Joe and I could use two helpers this Saturday from 9 am until maybe noon. Please call Tom 314-570-1175 (between 9 am and 9 pm only please) to volunteer. We will exchange $10 of lumber of your choice for each hour you work. If you own and can bring a portable table saw, you will immediately go to the top of the list and become a true hero. We plan on screwing some boards from the outside of the new structure (photos coming soon) at the bottom of the walls where the sheet steel does not quite reach the ground. No critters will be welcome inside. We will certainly have a few other tasks, including moving the bandsaw.
The structure is complete except for the big overhead door and electricity. Until the electric work is done we will not be moving large piles of wood inside.
We will be open for sales Saturday the 18th but it will be difficult to sort through the piles to find what you want. If you can wait until the first Saturday of March it will be easier to locate what you want.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
More building news
Here is a picture that tells you where we are moving to relative to where we are. Stand at our current entrance and walk 200 feet south:
(I just realized how difficult it is going to be to improve on the first impression our entrance now makes).
The steel started up this week:
Joe has already moved all the air drying wood to the new lot:
(I just realized how difficult it is going to be to improve on the first impression our entrance now makes).
The steel started up this week:
Above you see the four 20' bays of the building that will house dry lumber. Also note the columns for the lean-to that goes the whole length of this side; it is where we will air dry our lumber before we run it through the kiln. This should be slower than before so we can dry thicker oak. We already have some of that cut.
Here is the view from our new entrance on Farlin Ave:
Joe has already moved all the air drying wood to the new lot:
The building crew should be working through mid next week.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
update on new building and the big move
We decided to move last spring and it has taken a long time to get things lined up to where they are now. We have our building permit, footings have been poured, and the metal building erection people expect to show up next week for their two week job. Because of friction with our existing landlord, the move may happen before we even have electricity in the building.
Here are some pictures of the concrete work. The structural engineer designed humongous footings that look huge on paper and in person.
The building will be 40' x 80' with a 25' lean-to along the 80' wall. This gives us slightly more square footage than our existing 40 x 140 space, with the "outdoor" space for air drying wood. Air drying will take longer since it won't cook wood in the summer like our building now does, but this will allow us to saw thicker oak (which needs to dry slowly).
Each footing is on its own for resisting the forces on it since there is no concrete floor connecting everything into one solid mass. This is why they are so big:
As for the move, once the building is constructed (a quick process), we may need to put on a big burst of activity and get everything out of where we are now. The only real challenge is the lumber racks, which will need to be unloaded by hand and dismantled and reassembled and then loaded by hand. This is where we could use some help. We are willing to trade lumber for labor and will be asking for specific numbers of people to help on specific dates, probably very early in February. I will be providing details in this space, so if getting wood for some time appeals to you, watch this space closely beginning now.
Here are some pictures of the concrete work. The structural engineer designed humongous footings that look huge on paper and in person.
The building will be 40' x 80' with a 25' lean-to along the 80' wall. This gives us slightly more square footage than our existing 40 x 140 space, with the "outdoor" space for air drying wood. Air drying will take longer since it won't cook wood in the summer like our building now does, but this will allow us to saw thicker oak (which needs to dry slowly).
Each footing is on its own for resisting the forces on it since there is no concrete floor connecting everything into one solid mass. This is why they are so big:
As for the move, once the building is constructed (a quick process), we may need to put on a big burst of activity and get everything out of where we are now. The only real challenge is the lumber racks, which will need to be unloaded by hand and dismantled and reassembled and then loaded by hand. This is where we could use some help. We are willing to trade lumber for labor and will be asking for specific numbers of people to help on specific dates, probably very early in February. I will be providing details in this space, so if getting wood for some time appeals to you, watch this space closely beginning now.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Working notes: black locust
One of the things I'd hoped to discuss here is some of the lesser known or less frequently found woods we carry. We have come across decent logs of different species that we have sawn into lumber or turning blanks that simply are not commercially known or found in the commodity channels. Your only other chance at finding some of these woods is the rural sawyer who does just what we do: saws the good ones of whatever comes in. Every species has some use.
Black locust is easily pigeonholed because of its extraordinary rot resistance. I think the only domestics in the same league are osage orange and mesquite. All get used for fence posts. Like osage and mesquite though, locust has enough strength and visual appeal to be more than fence posts. (Mesquite does not grow in this area).
I recently found myself working some black locust for an outdoor trellis and thought I'd share what I have been dealing with. I almost wrote "struggling with". Black Locust is no beginner wood; it is difficult to work with in several ways: it is extremely hard, so your tools had better be sharp. It seems to wear tool edges fairly quickly too. It is prone to tear-out if you ever go against the grain. Frankly, my experience is that these same problems are common with hard maple and oak or hickory, but maybe the locust seems worse because it is harder and more dense than any of those. (It is harder when green than oak or hickory is when dry). Fortunately, these issues are not critical for outdoor trellises. And like most any difficult wood, proper care and attention can get you around these challenges. It glues and takes screws just fine.
Black locust also scores high on Tom's Blood List; I seem to have left more DNA on this project than I have on any walnut or cherry job. Those sharp edges simply slice open my knuckles when Mr. Clumsy whacks his hand into an edge.
Okay, so it has issues. But even aside from its rot resistance, I could see preferring it, even on indoor furniture. I do not make many chairs, but I think this wood has everything a chair demands of a wood: strength with beauty. The greenish tinge of the wood can be considered attractive or colored a bit. Outdoors it turns the silvery gray many woods turn.
Our sample:
Like osage and mesquite, black locust logs of quality are rare. The tree seems to grow with internal checks that can spoil an otherwise clear board. So if the project is a chair, expect some waste. We do not see many decent logs, but we always seem to have a hundred board feet or more in the bin in 4/4 through 8/4.
If you like working a more challenging wood for the rewards that come with successfully doing so, consider black locust. It has the kind of hard density that takes a fine polish, and few things say " fine work" like a tough-as-nails shiny finish. Or, just use it out of doors.
Here is a nice board I found from the web:
Black locust is easily pigeonholed because of its extraordinary rot resistance. I think the only domestics in the same league are osage orange and mesquite. All get used for fence posts. Like osage and mesquite though, locust has enough strength and visual appeal to be more than fence posts. (Mesquite does not grow in this area).
I recently found myself working some black locust for an outdoor trellis and thought I'd share what I have been dealing with. I almost wrote "struggling with". Black Locust is no beginner wood; it is difficult to work with in several ways: it is extremely hard, so your tools had better be sharp. It seems to wear tool edges fairly quickly too. It is prone to tear-out if you ever go against the grain. Frankly, my experience is that these same problems are common with hard maple and oak or hickory, but maybe the locust seems worse because it is harder and more dense than any of those. (It is harder when green than oak or hickory is when dry). Fortunately, these issues are not critical for outdoor trellises. And like most any difficult wood, proper care and attention can get you around these challenges. It glues and takes screws just fine.
Black locust also scores high on Tom's Blood List; I seem to have left more DNA on this project than I have on any walnut or cherry job. Those sharp edges simply slice open my knuckles when Mr. Clumsy whacks his hand into an edge.
Okay, so it has issues. But even aside from its rot resistance, I could see preferring it, even on indoor furniture. I do not make many chairs, but I think this wood has everything a chair demands of a wood: strength with beauty. The greenish tinge of the wood can be considered attractive or colored a bit. Outdoors it turns the silvery gray many woods turn.
Our sample:
Like osage and mesquite, black locust logs of quality are rare. The tree seems to grow with internal checks that can spoil an otherwise clear board. So if the project is a chair, expect some waste. We do not see many decent logs, but we always seem to have a hundred board feet or more in the bin in 4/4 through 8/4.
If you like working a more challenging wood for the rewards that come with successfully doing so, consider black locust. It has the kind of hard density that takes a fine polish, and few things say " fine work" like a tough-as-nails shiny finish. Or, just use it out of doors.
Here is a nice board I found from the web:
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New pictures and move news
I posted a number of new and old pictures of projects made with our wood in the new "Gallery 2010" page. There is some incredible stuff there. Enjoy!
We received our building permit and things finally seem to be moving on the building front. Concrete contractor is getting the utilities marked out and I'll bet they break ground next week.
Our existing building was broken into again today and a few small items not nailed down were taken. One of the benefits of the new location will be that we can finally secure the entire property in a way that makes theft very very difficult. The truckers we now share a lot with never even close the gate much less lock it. Fortunately thieves do not care about wood and cannot move the bandsaw.
You've seen our bandsaw haven't you? This early picture shows it before the upper wheel was installed. It is a heavily modified 38" Clement saw probably from ~1890s:
We received our building permit and things finally seem to be moving on the building front. Concrete contractor is getting the utilities marked out and I'll bet they break ground next week.
Our existing building was broken into again today and a few small items not nailed down were taken. One of the benefits of the new location will be that we can finally secure the entire property in a way that makes theft very very difficult. The truckers we now share a lot with never even close the gate much less lock it. Fortunately thieves do not care about wood and cannot move the bandsaw.
You've seen our bandsaw haven't you? This early picture shows it before the upper wheel was installed. It is a heavily modified 38" Clement saw probably from ~1890s:
The band we use is a 2" carbide tooth that cost more than the saw. When finally tuned (we have had issues with the upper wheel) we will use it to trim boards and make more turning blanks and crotch pieces.
