Wood delivery day. Quarter-sawn white oak, 8/4 rough. Beautiful stuff.
Three hundred board feet of quarter-sawn white oak arrived this morning from my sawyer contact upstate. This is the good stuff – tight grain, prominent ray fleck, properly dried.
The Selection Process
Spent an hour at the sawmill last month picking through their inventory. Quarter-sawn means the annual rings run perpendicular to the face, which creates that distinctive ray pattern that makes white oak so prized for mission-style furniture.
Checked moisture content on a dozen boards with my pin meter. Everything read between 7-8%, perfect for interior furniture work. Anything above 10% would need more time in the drying shed before use.
Inspection and Storage
Unloaded and inspected each board before stacking. Found one with a check running about 8 inches from the end – that’ll get trimmed off before milling. Two others had some mineral staining, but it’s subtle enough to work around or feature intentionally.
Stickered everything in the lumber rack with 1″ oak strips between layers. Good air circulation prevents any moisture pockets from forming during storage. The rack is in the climate-controlled portion of the shop, so humidity stays consistent.
Project Plans
This batch is earmarked for a dining table commission. The client wants a 96″ by 42″ top with breadboard ends and a trestle base. Should have enough material for the table plus a set of six chairs if they decide to expand the order.
Nothing beats the feeling of a fresh lumber delivery. Raw material becomes possibility.
