George Vondriska

Working With Reclaimed Wood

George Vondriska
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Duration:   7  mins

Upcycling is all the rage today, and you may have wondered, “What is reclaimed wood?” Reclaimed wood has lots of features that make it worth bringing into your shop; its history, the wood’s character, and availability of species you may not be able to get otherwise. This instructional video from WoodWorkers Guild of America explains these benefits.

The good and the bad

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and working with reclaimed wood does have some downsides. Is it more or less brittle than today’s woods? Should I worry about paint on the wood? What other working characteristics might give me problems? Don’t worry, we answer these questions, and more, for you.

The medium you work with

As woodworkers, each time we walk into the shop we’re (most likely) working with wood. In order to get the most out of your woodworking projects, understanding wood is very important. You need to understand the material to ensure you’re making the best possible choices for your projects.

Reclaimed wood

Reclaimed wood may be a viable option for you. Whether you’re doing the reclamation yourself, or buying the material from a supplier, the first step is understanding what you’re getting into when you’re working with reclaimed wood. This video will get you there.

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9 Responses to “Working With Reclaimed Wood”

  1. Ron Herman

    I have an opportunity to get some reclaimed maple church pew seats and backs that have recently been dismantled and removed from our sanctuary. One side of the seat is raw, the other side of the seats and both sides of the back have been finished with a oil based varnish. My question is how to handle these pieces for reclaiming. There is no metal in any of these pieces that range from 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch in thickness, 12 to 17 inches wide, and 8 feet long. Can they safely be run through a thickness planer or will the varnish wipe out the knives and rollers? Any other suggestions for reclaiming this material?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Ron,

      That finish will be rough on your planer. I would suggest using a chemical stripper and/or sanding to remove the finish before planing.

      Paul
      Wood Workers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
  2. Robert B Stegmaier

    I “reclaim” myself, from pallets, to scrap pile where someone was refacing kitchen cabinets, to scrap from a neighbor’s contractor waste from a large outside cedar project. Amazing what people throw away.
    Question: reclaim stuff with nail /screw holes, or other flaws, do you just cut around, or sand/repair or epoxy ( color of choice)?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Robert,

      It depends what you are building. Sometimes I leave the holes, sometimes I add filler, and sometimes I cut around them. Whatever you feel looks best for the piece that you are making.

      Paul
      Wood Workers Guild of America Video Membership

      Reply
  3. DANIEL

    No need to order reclaimed wood from a supplier if you buy an old house as a rescue project. I bought a house in Virginia built in 1910. As luck would have it, there was a contemporaneous shed behind the house that was beyond saving, but much of the wood – which included a basketful of different species – could be reused. That, plus material salvaged from the house itself as we renovated, will keep my woodshop humming for many, many years.

    Reply
  4. Roger

    Recycling wood used long ago here in Montana for many years back has yeilded mostly pine and fir lumber around here. No hard wood trees can live here.

    Reply
  5. Donald

    Probably the best example would be American Chestnut (often referred to as Wormy Chestnut). The species is functionally extinct. The only way you will ever work with this amazing wood is by purchasing it reclaimed.

    Reply
    • Ashlee Justice

      What makes American Chestnut amazing? I’m fairly young in my wood life so, I’m asking in search of knowledge (and, also, to have a good wood fantasy! *Get your mind out of the gutter!! 😆*)

      I’m very curious as to whether this is something I’m going to be on the lookout for.

      Reply
      • Customer Service

        Hey Ashlee,
        Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:

        Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If American Chestnut is beautiful to you, then it’s beautiful. I’m more of a fan of cherry, walnut, red elm, curly maple, and aromatic cedar. But many people do love American Chestnut as well.
        Paul

        Please let us know if you have any further questions
        Sincerely,
        Danesha
        Wood Workers Guild of America Video Membership

        Reply
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