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Mike

Pine is most commonly used for rough construction such as shipping containers or framing a house. This is a softwood and as such not great for building furniture or other projects meant to last. However, since it is free and in good shape I would use this to build prototypes of your projects, such as a table. This will allow you to practice the cuts, joints and assembly skills and see just how everything works before commiting to more expensive hardwood that is meant to last. I build some kids items from pine, just know it is subject to dents and dings. Free is good!

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Mike

petersenj20

Thanks for the help. You're response brings up a question I have wondered for a long time. If pine is a cheap wood that isn't as durable, why do high end shops pay big bucks for antique reclaimed pine? I could understand spending a bundle on a large slab of heart pine like I saw at a woodworking show, but why for a 1 inch thick piece.

Norm built a cabinet from reclaimed pine on the NYW and made a big production out of preparing it for use.

I don't know about the 2x?" pieces, but I am going to use some 4x4 material for a mailbox post. I know it won't last forever, but it will allow me to try some idea's for free. I want to incorporate some metalwork into it and like you said, the practice would be good. The metalwork could always be transfered to a proper piece of lumber when it rots away.

nzgeordie

Looks like it could be Pinus Radiata (aka Monterey Pine). It's plentiful around the world and used a lot for house framing here in NZ and in Oz (free of knots & treated) with the rougher stuff (usually untreated) used for packing & crating. The last pic of course is particle board.

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Geordie
I've cut it twice and it's still too short! But only at one end.

bobj3

Hi petersenj20

" why do high end shops pay big bucks for antique reclaimed pine?" it's called "Old Growth" pine ,that's to say the tree rings very tight to each other,,,and we have cut down all the good/big trees.. they are now pulling old trees out of some of the lakes,,that have been under water for a 100 years or more...big bucks....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaimed_lumber
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specia...fulltext=Search

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Mike

While pine is a softwood it is still a nicely grained wood and easy to work with. The large diameter "Old growth" trees are now few and far between. The tighter the growth rings the more stabil the wood.

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Mike