The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource

jim jones Junior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 41 Gender:	old barn beams Nov 12^th, 2009 at 3:43pm i found a guy that has some 104 year old 8"x8"x24' birch beams, and he wants 75 for each one. anyway i have never turned birch, so what do you all think of this find? he lives about 100 miles away, but i have no idea what it will turn like. thanks for any info, jim
Back to top	IP Logged

Register To Remove Ads

John West Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 191 Gender:	Re: old barn beams Reply #1 - Nov 12^th, 2009 at 4:08pm I've never turned birch. But one 24' beam would yield a lot of turning material and there must be a marketing angle for century old barn wood. If you do it, let us know how things work out.
Back to top	IP Logged

JimQuarles WR Addict WR Patron Offline WR Rocks, BIG Time! Posts: 13,194 Glendale, AZ Arizona USA Gender:	Re: old barn beams Reply #2 - Nov 12^th, 2009 at 4:50pm Jim, Where are you? You might find that there are other members that would go in with you if you want to split a beam. Birch is generally good to turn, but a beam that has been drying for 104 years may not turn as easily. JimQuarles
Back to top	Mentor Basics, Pens, small stuff, Acrylics, EasyRougher. Just Turnin' Around! Glendale, AZ "Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright IP Logged

jim jones Junior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 41 Gender:	Re: old barn beams Reply #3 - Nov 12^th, 2009 at 5:04pm i live in indiana, 70 miles west of indy, and the beams are 30 miles east of indy. i dont know if there is any members that live in indiana, but he has 18 of the 24' and some other shorter stuff. i have his phone number if anyone wants it. i plan on going there sunday, to check it out
Back to top	IP Logged

Brad_Mortensen WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 610 Gender:	Re: old barn beams Reply #4 - Nov 12^th, 2009 at 7:33pm I love working with Birch, and have done some older stuff, nothing close to a 100 years so can't say on that. But, If I was closer I would definately go in on or go for it. Brad
Back to top	IP Logged

Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: old barn beams Reply #5 - Nov 14^th, 2009 at 12:03pm I would go for it. i would just be careful when cutting or turning. Use a metal detector to avoid any unwanted surprises.
Back to top	IP Logged

robo_hippy WR Addict Offline Posts: 3,638 Eugene, OR USA	Re: old barn beams Reply #6 - Nov 16^th, 2009 at 2:51pm Excellent stock for rolling pins, end grain cutting boards, potato mashers, spurtles, probably boxes and small bowls. Most likely will have some large cracks, so not good for utility bowls, but I would get a couple of them if I was in the area. robo hippy
Back to top	IP Logged

JimQuarles WR Addict WR Patron Offline WR Rocks, BIG Time! Posts: 13,194 Glendale, AZ Arizona USA Gender:	Re: old barn beams Reply #7 - Nov 16^th, 2009 at 3:02pm I got a warning from a flat work friend. (Yes we are allowed to intermingle.) Watch out for "deposits." Barns are generally occupied by birds, mice and other animals. They tend to leave unsanitary traces of their passing. He has even found bones stuffed in a large crack. Be sure to wear a dust mask when handling. JimQuarles
Back to top	Mentor Basics, Pens, small stuff, Acrylics, EasyRougher. Just Turnin' Around! Glendale, AZ "Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright IP Logged

Register To Remove Ads

jim jones

Junior Member

Offline

WR Rocks!

Posts: 41

Gender: male

Re: old barn beams
Reply #8 - Nov 16^th, 2009 at 6:48pm

well that guy told me saturday night that he sold all of the good stuff, and he had a few short beams, buy they had gotten wet and had soft spots on them. so i did not want to drive 100 miles, for that. i guess i should have went there saturday. but my wife seen someone taking a barn down, and when the rain stops i will go and check it out. thanks for all the info, jim

Back to top

IP Logged

Brad_Mortensen

WR Addict

Offline

WR Rocks!

Posts: 610

Gender: male

Re: old barn beams
Reply #9 - Nov 17^th, 2009 at 12:08pm

JimQuarles wrote on Nov 16^th, 2009 at 3:02pm:

I got a warning from a flat work friend. (Yes we are allowed to intermingle.) Watch out for "deposits." Barns are generally occupied by birds, mice and other animals. They tend to leave unsanitary traces of their passing. He has even found bones stuffed in a large crack. Be sure to wear a dust mask when handling.

JimQuarles

Nice call, and should be a standard heads up with any old building materials.
Besides the smell, I believe rodent urine will hold various diseases for extended periods of time. I know at some point in time I had heard you shouldn't use lumber that has rodent waste on it with out a respirator.

Brad

Back to top

IP Logged

JimQuarles

WR Addict
WR Patron

Offline

WR Rocks, BIG Time!

Posts: 13,194

Glendale, AZ
Arizona
USA
Gender: male

Re: old barn beams
Reply #10 - Nov 17^th, 2009 at 12:20pm

Brad_Mortensen wrote on Nov 17^th, 2009 at 12:08pm:

I believe rodent urine will hold various diseases for extended periods of time.

It is called Hanta Virus, and it is about 75% fatal, because it starts out like a cold or flu and people don't go to the doctor. There was a surge in Arizona a few year back that was mostly hitting visitors to northeastern Arizona. The locals have some built up immunity to it. Instructions here in Phoenix included not sweeping out your garage without a dust mask, and don't vacuum it without a HEPA filter.

JimQuarles

Back to top

« Last Edit: Nov 17^th, 2009 at 12:21pm by JimQuarles »

Mentor Basics, Pens, small stuff, Acrylics, EasyRougher.
Just Turnin' Around! Glendale, AZ Cool

"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.
I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright

IP Logged

jim jones

Junior Member

Offline

WR Rocks!

Posts: 41

Gender: male

Re: old barn beams
Reply #11 - Dec 5^th, 2009 at 3:49pm

well i just unloaded 7 , 150 year old beams, i found these 20 miles from home. the 7 i got are about 8 feet long, and the guy only charged me 20 bucks for them. i am not sure what kind of wood they are yet, oh and he has some really nice beams, but it will be at least a month before he gets them down, and will cost more. and i will be really carefull handling them, so i dont get sick, jim

Back to top

IP Logged