What search terms should I use to find old construction wood

[SlowSteve]

Hi,

This may seem like an odd question - if it helps I can post photos later.

I have a house about a century old. All the joists and rafters in the roof are made of a wood which I believe is a very slow grown pine. It has turned yellow-y brown with age and doesn't look much like pine you get today - it has lots of thin tight growth rings, few knots and is much stronger than a piece of pine from, say, B+Q, but cutting it and splitting it it's definately a softwood and still has a "piney" smell when it's sawn.

The doors in my house are also made of the same timber, and I need to track some down to make two more.

My issue is that I'm not sure how to go about finding it. I just don't know what to be using as a search term in google.

Based on the description - can anyone make a guess as to what the timber might be and maybe guide me with some jedi level google-fu?

Many thanks - and apologies for the vaugeness

Steve

 

[RobinBHM]

Pitch pine was used a lot, no longer available new

The nearest could be siberian larch, which is close grained and mellow in colour and dense, but I dont think you would get this in unsorted grade in joinery thicknesses. Ive used 50 and 75mm thick stock but it has quite a few splits. Thinner board such as 32mm and 25mm are better.

Douglas fir or southern yellow pine are possible but I think they have quite bold grain patterns.

 

[MusicMan]

I would try an architectural salvage specialist such as LASSCO. They are London based but have other branches, and almost certainly there is a similar place near you.

I used them for reclaimed flooring, which included yellowish pine, some from the roof of Spitalfields Market, some from Dover Naval Barracks (Oregon pine). Seasoned for about 150 years. Buy more than you need and use the rest for woodwork. I have a nice large Oregon Pine bookcase, and my tools/jigs are made from 150 yr old Rhodesian teak!

Keith

 

[Zeddedhed]

This article may help:

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-artic ... all-guide/

Probably the closest you are going to get is either the Siberian Larch as mentioned by RobinBHM or Slash Pine, sold by Associated Timber http://www.associatedtimber.co.uk/produ ... pitch-pine

 

[SlowSteve]

Gents,

Thank you *so* much - this forum continues to astonish me.

From my overly vauge description, it looks like you have cracked it. By the look of it from a lot of google images, I *think* the wood I have is slow grown pitch pine.

The Siberian Larch is a very good match by the look of it - close enough for Herself to be satisfied!

Have you worked with siberian larch? Is it OK or does it have any niggles?

Steve

 

[Zeddedhed]

You can achieve a really nice finish with it but you do need good sharp blades (chisels and planes). It can be a bit splitty if it's thin (it's most often used for cladding) so pre-drill everything.

When I've re-sawn it (6" square posts into 2" boards) I've found that it can have a tendency to release a lot of tension in the wood thus producing some pretty wonky boards, but then I've found that in pretty much every timber on occasion (even Accoya), so it may not be an issue specific to SL.

Other than that I've found it to be fairly run of the mill in use. And it smells nice when you machine it - or at least the last couple of boards I had did.

 

[Dee J]

Resawn pitch pine from old factory beams is available from reclaimation yards:
http://www.winkleightimber.co.uk/intern ... er-m2.html
They list as flooring, but often saw to order - so other sizes are probably available.
Its not local to you, but there must be similar set-up across the country.

 

[ColytonJohn]

You may find that new timber lacks some of the characteristics you like such as tight, 'slow grown', growth rings and a patina developed over the decades. It may also be less stable.

If possible, then, I'd suggest trying to track down reclaimed timber and, while reclamation yards are a source, their eye-watering prices put me off. Besides, I've had plenty of success with local builders who have to pay for skip hire to dispose of timber they've stripped-out and even skip-hire companies themselves pay landfill charges both of whom may welcome someone to take it away for nothing.

So start by looking around your area for builders working on properties of a similar age to your own.

Cheers,
John