!).

Barb... you can always increase your skill afterwards while it sits in your stock. Man o man that was a good buy gone by! Just sayin.

Edited February 12Feb 12 by MrRick

9 minutes ago, MrRick said:

Man o man that was a good buy gone by!

Oh, I know. I bought a pricy cherry board a good while ago that I still have not used so maybe that was part of the reason my brain said no, even though my heart was saying maybe we should!

I hate to make you all feel bad but around here they use walnut for firewood. Over the years, squirrels plant the trees along fence rows and land boundaries. As more and more land is converted from farms to housing, the trees are just discarded.

That's just unbelievable lew! Bummer!!

10 minutes ago, lew said:

I hate to make you all feel bad but around here they use walnut for firewood.

Well I know where I'm going when I get out east! 😆