Wood ID...

[ondablade]

I can't put up a photo until my camera is sorted out, but i've just rescued a quantity of nice 1 in untreated solid wood used for shelving in some old built in cabinets made back in the mid 60s, and am not too sure what it might be.

It's basically pale and creamy with the tiniest hint of amber (possibly due to aging), and a fine and not very obvious grain - but it does have patches of a quite definite pink/reddish tint/wash through it in places. This over maybe 10% of the surface, fading gently into the creamier wood. It's pretty much 100% knot free over an 8 x 1 ft board (only about two very small ones), and has stayed nice and flat.

It's quite dense and rigid, but i'd say still a softwood. No obvious smell, and not noticeably resinous.

I'm thinking it's possibly some sort of a pine, but it doesn't seem to be one that's around much now. Chance are given the quality of the units that it wasn't all that special back in the 60s.

Could it be Scots pine/red deal? It's very like this but with very slightly less figure: http://www.john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk/Pic ... ots_f.html

It's mostly flat sawn. How suitable might it be to use for drawer sides and fronts for some medium respectable workshop storage cabinets? (it should at least be very well conditioned by now)

 

[squib]

This is a tricky one without pics,but if you think its pine my guess would be parana pine as it certainly fits the bill.

 

[Paul.J]

Sound like Pirana pine.
Is it heavy-ish :?:
I had to make a cabinet/shelving once at work to match an existing one which the management thought was Oak because it was stained dark brown.It all turned out to be Pirana Pine.

 

[andy king]

From you description, another vote for parana pine, especially as you say the boards are a foot wide.
Parana is available in wider sections than standard redwoods and was often the choice for stair strings because of it.
It's usually pretty stable once its seasoned, so I would have thought it would be fine for your workshop drawer sides and fronts.

hope this helps.

cheers,
Andy

 

[woodbloke]

From you description, another vote for parana pine,

cheers,
Andy

Yup, +1 - Rob

 

[WoodAddict]

is there another name for parana ply? i was looking through my "world woods" book out of interest and I can't find it.

 

[Benchwayze]

The only other name I know of is Araucaria angustifolia .

You could have called it 'cill' board', not so long ago, but now they are using a lot of Southern Yellow Pine for window board, around my neck of the woods.

http://www.arkive.org/parana-pine/arauc ... /info.html

For some more info, and the reasons why it's not seen these days!

HTH
John

 

[WoodAddict]

Found it! I was looking under all the different pines, whereas this is listed in it's own right. It states at the bottom that it is not a true pine?

Other name: Brazilian pine (USA).
Distribution: Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
General description: The heartwood is pale brown with a dark brown inner core, sometimes
streaked with a bright red colour. The grain is mostly straight with a close, uniform texture
and very inconspicuous growth rings. It contains little resin, and varies in density from light
and soft to hard and heavy. Weight range 480-640 kg/m3 (30-40 lb/ft3) but averages 540
kg/m3 (33 lb/ft3); specific gravity .54.
Mechanical properties: The timber has medium bending and crushing strength, low
stiffness, very low resistance to shock loads; lacks toughness. It has a poor steam bending
classification.
Seasoning: Parana pine is more difficult to dry than most other softwoods. The darker
coloured material is very prone to split, distort and dry slowly. The load should be weighted
to minimise distortion and a prolonged conditioning period and repeated moisture content
checks made to ensure uniformity of drying. There is medium movement in service.
Working properties: Works easily with hand and machine tools with very little blunting
effect on cutters; planes and moulds to a clean, smooth finish. It can be glued, stained,
painted or polished to a good finish.
Durability: Non-durable. Liable to insect attack. It is moderately resistant to preservative
treatment but the sapwood is permeable.
Uses: Only the higher grades arc exported for use in internal joinery, including doors and
staircases, but its lack of toughness renders it unsuitable for long ladder stringers or scaffold
boards for example. It is used locally for joinery, furniture and turnery, sleepers, general
construction work, and in the round for telegraph poles, piles (when treated), and pitprops.
Logs are peeled for plywood manufacture, and selected logs sliced for decorative veneers.
Note: Not a true pine.

HTH

 

[dickm]

Used some parana (how often have I seen that written PIRana - a very different kettle of fish) a few years ago to make a bed frame, and the most noticeable feature was the smell - something like raw carrots. If you cut or plane some of the stock, you may be able to check this.

 

[xy mosian]

Funny that I too made a bed frame of parana pine, about 30 yrs ago, yikes!. The guy I made it for recently got in touch after nearly that length of time and reminded me about it, amongst other things.

xy

 

[Benchwayze]

Same here. My daughter's first bed was made of Parana Pine. I recycled it about 18 months ago!
:lol:

I have always been a fan of Parana Pine. Don't think I'd like *
Piranha Pine although I believe the fish are very good eating. (If they don't eat you first!) :lol:

John

 

[ondablade]

Thanks guys, that sounds not just like a majority but very likely too. It even rings a bell. My recollection is that it used to be quite common years ago.

That would make sense, as digging around just now suggests that the supply has got tight in recent years due to Brazilian export restrictions.

It's quite heavy and dense like you say.

Here's another source: http://www.lathamtimber.co.uk/ProductDetail.184.html The colour mind you is more like Paul's photo than their highly yellow tinted version.

I got a camera yesterday, so if i can figure out how to i should be able to post photos before too long. :lol:

 

[ondablade]

Here's the link to the photo: (i hope)

Photo of salvaged 1967 pine (?)

Opening a Photobucket account elsewhere and linking it to the message is not the most straightforward way of getting a photo up - most forums allow you to attach one directly to the message. Is there an easier method?