THE WOOD WE USE
Lumber is an incredible resource. Strong, light, renewable, unique, beautiful, (and in many settings) plentiful. Even if you surround yourself with stainless steel and marble, the odds are good that there is a lot of lumber quietly enabling your daily routines. There is enormous variety in wood species, so most of us can only aspire to a simple grasp.
I am embarrassed at how little I really know about bird species and especially songs. It is likely that of the next three bird sounds I will hear from our front porch- I will only be able to identify “crow”. I am working to get better at Bird. In Oregon we are surrounded by birds and trees, and it seems to me we should hold ourselves accountable to possess at least a rudimentary knowledge of both.
The natural diversity of lumber (even from the same species) comes from a practically infinite set of variables- anything that can affect the way the tree grows will also impact the properties of the harvested lumber. Good growing conditions generally result in even, straight grain and consistent color. Stresses in the tree’s life can bring about all kinds of interesting features. Milling is another variable, and the sawyer’s choices in orientation of the initial cut can have a striking impact on the results.
I’ve been picking up an unwanted tree here and there to make lumber for years. The process is time consuming and expensive, so it is best to have a good idea of the results before committing. With an affinity for lumber and a revulsion for waste, I am drawn to learning more about species. And there are usually interesting stories associated with wrestling and sawing logs. We hope the linked pages draw out your interest. If knowing a little about the source of your board makes you enjoy and maintain it better- mission accomplished.
Our favorite Minnesotan sawmill guy here.
Bird species and song identification link here.
Barred Owl night sounds (occasionally heard from our backyard)
BLACK LOCUST
This is a mainstay species for us at Clow WoodWorks. Lumber from the black locust is weather (and dish water) resistant, stable, beautiful, and HEAVY. It is similar to Teak and Ipe in terms of density and weather resistance. But this is a tree you can find scattered all over North America.
Our 1st log was from a very large (~30” diameter) tree that lived in the side yard of our rental house in La Grande OR. The tree died over the winter of 2015. Removal was no small task (shout out to Michael’s Tree Service on La Grande). Michael kept the trunk intact as 3ea ~10’ saw logs.
Which seemed like a good idea.
With similar density to walnut, our wet logs weighed in at 1100- 1500 pounds. La Grande is 270 miles from home in Portland, and it was winter with an ice storm (foreshadowing here) brewing in the Columbia River gorge. My old Friend Ud provided a trusty F150 and tenacity. I had a trailer, a come-along, and a reasonable grasp of leverage and mechanical advantage.
We had 5000 pounds of logs loaded on a 3500 pound trailer just in time for I84 to close due to winter conditions. Sunday afternoon. Gotta work Monday.
The ensuing trip was arduous at best. There is no story in comfort.
And then there was the milling and the drying, and the F150 repair. But, by god, we have locust and we are not afraid to use it.
Occasionally we battle a yellowing issue with black locust that we think is related to the Titebond III non-toxic glue we use. Intensive sanding and even downsizing is sometimes required. But we generally win. Even with this downside, the grain is so interesting and the wood properties are so fantastic that we will consider sourcing more when our considerable stash is gone.
If you do black light dance parties in the kitchen, your locust board will glow an interesting fluorescent greenish. Just in case, We wanted to let you know.
In short- our stance is that any wood well suited to boat building, fenceposts, raves, mine timbers, decking, and outdoor furniture should NOT be chipped or turned into firewood- at all.
SYCAMORE
We might possibly have too much Sycamore.
If we use it all making boards before 2030, then this venture will have been more wildly successful than any of our expectations. We have learned a lot from these 4 trees already, and most of the lumber is still drying.
Much has been said about Sycamore. I suppose it is one of those poetic and powerful words to be spoken in confidence and rhyme. Lots of things rhyme with “more” by the way. It is even a cool LOOKING word. Sycamore. Don’t you think?
Our sycamore collection is all thanks to my old friend Glen. His house was being harassed by these big aggressive trees. They had been planted too close and too close together. The roof was under siege with leaves and debris, and the roots were actually raising the floor by pushing up the pier blocks under the house. The trees had to go.
The logs were big challenging things to be laying in a suburban yard. The skeptical onlooker crowd even included Glen as I backed toward the 1st 30 inch diameter 10 footer. Just how are these old guys gonna get 2500lb logs loaded on a trailer without any heavy equipment or power tools?
Angles and Tenacity. That is the answer. Maybe more precisely- applying the experiential confidence to find the correct angle (or something close to it.) It starts simple with the ramp on the trailer, but quickly expands with prybars, levers, and skewed connections that allow forces to be multiplied. Ironically, angular approaches are often the most direct. Sailing, driftboating, and removing stuck farm equipment from mudholes are all studies in angles and tenacity. And don’t forget log skidding.
Amongst the most surprised onlookers when Glen and I lashed down the last log? Glen and I. I’ve come to refer to the application of tenacity and angles to moving heavy objects as “old man skills”. Brute force and calculus are impressive, but often not readily available- especially as we get older. Check the angles, there may be a more nuanced but indeed simpler way.
Of course there is room for some metaphorical interpretation here. Have at it as you see fit.
But back to sycamore- we hope you enjoy it’s participation in your board. Some call it lacewood- look at it closely and you will see why.
I hope our supply is actually limitless. Of both Sycamore and Tenacity.
WALNUT-BLACK, ENGLISH OR OTHERWISE
Walnut is our go- to foundation color and texture to highlight our lighter and more exotic species. Plus Goby Walnut is possibly the best place in Portland to discover the art of wood as a material. I have old friends who grew up in Albany next door to Dr. Goby. What a worthy legacy.
Walnut always seemed a bit of a bourgeois excess to me- coming from the roots of “just be happy you have lumber at all” NW Iowa. I’ve done a few small projects over the years with Walnut and admitted it is beautiful in the right light, but still was not convinced you could depend on that light.
But I have seen the light, so to speak. Excellent stability, great workability, and a variety of colors and grain add to our appreciation of natural materials and Walnut specifically.
Oregon Black Walnut grows quickly in the right conditions and does not live nearly as long as some of it’s “old growth” cousins. Goby is an outlet for those trees that are aging out. That makes a perfect match to our philosophy, and we intend Goby to remain as a key supplier and source of inspiration moving forward.
We have not yet procured our own “backyard blowdown” walnut tree. But in the meantime. We’ll happily make pilgrimages to Goby lumber.
CHERRY
coming soon