Blue Beetle Pine

[Gdurfey]

Fingers crossed it's Jeffrey pine, which sounds to be the strongest according to wood database

Ponderosa for the most part or some lodge pole. No Jeffrey in my area that I know of.

 

[Cloud of Sawdust Farms]

I ended up contacting Ocooch about the damage, because the totality of the damage is just a bit much and very out of character for Ocooch. I only requested that they replace the 2 boards with the large abrasions/gouges, since they are the biggest problem for me. They actually gave me pushback about it. Initially, they weren't even able to see the photos I sent but still claimed that since I ordered rough cut lumber I should be able to plane away the punctures, the embedded bolt, deep abrasions and sticker marks. They said I can send the boards back and order S2S instead. They were kinda being d!cks about it to be honest, which I cannot understand considering its $20 worth of cheap domestic wood and Ive given them nearly $4k in orders in under 2 years. I got a similar attitude from them with my last order too.

I replied reiterating that the damage is deep enough that a surfaced board is unlikely to hit 3/4" and that I was specifically looking to maximize thickness which is why I selected rough instead of S2S. I also explained that it being rough cut doesn't mean they can just ship off damaged lumber. The bug holes and knots are a natural feature that's to be expected. Bolts embedded in the wood and forklift gouges are not normal and really shouldn't be tolerated in a low volume consumer order like this. Anticipated waste is measured in "board-feet" not "boards" when you order a small quantity.

Anyway, they just replied again saying that they are now able to see the photos and agree the gouges are deep. They still only offered a single 6x47 board as a replacement, which doesn't technically make up for the 2 boards that are the worst off. But I didn't want to argue anymore, so I just accepted that offer. The one board has a tapered abrasion, so I will still probably be able to use half of that one after surfacing. I guess ill just cross my fingers that the ugly sticker mark doesn't go too deep.

Yeah, I've only had good experiences with Ocooch. The only crappy wood they send me is their boxes of thick seconds, which I can usually salvage because I make small stuff. The fact that you got pushback on a pretty obvious flaw is slightly troubling.

By the way, if you can be bothered to cut a roughly 6x3 chunk of the gouged board, I'll pay postage plus something for your time. I don't do much with pine myself, but the wood guy on our faculty is professionally interested in pine, and he might like to have a reference sample for the collection we're building. Let me know. Thanks!

 

[Big Ry]

we tend to get the least quality wood you've ever seen at big box stores here in vegas. since we have no real other options, being quite far from the lumber production areas

Most of the pine Ive been seeing lately has been coming from nordic countries, so not even domestic or this continent for that matter. I recently bought a board of S4S EWP for a trade with Daveflutes, and that was actually US-grown for once. It might just be more of the dimensional/construction grade stuff that's getting imported.

 

[Big Ry]

Yeah, I've only had good experiences with Ocooch. The only crappy wood they send me is their boxes of thick seconds, which I can usually salvage because I make small stuff. The fact that you got pushback on a pretty obvious flaw is slightly troubling.

By the way, if you can be bothered to cut a roughly 6x3 chunk of the gouged board, I'll pay postage plus something for your time. I don't do much with pine myself, but the wood guy on our faculty is professionally interested in pine, and he might like to have a reference sample for the collection we're building. Let me know. Thanks!

I'm sure I could spare a sample, though the gouged areas aren't all that colorful. I don't mind sending you a better section though. Just DM me your address.

 

[rob3232]

If this is profitable for them I wonder if they will intentionally sap stain any hardwoods? I think I still have some wormy basswood with blue stain. Maple’s turn a nice shade of blue, box elder with the red color makes a nice mix of red, white and blue if you catch it just at the right time.

 

[Big Ry]

If this is profitable for them I wonder if they will intentionally sap stain any hardwoods? I think I still have some wormy basswood with blue stain. Maple’s turn a nice shade of blue, box elder with the red color makes a nice mix of red, white and blue if you catch it just at the right time.

I can't imagine it will be super popular given the species. It's practically balsa it's so light and soft. I really hate EWP but ill buy anything blue lol. I'll most likely stabilize or encapsulate in resin when i use it. So i won't be dealing with the softness.

