1960's 8x8 beams

[brian creighton]

Quick questions for you guys.  I have access to 100's of feet of 8x8 beams from a hog barn built in the 60's.  Do you guys think that this wood would be good for carving blocks.  I need to know because I have to tear this barn down ASAP.

[Brian Moyse]

I carve most of my dekes out of reclaimed wood.  The barns I have access to are quite a bit older though (late 1800's).  I guess it depends on what kind of wood it is.  The wood I have been salvaging is white pine.  Check and see what kind of wood it is before you go to all the trouble.

It looks like this when we salvage it


Closeup of the grain


Decoy

[brian creighton]

Same stuff.  The grain is not as tight but it is white pine. I will have to get to work on getting some lumber.  Thanks

[Brian Moyse]

What part of the country are you located?

Also remember that you will have to cut out the heartwood before using it on dekes.  Even though the heartwood may be right in the middle of the beam you can always rip it up and laminate it, or use that piece for heads.

Brian

[brian creighton]

I'm from northern IN.

[Brian Moyse]

Seems like we have quite a bit of old white pine in this area of the midwest.  I am in Northern IL.

[brian creighton]

I also have several old bRns that are starting to fall down properties that I hunt.  I will have to go inside them and see what type of beams are in there.  People are sike crazy on selling beams like crazy around here on Craigslist.  Some of them are going for 30 dollars a foot.  I have an entire garage full of barn siding from a barn built in the 1800s.  I had a guy offer me 5 per 8' board.  People pay crazy prices for stuff.