Recent content by Bob Smalser

“Cruiser” was a logger’s dog, and a tough-looking Bulldog at that. In the forests along Hood Canal where he died 75 years ago, he could have been little else, as a timber cruiser is the woodsman who ranges out ahead of a logging crew to select and mark the trees to be harvested. His grave...

Sounds great. I can fix some twists, but not all. Beginning with the lightest blow possible is key, because once a spot is hit too many times, the steel compacts and distorts irreversibly.

I haven't mastered twist yet. Few have.

Thanks. I tweaked it accordingly.

Lichens Interesting and sometimes colorful little algae-fungus combinations that are generally harmless and can be brushed off. Blue Mold and Ambrosia Beetles You’ll find Blue Mold (or Blue Stain) without Ambrosia Beetles but you’ll never find Ambrosia Beetles without the stain. Various...

When excavation reaches the incipient stage of only discoloration of otherwise sound wood, CPES (an epoxy sealer) may be useful to isolate the remaining spores and reduce the wood’s potential to absorb moisture prior to replacing the structure lost to the rot. White Rot Sometimes called...

Grow, mill and airdry enough lumber, plus restore several old boats and you eventually get to see it all, so I’ve saved some examples of pest damage to show you what’s what, what’s bad, what’s not, what you can do about it, and some why’s and wherefores. I’ll start with the worst. Brown Rot...

Actually, it's normally used as firewood. It's mostly and understory tree that twists to reach the sun and makes poor lumber, although turners like it. This tree growing in full sun was an exception.

Lead and copper cut safely and aren't a problem. The problem is the nail that help up the target. ;) A railroad spike 20' up the tree probably used to hold a lantern some time in the 1930's was a problem too, as it was in the second log and I only used the metal detector on the lower log...

That FOHC (free of heart center) Doug Fir 6X12 is 21' long. Drop on over this weekend and we'll fall and mill a few for ya. Bring an appropriate lorry. ;)

A Chistmas gift for Betty. Just don't ask which Christmas, as it has 18 corners instead of the 4 I had in mind. ;) Techniques for setting beams without a helper may be useful to others some day.

Jorgenson, the heavy-duty cast iron and steel American clamp popular with boatbuilders.

"Square" is always a line athwartships from measurements down the inside of each side of the hull equidistant from the stem. "Plumb" is usually a line 90 degrees to the floors, the framing members the sole are attached to. Plumbing is one of the few uses for a framing square, but better...

If you don't get it perfect with the Dremel or Fordham tool, you can bed in thickened epoxy dyed to match your stain.

Thanks, but 100-year-old Doug Fir, actually. There's probably still rock salt piled on shelves between plank and ceiling, too. ;) Today we use borates.