 

[burlyfigured]

Part of the pine gun cabinet, sorry my camera is a little broken. These were cut around 2008, not perfect but I wouldn't sell it :) Ponderosa pine

 

[Coloradoturner]

This thread inspired me to finally grab a piece of beetle kill from the local recycle center. I walk by beetle kill pine regularly. I always wondered what it would look like turned, but turning pine? Meh. But, I for science, I gave it a go!

This piece does not yet have a finish on it. (debating what to use). But as you can see, some nice blue, and actually this picture washed out transferring it from my phone to laptop. The blue is actually more pronounced in person. I have a really large blank that will make a 12" platter, and still have half the log left to tinker with. I have access to an endless supply, so if anyone is interested in trades let me know and I will process some blanks and get pictures up.

--Scott

 

[Big Ry]

This thread inspired me to finally grab a piece of beetle kill from the local recycle center. I walk by beetle kill pine regularly. I always wondered what it would look like turned, but turning pine? Meh. But, I for science, I gave it a go!

This piece does not yet have a finish on it. (debating what to use). But as you can see, some nice blue, and actually this picture washed out transferring it from my phone to laptop. The blue is actually more pronounced in person. I have a really large blank that will make a 12" platter, and still have half the log left to tinker with. I have access to an endless supply, so if anyone is interested in trades let me know and I will process some blanks and get pictures up.

--Scott


View attachment 294443

What is this recycle center you speak of?

 

[Coloradoturner]

What is this recycle center you speak of?

It is the county transfer station where everyone (including commercial arborists) takes their wood to drop off. It is about 1/4 mile from my house. I go "wood shopping" there a couple of times a week. There is almost always maple, ash, elm, aspen, pine, cottonwood. Sometimes cherry, oak, apple, willow, Rocky Mountain juniper, box elder (some flaming), catalpa, alder, and other random stuff.

I almost never come out of there empty handed, much to the chagrin of my wife.

I don't have a bandsaw big enough to but round bowl blanks out of the bigger stuff so it sits in half-log form with the ends sealed, which is a problem because it does not stack well and takes up a LOT of room.

But that changes today - getting a new bandsaw so in the next few weeks EVERYTHING will be cut into round blanks as I bring it in and process it. That will be a HUGE improvement in my shop.

 

[Big Ry]

It is the county transfer station where everyone (including commercial arborists) takes their wood to drop off. It is about 1/4 mile from my house. I go "wood shopping" there a couple of times a week. There is almost always maple, ash, elm, aspen, pine, cottonwood. Sometimes cherry, oak, apple, willow, Rocky Mountain juniper, box elder (some flaming), catalpa, alder, and other random stuff.

I almost never come out of there empty handed, much to the chagrin of my wife.

I don't have a bandsaw big enough to but round bowl blanks out of the bigger stuff so it sits in half-log form with the ends sealed, which is a problem because it does not stack well and takes up a LOT of room.

But that changes today - getting a new bandsaw so in the next few weeks EVERYTHING will be cut into round blanks as I bring it in and process it. That will be a HUGE improvement in my shop.

That's awesome. Is it free or just discounted? I've never heard of a place like this before.

 

[Coloradoturner]

That's awesome. Is it free or just discounted? I've never heard of a place like this before.

It's free for the residents of my county. It's where everyone takes their oversized cardboard, grass clippings, mattresses, WOOD, etc.

 

[Big Ry]

It's free for the residents of my county. It's where everyone takes their oversized cardboard, grass clippings, mattresses, WOOD, etc.

Oh i see. So you really have to hunt around for something good i take it?

 

[Coloradoturner]

I start at the wood pile to the left. Then walk the pile heading up to the right. I am there enough that I can tell pretty quickly if there have been any interesting new loads. But sometimes it is just ONE random piece I pluck out of that slash pile. It is an addiction, LOL.

To the left of that wood pile (not pictured) is a lumber pile. I have found a lot of white oak pallets and hundreds of dollars of incredible hardwoods that I stockpile for flat work and soon-to-be segmented turning.