Strange Request's

[scleigh]

I know we all get crazy calls and text's asking for strange and sometimes impossible items, I just thought I'd share my latest.

The text read: Do you have any cedar without knots or splinters? That was it!!!!

Many things ran through my mind, but I felt it would be best not to respond.
Anyone else had any crazies lately?

[Jeff]

okay, I'm not sure what is so crazy about that request? I have an ERC hope chest here I made for Tammy many many years ago without one knot in it.

[NWP]

The no knots is an easy enough request but the no splinters may be tough.

[sandsawmill14]

i would have told them yep plenty of it 1 x 4 x 12" long :D

[Darrel]

Clear incense cedar and clear WRC are pretty easy to find, but if it is rough, there are plenty of splinters. Even planed, it has its share.

[sandsawmill14]

around here less than 10% of the eastern red cedar would be clear (after its sawn) but i am sure its different in different areas   but sound knots are considered a characteristic instead of a defect as far as the official grade rules are concerned   

[paul case]

My response?

It is all clear between the knots.

PC

[scleigh]

I get the knot part, but wood without splinters :

[BigZ La]

My answer would have been yes but it is very expensive  :laugh:

[Ron Wenrich]

I would have given him a pack of pencils.

[WDH]

I cut a 175 year old ERC off my property about 15 years ago.  It was a 85' tall forest grown tree, and a good bit of the butt log was clear cedar. 

[sandsawmill14]

I would have given him a pack of pencils.

:D :D :D :D

[SineWave]

I get the knot part, but wood without splinters :

That's like an ocean that ain't wet...  :D

[redbeard]

You could refer order too FF member  @giantsplinter 

[Cedarman]

If you can come up with 12 to 15' long clear ERC, even  narrow pieces as they cut it into thin strips, it can command the big bucks from the kayak and canoe builders.
Flute makers, fishing lure makers, fly rod handle makers  all want clear ERC.  Took one order of 1  3/4" x 1 3/4" x 13" and multiples to  fly rod fishing handle maker.  3000 of them.

[Don P]

I did have the lady that wanted a log cabin with no knots... we went for a walk in the woods looking for trees with no branches 

[goose63]

I was at Home Depot to day and some lady called looking for premixed cement the guy told her you have to add water she still don't under stand

[scleigh]

I guess I learned  something from this, there could be a market for clear cedar. I never considered that as an aproach for marketing some of my clean boards, I do so much rustic stuff and it always sells.
Thanks for a different angle guys.
But no splinters :D

[Cedarman]

No splinters,  S4S.

[WDH]

Chad,

I am going to have to pull out any clear ERC as well and try marketing it separately. 

[scleigh]

Danny,
I guess . Moving forward, I will segregate the clear boards as well.
I already keep 3 pallets of cedar: slabs, rustic and clean.
Guess I'll add a 4th: clear with limited splinters :D

[Darrel]

I also could save my clear lumber from ERC's cousin, western juniper. I think I could have gotten a few clear boards from this, had I tried.

m

[Cedarman]

A lot of times the outside of big ERC logs have a lot of clear, but mixed with streaks of ingrown bark.  We saw these at 2" and save the flitches.  Usually have 3 or 4000 ' on hand at any one time.  When orders come in, we saw 2x2 or 2x 1 3/4 or 2 1/8 depending on what is ordered.  Most want something in the 20" to 30" range for flutes and shorter for other stuff.  Sometimes up to 4'.  We air dry in shed to 11 to 12%.
The actual flitches are  usually low grade and not useful for wide long boards.  We also stockpile 1" x wide x long clear for some people.
When you get an e-mail titled ugly cedar wanted, you know you have hit the jackpot.  You never know what people want.