How should I mill car siding in the Upper Midwest?

[Small Slick]

Two questions really; how wide and thick and what species? 

I acquired some rough sawn hardwoods that is random dimensions. I plan on using it to make tongue and groove car siding paneling. It is a variety of species and that is the way I plan to instal it; random no pattern.  I'm thinking of ripping it into three widths to continue the randomness; also maybe less waste.

What size should I rip them to previous to kilning and planing?

I also don't have enough lumber to complete the project. So for us in WI, MN, MI and similar. What are your suggestions for species I should use and ones I should avoid?  How thick should I saw the boards?  I'm hoping to work with a log buyer to purchase a mixed load.

John

[Small Slick]

No one has any opinion about this?

John

[Red Good]

I have no idea , but curious what is car siding ? Good luck . Red

[Brad_S.]

I don't understand the question either.

When you say car siding, it brings to mind a job I did for a railroad restoration group. That is the only time I've ever heard of something called "car siding".

[Chuck White]

I don't understand "car siding" either.

[ladylake]

It's T@G with a cove cut on the tongue side, used a lot in years past.  type in car siding on your search .   I think they used pine quite a bit for it.   Steve

[Barney II]

From some years past---but not too many :D   Car siding according to the white pine profile chart is 1x8, tounge and grooved, 3/4 thick, with a v groove going the length of the board and is generally pine.  The groove would be down the center of the board to imitate a 4 inch board.  It was originally intended to represent the siding that would be on the old style box cars.  It can be used outside as well as inside.  It is still sold and is or can be a favorite for inside paneling.  Anything not of the above configuration would probably not  be considered "car siding"  I have  sold many miles of this over the years.

[Chuck White]

Hmmm, learn something new every day on here!

Thanks for the clarification!

[LittleJohn]

I personally would stay away from "varying" widths, its hard enough to find pieces to fit/piece together when everything in the same width.

In regards to mixing species, I don't think its a problem as long as you can spread the species around to get some variety of color and grain. *** and the WIFE APPROVES

[jwilly3879]

Around here that would be center bead T+G or sometimes called center bead v-groove T+G, the back side is flat, no V or bead. I used it a lot for porch ceilings or wainscoting.

[red oaks lumber]

what john means by carsiding, out east they call it v-match midwest its refered to v-groove paneling
the profile name is wp4  the slang term carsiding is actual 1x8 with a v in the center as well.

[BackwoodsUSA]

Small Slick -- I'm in northern Wisconsin (Florence) ... my cabin walls are all t&g car siding ... combo of red and jack pine, finish milled to 3/4" thick ... as far as species, any of our pines (white, red, jack), spruce (white, black), and fir (balsam) will give you that knotty pine look ... tamarack is more of a reddish wood  ... avoid Hemlock, you'll get some splitting along growth rings, plus they don't regenerate well due to deer browsing ... although considered a hardwood, aspen (quacking, big tooth) will give you a whitish and smooth grain, almost like hard maple ... i avoid the "hard" hardwoods (oak, maple, cherry, birch) for car siding as you'll have a hard time with the nail gun, or you'll be pre-drilling lots of small holes.

[Small Slick]

Car siding must be a regional descriptor.  I did some asking around my work and most people know what is meant by car siding.  I did a little research on the Web and there is a connection to rail road box cars, hence the name.  This reminds me of when I worked construction on the West Coast; I called things by a name and then was asked "what the heck are you talking about?!?!". ??? ???

Red Oaks Lumber is right with the description and I am sure he is right about the blade profile as well.

Will I have trouble shooting a 16 gauge air nail through the tongue on paneling like this made of hardwoods?

John

[m wood]

All I was picuring was an old Plymouth or maybe a Jeep Woody with a surfboard sticking out the back :D.  Shows ya what I know :

[red oaks lumber]

john
install will not be an issue, you may need to adjust your air pressure slightly, otherwise its nice to install