A customer brought in an old new england farm sign that has been painted oh about 4 different times since he had it, he Claimed he could never keep paint on it.
I am replacing the main panel as well as reworking the accent peices, found out why he never could keep paint on it, the panle always sat in a trough of water.
Anyway upon removing the main panel and flaking off the paint I realized this is one piece of wood, no seems, the panel is 24.5 x 29.5, I can just imaging being able to buy 24" wide planks at one time. He claims he bought it from an older farmer that claimed it was made around the turn of the century. I dont know about that, but I do know I have never seen boards this wide in a single piece.
[ October 30, 2003, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
By the title, I thought you had found your dongle and got it "Up and working"! Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
I can relate Bob. Old wood like that is a real gem. My boss brought in some "scraps" he had lying around the barn that he was going to cut up for shelving in the shop. These boards are about 1.5" thick x 16" x 16 ft. I talked him out of cutting them down, but, now I have these huge boards lying around that keep getting in the way.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Ahahahahaha, Wood.
Bob - why on earth does that sign sit in a trough of water?
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
but... woody post that here? lets hope not Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Bob...
I lived in NH in the late 60's, in a house that was built in 1780. It was made from timbers that were pegged together. the side walls were about 3" thick boards that were about 18" wide, stood on end. In the basement, which was really a root cellar made from piled rocks, there was a room made from wood boards, where the potatoes and stuff were stored. The boards were real wide just like the one you describe. An old timer up there called them "Queen Anne" boards. They were cut from old growth cedar is what I have been told, and they are valuable. The one you have may be older than you think. Some of the New Englanders on this BB may want to check to see if my facts are straight, but that's what I was told as to the species of wood involved. Those giant trees disappeared a long time ago.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Joe this is the bottom of the sign, as you see the water runs down the sign into this channel.
If you look at the sign the bottom edge you see is not the thicknes but rather the 3/4 of an inch that slides into the groove. Notice the trimmed corners
[ October 30, 2003, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Bob, that is some fine wood. I'll bet it is heartwood.
I have a client down at the marina that also pulls up old cypress sinkers. Sinkers are cypress logs that were felled or lost during the hey day of logging in the swamps here.
He showed me a log that he was milling for a client who is building a steam powered paddle wheeler. This piece was to be used for the main runner or beam which was to be 30"x18". Pretty stout piece of wood. The grain was really tight due to the age. I am told that before polution wood had a tighter grain.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
hehehehe Bob, I have a coffee table here that's made of a solid piece of maple. it has a chess board carved into it and pegs for playing cribbage. I swapped a rolling TV cart for it. Definitely got the better end of THAT deal.
There are a few old mills up here that still will do some "big cuts" on occasion, but rarely these days.
I got hold of a piece of Mahogany once that had been a bar top in Vermont. What a find that one was. Was planning on making a sign of it someday, but got an offer for it from a customer and let it go last summer.
Just plunking on the keyboard... Rapid
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Bob Yea You can Keep paint on it.. Ask to take it down and allow it to dry for 1-3 months in your shop...
Next after drying... is prep. (Sanding.(Seal/Prime).....Painting & Coating. I have never work on anything that is Wet.. (Water) "Insurance Damage" is something else ETC.FLOODS/HURRICANES/Etc.
Sorry Edit will mean... (Maybe Plain the Board)
[ October 30, 2003, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Deveau ]
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
We've got plenty of Doug firs out here that are pretty stout. I've ridden my motorcycle next to a few that have dwarfed the bike. I don't know when my garage was built but the ceiling joists were true 2"x12" and 26-28' long. They were so warped from the long span with no support that we had quite a leaking garage when I purchased the place. I've since built a nice A-frame roof with new joists.
Pretty neat that you get a chance to work on such an old sign. I hope your work lasts 100 yrs Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Nice Woody there Dude. Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Bob
No matter what.!!..Save the Wood. Remember the Panel is the "Overview"! Posted by Glenn S. Harris (Member # 2190) on :
Tell the guy you'll swap it out for a piece of HDU that will hold paint forever.... you keep the wood!
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Well the guy needs his sign back by thanksgiving so I'm going to retrofit 3/4 MDO in its place, I thought of 3/4 hdu but the strength of such a thin panel at 24 x 29 turned me off. The grooves in the top and bottom are 3/4" so if I did sandwich HDU I would have needed 1/2", my supplier didnt carry it.
So my sign will NOT last a hundred years but it will look awesome for quite a few anyway.
And I DO get to keep the wood. lol
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Just yesterday a customer brought in a "plank" 21" wide and 29" tall all one piece never been joined. I'm going to do an "old time' sign for him on it. He told me it was from a cotton wood tree and he had more just like it at home in his barn.
He bought it at an auction somewhere local...apparently someone close had a saw mill...by the way this thing is a full 4/4 thick and hard as a rock.
If I can get a picture to load when I'm done I'll post it.
Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :
Bob, if I were in your shoes, I would get permission from the old guy to swap the panel out for HDU with a hefty warranty and hang that piece of history on my shop wall.... as it is..... and preserve it for posterity.
Just my dos centavos Posted by E. Balch (Member # 3545) on :
This is my front yard. We heat the house with big chunks of wood. The town is happy to dump it here!
HDU for signs... wood is for heat. ernie
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
That signboard may be over 150 years old! It can be much more valuable than you (probably) realize.
Check out "Lions & Eagles & Bulls" -Early American Inn Signs- edited by Susan Schoelwer of the Connecticut Historical Society. This awesome book is available from our pals at "A Magazine About Letterheads". 812-723-2095
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Yup!! I've seen the Balches' wood pile....you wouldn't believe the size of their woodstove!!!
A:)
Posted by Talisman (Member # 1869) on :
Hi Bob,
I have posted this before, but it is befitting this thread...
Joe
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Maybe these aren't as wide as the ones on that truck.....but this is some pretty wide stuff! www.berkproducts.com This place is about 4 miles from me....maybe we'll take a tour during this years Chisel Jam....NO DROOLING ON THE BOARDS!!!
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Maybe these aren't as wide as the ones on that truck.....but this is some pretty wide stuff! www.berkproducts.com This place is about 4 miles from me....maybe we'll take a tour during this years Chisel Jam....NO DROOLING ON THE BOARDS!!!