The upper wheel was originally made of laminated oak on cast spokes. I am not sure why and the helpful folks on owwm.org were unable to reach a consensus as to why some wheels were made this way. I cleverly made a new wheel using honey locust segments - not laminations - that ended up too big in diameter by about 3/8". This kept the band from fitting the guide you see hanging in the picture above and using the saw seemed more dangerous as a result. So we have torn off the new tire and I reduced the diameter with a belt sander. That honey locust is one tough wood!
Joe dislikes extra projects like this so when we decided to get a radial arm saw for crosscutting, he made sure it was ready to go right away. I see his point.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
We win an award!
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment selected Lumber Logs, LLC to receive their Ralph Wafer Environmentally Sustainable Business Award for 2011. This award is not given every year, so we are doubly honored to be recognized by such an organization as the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. I have followed the Coalition's efforts on a number of local environmental issues and they always seem to have a keen focus on issues of importance to our community.
Joe and I recently went with our wives to the award dinner at Lemp Mansion, had some quality cold refreshments and fine food (not always the case at things like this, is it?), listened to a couple brief speeches and received the nice piece of hardware you see below (with Ralph Wafer, Joe and yours truly).
Okay, that's enough about us. My next blogging task is to get the gallery loaded back up. I may have lost some photos permanently, but it was unintentional and if it was yours I lost, please resend it.
Joe and I recently went with our wives to the award dinner at Lemp Mansion, had some quality cold refreshments and fine food (not always the case at things like this, is it?), listened to a couple brief speeches and received the nice piece of hardware you see below (with Ralph Wafer, Joe and yours truly).
Monday, November 28, 2011
Move news
Yes I know it has been awhile since the last blog posting. And no, it isn't because nothing is happening worth mentioning. I think the real reason is because the one thing I had hoped to be mentioning - specifically, our move and the related construction - is mired in all sorts of red tape.
Joe and I kind of spoiled ourselves for a while by flying this business by the seat of our pants, which took us mostly under the radar so to speak. Who knew we needed an occupancy permit? It honestly never occurred to either of us, and even now I am not sure if it is my problem or the landlord's. Either way, building a building in the city ends all the free-ride feeling. Want to stack logs on a lot with Unrestricted Zoning? Need a variance. Ours is pending*. Want to build a building? Permit required. (Okay, this one was not a surprise). Want a sign on the building? Permit. Want to build without gutters (like the building we are already in)? Waiver needed. And so on and so on. So while the building and move issues grind on, we pick up logs and sell lumber.
* The interesting thing about the zoning variance was the hearing. I went to City Hall (what a magnificent building! Too long since I'd been there) to speak to some Zoning People. Others had the same assignment for their tavern/child care center/counseling business. They call your address and you approach a podium with The Government on the other side of a very long desk-high partition. You stand, they sit. You introduce yourself, they just write it down. They ask relevant questions so they can understand what it is you want and why. This was how I found out about the sign permit. It goes well and businesslike and Lumber Logs was the only applicant to submit letters of support from neighbors and environmental bigwigs. I was told it was almost mandatory to have support from your Alderman and I suppose we could get it if he returned emails or phone messages. They will let us know. Being new to the whole process introduces stress into these known and unknown Unknowns. I dislike stress. It puts me off my blogging.
I do have a couple of other news items that deserve their own post, so let me make this one short and sweet so I am not intimidated to return with another sooner than three months later.
Joe and I kind of spoiled ourselves for a while by flying this business by the seat of our pants, which took us mostly under the radar so to speak. Who knew we needed an occupancy permit? It honestly never occurred to either of us, and even now I am not sure if it is my problem or the landlord's. Either way, building a building in the city ends all the free-ride feeling. Want to stack logs on a lot with Unrestricted Zoning? Need a variance. Ours is pending*. Want to build a building? Permit required. (Okay, this one was not a surprise). Want a sign on the building? Permit. Want to build without gutters (like the building we are already in)? Waiver needed. And so on and so on. So while the building and move issues grind on, we pick up logs and sell lumber.
* The interesting thing about the zoning variance was the hearing. I went to City Hall (what a magnificent building! Too long since I'd been there) to speak to some Zoning People. Others had the same assignment for their tavern/child care center/counseling business. They call your address and you approach a podium with The Government on the other side of a very long desk-high partition. You stand, they sit. You introduce yourself, they just write it down. They ask relevant questions so they can understand what it is you want and why. This was how I found out about the sign permit. It goes well and businesslike and Lumber Logs was the only applicant to submit letters of support from neighbors and environmental bigwigs. I was told it was almost mandatory to have support from your Alderman and I suppose we could get it if he returned emails or phone messages. They will let us know. Being new to the whole process introduces stress into these known and unknown Unknowns. I dislike stress. It puts me off my blogging.
I do have a couple of other news items that deserve their own post, so let me make this one short and sweet so I am not intimidated to return with another sooner than three months later.
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