> No kidding. Keep your eyes open, often when you see somebody remodeling an
> old house there is a dumpster full of CVG old growth fir or cedar.
> Moulding and siding were common uses. I'm on my wat to the folks's this
> weekend to get some CVG fir that was a deck. Also, there are yards that
> specialize in used wood now, and you can get some really nice stuff. Once
> I saw a strip-boat built out of the remains of a redwood wine vat from an
> old winery. It looked for all the world like cherry, it was beautiful, and
> the wood was free. See the pix of my Tred Avon on Brians site. I really
> think the nail holes add character...

Could you post a link? I'd like to check out the nail holes. I've just made a greenland style paddle out of some western red cedar that I found in a dumpster, It's also got the odd nail hole. I didn't bother pluging the holes, and I agree that they add character.

I spoke with the demolition guy who was responsible for putting it in the dumpster, he said it used to be a pellmet (sp?) from a sliding door in the hospital where I work, and I know that my grandmother was a patient in the ward where it came from shortly before her death. Recycled timber can have a whole story to go with it. My brother-inlaw has some beautiful old exposed beams in his house that he scavenged from an famous (locally) old wooden bridge that was pulled down and replaced with a concrete one.

You'd be amazed at what you'll find in dumpsters on demolition sites. And the foreman usually won't be upset if you have a look (just ask first) if you empty it out, it will save him money. Just don't leave a mess behind when you're done.

Paul.