Thread: Custom Barn Wood Scales Epoxied

Is any one interested in a pair of these?

I have so many barns around my house that I am going to go hit up the owners for some wood from some of the ones that are falling down.

I wasn't going to sand them out, I really want to keep the rough texture and gray color. If there is sanding it may be with a really fine grit just to knock the edges down.

I think I may do two or three sets as I have to make some scales for one of my razors any way.

If anyone is let me know.

BTW if this needs moved please do, I was unsure if this fit here or in the marketplace.

I would like to see some pictures. I have thought about using barn wood for razor scales. I have a L-O-N-G list of other things to do first. At least I go the trash taken out.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

Is any one interested in a pair of these?

I have so many barns around my house that I am going to go hit up the owners for some wood from some of the ones that are falling down.

I wasn't going to sand them out, I really want to keep the rough texture and gray color. If there is sanding it may be with a really fine grit just to knock the edges down.

I think I may do two or three sets as I have to make some scales for one of my razors any way.

If anyone is let me know.

BTW if this needs moved please do, I was unsure if this fit here or in the marketplace.

Thats this weekend to see if I can procure some wood. SWMBO has said that if I take on any more projects that she will make me sleep in the car. It is still cold in Oregon so this may be a long and drawn out process, done mostly at night when all are sleeping.

So I bought the wood from a farm near the house. Actually its a beam, a 200pound beam of Western Red Cedar. At least thats what I think the wood is any way given that I live in Oregon and not New England.

So the plan is the Sawzall the wood up into pieces and maximize the grey pretty stuff for scales. Given that the beam is about 5' long and is app 6x4 I should be able to get a few scales out of that. The rest My inlaws will burn in the fireplace during winter and the wife will use as Photoframes.

Trust me there will be plenty and I am saving the iron nails to use as pins. I think it'll look pretty cool with those all cleaned up.

I am going to make mine and post the pics here and if I get alot out of it I could post it on the BST so that people can buy it and do what they wish with it. Scales, spacers, boxes.

I'll know more about the condition when I get it cut up tomorrow. It feels sturdy and sounds solid. Trust me lifting 200 pounds onto the roof of an SUV is no easy task. Then taking it off and dumping it onto the ground. I think I hurt my shoulder. Oh well its the bad one anyway.

So I got the first 20 pound log cut up.

The grain is a beauty. So straight you could lay a ruler to it.

It will look sexy once polyed. Still not sure of the type of wood. Smells sweet, yellow flesh, dead straight grain. Does not smell like pine. Could be yellow cedar? Is there such a thing?

Sounds lovely...pics please!

Originally Posted by JimR

Sounds lovely...pics please!

+1

I know I forgot the camera. I'll get some tonight. There is such a thing as Yellow Cedar, aka Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Very rare from what I read. Characteristics seem to be the same.

I am going to take a piece to Rockler or Woodcraft and see if they can help ID the species.

If it is AYC I am going to offer pieces to turners and carvers, cause this stuff is rare and very spendy if purchased elsewhere.

I might burst your bubble... truely sorry.. but..

I have heard of barn board as being heavily contaminated and being unfit for food
tool useage (spoon making) and I am unsure about its use on the skin where nicks may occur and have the possibility of getting infected...
my brother who is a photographer also won't use it because it "bleeds" through the photo paper and can ruin the print
A truely beautiful weathered wood... but not without its problems...
perhaps others have more info...

Originally Posted by tpoof

I might burst your bubble... truely sorry.. but..

I have heard of barn board as being heavily contaminated and being unfit for food
tool useage (spoon making) and I am unsure about its use on the skin where nicks may occur and have the possibility of getting infected...
my brother who is a photographer also won't use it because it "bleeds" through the photo paper and can ruin the print
A truely beautiful weathered wood... but not without its problems...
perhaps others have more info...

There are people that do wood stabilizing where the wood is basically pressure filled with some kind of acrylic/plastic resin. I think that might fix the bleeding/ etc. These guys offer a test stabilization that would probably cover the amount used for a set of scales... barely charge for it. It might be worth a try, then you wouldn't have to finish them with poly either. There are others out there that do this service as well... prices are almost the same wherever you go.