new vs. old growth fir for workbench
- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 11 months ago by .
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Wood and Wood Preparation / new vs. old growth fir for workbench
Tagged: workbench woods
I posted news of my find of a bargain-priced douglas fir 6 X 12 beam to the forum recently. It’s 77″ long and weighs 87 pounds. It seems to me that the mass of the beam would be great for a bench top. I have no idea what the wood’s moisture content is, but I have read that douglas fir maintains its dimensional stability as it dries. I went out in search for other materials for my bench today and found some equally interesting pieces. I went to a salvage store that sells used building materials. I found a laminated pair of 2X4’s to use as bench legs and I also bought 2-13 foot old growth 3 X 6 beams fro an old building. I want to fashion the aprons and other parts from these. The difference between the new growth fir and the old growth fir is astounding.The new growth fir has about 5 annual rings per inch whereas the old growth fir has about 20 annual rings per inch. It must be much stronger and tougher material. Please refer to the photo. Any comments?
It is very neat to find the old growth wood and see the tightness of the rings. To see and compare it to new growth wood side by side is eye opening.
I don’t know about fir, but I got 4 or 5 pieces of 120 year old savaged yellow heart pine. I was so excited to work with it. I soon found out that the pine resin harden the wood to the point I can’t work with it.
I have worked hickory, it is a challenge, but the old growth, aged pine is much harder and dense.
Good luck, I hope your bench goes well. I am sure it will.