We received a new flatbed printer at work today. While it's very exciting to get a top-of-the-line latex sign printer I couldn't stop looking at the wood that it was packaged in. The 1/8" plywood sheets have really nice striping and the frame boards have a really tight grain and beautiful figuring too. There's enough material here to keep me building boxes (and possibly necks) for a while. SCORE!!
Now, just for my own curiosity, what is this stuff? The frame wood kinda looks like maple, but not quite. I have no idea what the plywood surface is. Any tips would be awesome. If you require a closer/detailed pic let me know.
Replies
When I read the tittle to this thread my first guess was 'morning'. : )
Even if the frame boards are to soft to make necks out of it's still and awesome score!
Bwaaaahaaaaahaaaaa !!!!
Now that we've determined the frame is pine, what can I do with it? Does it have the strength for necks? Does it need reinforcement, ie laminate strip of hard wood down center or truss rod? Would it be suitable wood to resaw and plane down for the sides/backs of boxes? Am I over thinking this? I have so many questions.
I know the ply wood work for building boxes so at least I'm good there.
I appreciate the help everyone.
If the pallets were made in California, then it's probably western white pine rather than yellow pine which is a southern forests product - but it does look like yellow pine.
Pine should work OK for bodies, braces etc. but I wouldn't make a neck out of it (but it's probably been done). Swamp Witch Guitars - http://swampwitchguitars.weebly.com/ - use pine in some of their models and I have heard rumors that Leo Fender used the wood from western white pine pallets in the bodies of some of the first Telecasters (true or not, I don't know).
Be aware that pine has a high sap content so it will be hard on tool bits and blades.
The framing looks like a Yellow Pine, it has a more open grain than white pine and other white woods.
What limitations would this cause for building? I've read that kiln dried or heated wood can't be bent so there is that.
My opinion is that it is spruce. Would almost bet money on it. It has grain that similar to pine but the wood is whiter. Work it like pine.Less sappy than yellow pine.I have used quite a bit of both. If you cut it a bunch take your saw blade off after last cut in the evening and put it in a pie pan or cake pan and cover it with kerosene. Just enough to cover blade. When you get started the next day take an old tooth brush and clean dissolved pitch off of teeth.Lay flat on table wipe off residue and reinstall blade. Pitch will make you think your blade is dull.Obvious safety precautions apply like cover pie pan with non flammable object during soak and beware of the teeth of the rejuvenated blade. Save the pitch kerosene mixture, next time you cut your finger dip in mixture and it won't get sore or infected. You know when you get woodworking and medical advice on a CBN post what they are both worth. (;-D)
Here are some pics. I'm pretty sure it's not oak. It doesn't have deep pores like oak. It also seems really dense too, so I don't know if pine is this hard.
The plywood looks like two veneer sides with a core.
As far as the print tech knows, the crate is built in California, shipped to Singapore and sent back.
Thanks for all the responses so far.
Here's more pics:
Yep need pix of grain.S-I-L picked me up a sheet of 1/4" plywood the other day. I told him to get me something white and tight for git backs. Good for burning and painting. He said it was from Ecuador.Got from Home Depot. You got a prize 1/8" stuff is hard to come by. People look at you like you are nuts when you say 1/8". Party Hardy Bro.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next