Official Luthiers Forum!

Recently got my hands on a rather odd pallet from a piece if high end lab equipment. The interesting parts are the three runners underneath, the fellow who gave it to me thinks they might be some sort of old growth fir. The pieces are a little under 3-1/2 inches square, 3+ feet or so long. They were put on with some big nails, so they will have holes in them. There were some markings on the side, have no idea if they are any sort of ID or just part numbers from the folks who made the pallet. Maybe someone here will know.

The wood looks close grained, going from the heart out. If carefully ripped, I'm pretty sure I can get some quarter sawn segments. Maybe enough for a sound board, if it's the right stuff. One characteristic of interest are lots of pores, that have white stuff in them. Any ideas what this might be? I was thinking possible mineral deposits, the fellow who gave it to me suggested pitch of some sort. He thinks he has worked with similar wood in the past, paid a lot for it, and said the splinters were nasty because something in the wood wouldn't let them heal quickly. The wood looks like it might be a bit brittle, with short splinters instead of long stringers.

That's about all I can think of for now. I've attached pictures, please chime in with any ideas, and if this wood might be suitable for instrument making. I'm curious!

_________________
Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

Knowing where the lab equipment was made might help narrow things down a bit. Pallets are usually made fairly close to manufacturing. My guess would be fir.

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

We got some tile in at work one time and the pallet had mahogany runners! Unfortunately they finished the job on the weekend and the pallet was gone before I could grab it.

You might get some brace stock out of it. Pallet wood often has structural defects - I see some checking in the end grain picture. It may or may not be significant.
If you don't mind multipiece tops you can sometimes pick up "mastergrade" ukulele tops on ebay for $4-5 a set (make sure you buy the 22" long ones). The 6 inch wide ones will get you two book matched guitar tops out of every three ukulele tops (cut the third top set in half and make 4 piece tops) . Very nice creamy white Engelmann spruce, tight grained and nice "silk". If you don't mind the extra seams, a cheap way to get a "Mastergrade" top.
Even inexpensive "A" grade tops are generally nicer than what you will find with lumberyard spruce. Sometimes you can find nice cedar tops from dimensional lumber.
A place near me that processed exotic lumber had some pallets with wenge runners. I did get a few of those.

I'd say douglas fir

_________________
"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

Pallets coming from offshore are usually treated with some nasty chemicals (Methyl Bromide) and insecticides. Be careful. Not worth fooling with IMHO

Looks like doug fir to me too.

Looks like brace wood to me...

_________________
Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

This one was made in US, Heat Treated under the PRL (packaging research lab) specification.
Looks like fir to me also.

Thanks everyone, that helps. I'm not sure where the equipment was made that was strapped to it, but I know it was very expensive.

Any ideas what the white residue is? and what is heat treatment for wood? I would imagine it is something different than kiln drying.

I can say the wood looks pretty dense, and it sure does ring when you tap it.

_________________
Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

It looks like western hemlock. It looks like it's riddled with conk. That's bracket fungus that grows on standing dead trees, and makes the wood unsuitable for construction, so it goes into things like pallets. That's the white stuff.

My guess, worth what you paid for it. cheers

Probably southern pine. The arc of the rings looks to me like it came from the typical 10-16" stuff

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust