Christmas notes from Wisconsin

Hello Folks! It is 2 days after Christmas. I had one of my grandsons help me unload the kiln and haul it home. It sure makes things easier. He is also learning to drive and I let him drive home with many loads of lumber. That was scary. There are some good stories about his driving but will save that for another blog. Needless to say, it is a good thing I have a bald head or I would lose all of my hair.

This unloading has some wonderful material with great history and stories. First up was one log set of yellow birch that has laid at the bottom of a river for over 150 years. This tree was over 300 years old when it was cut which would put it back in the 1500's, when it started to grow. These boards range from 8" wide to 16" wide and 11' long. The boards have the tightest grain I have ever seen in a hardwood log. Most of this is cut into 5/4 thicknesses. The wood has a much darker tone because the river has a high iron content. I would like to sell this whole log set as one. I can cut it into shorter lengths or leave it long for shipping. There is probably 200 board feet, roughly. Very unique, very historical material. I would be asking $2,500.00 for this whole set.

Next up is some of the nicest, most colorful spalted hard maple. There is varying grades. I have this in both 4/4 and 8/4. It is sound but very light in weight. Lots of checking on the ends. Some has some incredibly heavy birdseye figure. Some has heavy curly figure. Some is just plain spalted maple.
The figured material will run higher than the plain maple. The low grade material will be sold for $2.00 per board foot. By low grade, I mean center cuts of the log. This will include pith and checking in the middle of some boards. The plain spalted maple will be $4.00 board foot. I have not priced the birdseye and curl yet, as I am separating boards from the piles. The story behind all the spalted maple is this. These logs sat in a veneer yard in upper MI for over 7 years. They got covered in dirt and leaves. Why the yard owner did nothing with them I am not sure. A mill I deal with had these logs dropped off several years ago. They were sawed and stickered and then left for several years at the back of the mill yard. A year ago I was asked if I was interested in some old , crappy wood in the back. As I walked back towards the pile I could see the figure in some boards, some 200 ft. away.
Luckily they had thrown some tin over the stack so it wasn't completely out in the weather. There were some super weathered pieces on the very outside of the pile but for the most part it is very heavily spalted.

The rest of the wood from this load is some beautiful white birdseye and curly hard maple. If you are looking for anything in particular let me know. I am working with a new trucking company for pallet loads. I also have used Fed Ex for pallet loads. Very economical shipping to the west coast. Email me for shipping pallet loads of wood.

 yellow birch from the river. More photos are available.

 spalted maple

 another shot in the rough

This is what I saw from over 200 feet away. Heavy birdseye

 8/4 live edge spalted

4/4 spalted birdseye

Heavy eye birdseye, curly bark pocket , tight curly maple and curly red oak all in one load

Just got done with 2 days of unloading , separating and piling wood. I have to say, its great exercise when the weather is nice.

Got about 4000 feet out of the kiln this time. I have one small load of curly red oak to get tomorrow. I am tired.

This load was a mix of stuff from both close by and from the great north woods. I love unpiling it and thinking what each board could make. The juices still run strong in making things. I see furniture and small pieces coming from each piece. Yes, I handle each board several times. That is why I know just how nice the figure is and what it can be used for. I am not like a cabinet shop where they make boxes and doors and drawers. I see log sets being made into outstanding pieces for someone's home. Each board in the set with rich heavy figure. This is all part of what I love to do. I don't have employees, just me and I do all the work. Again, no complaints, just allows me to see what is good, great or not so good. I have clients that like certain figures and I need to find and pull or at least sort so I know where it is.

I have a bunch of photos and will put some on here. This load had a little of everything.
Birdseye maple with some really heavy eye, some of the tightest soft curly maple I have ever seen and some beautiful tight curl hard maple that is just breathtaking. Last but not least, a nice selection of curly red oak, in 4/4, 6/4 and a little 8/4. A few hundred feet.  Lots of matching boards in the oak and also wide material. That came from a veneer factory that sorts out any figure. I am not a fan of red oak, but this material is stunning. Big wavy curl. Some on one side, some going across the whole width of the board.

If you would like to contact me to purchase any of this, check out my web site at
www.bobkloes.com or check me out on facebook here.
https://www.facebook.com/KloesCustomWoodwork/
I ship all over the country. There is stock for guitars,furniture,boxes,urns and most anything in many thicknesses up to 4" thick and 24" wide. I can help with questions on finish or construction of furniture. I think that makes me a little different from a lot of wood sellers.

New April wood list

 Birdseye maple logs sets

 Some over 12' long

Flame birch log sets, Nice even color and figure and wide...

Spalted flame birch log set.  5 or 6 pieces. Really nice unusual stuff. Great color. 90$ for 20 ft. If you want the whole log set, contact me. It is something I have only seen this one time.

 Book matched set of 15" wide birdseye maple 1" thick boards. Great figure, lots of heartwood , some cracks at the ends, but stunning. 20 bd ft between the pair. 150$ plus shipping

 Plain spalted hard maple. I have a pile of a few hundred feet. All 4/4[ 1"] Runs 6" wide or so. Nice small box material. 4$ bd ft.  or 75$ for 20 bd ft. Lots of color and bug holes. Nice solid material.

 Bird peck, bark pocket hard maple. Has some curl and some have birdseye in it. Nice material. 75$ for 20 bd ft. Makes great box material

 12/4 birdseye. [3" thick] Great figure and have stock up to 12 or 13" wide. Turning or bed posts, your choice. Starts at 15$ board foot for narrow stock. 22$ bd ft for the wide stock. Never have seen this anyplace before. I have been air drying and kiln drying this for 18 months. All 8' long.

 16/4 [4"+] thick butternut. 8' long and widths over 12+". Some very nice material. Some pieces are all clear, a few have a couple of small knots and checks. I will deduct for any defects.  Narrow stock starts at 6$ board foot. Wider will be 8$ board foot. This is becoming very hard to find with many defects. The blight is killing it all. Would make a beautiful bed or mantle or table. I have always loved butternut. Very soft and often called white walnut due to the grain being a dead ringer for walnut. I have about 400 bd ft and once this is gone, I may never  get any more this thickness or size. I am hoping to get some 4/4 or 5/4 wide stock  sometime this spring. But that would not be dry until later in fall. Turns and carves very well.

 Some more shots of the 12/4 birdseye. They look weather beaten and dark, but that all gets planed off. Plus they are all cut heavy. Usually a 1/4" or more over thickness.

 8/4 birdseye and curly.  Great for legs or turnings. Usually has very good to heavy eye.  8/4 birdseye is 9$ bd ft this month only. All maple is going up fast

 16/4 butternut after planing.

 with a little water on it, hardly shows much difference.

 All sorts of weird figure hard maple. Great for small boxes. Bark pocket, bird peck ,burl figure, some I have no idea what to call it. If you want to make some nice boxes , this is some great stuff. Its all rough in the pictures, but you can see the figure in them.

 More pictures of the spalted flame birch

 Spalted birdseye. I only have a piece or two left. Really unique. 5$ bd ft.

Log sets of flame birch. Contact me for pricing. Most of the sets contain anywhere from 50 to 100 bd ft.  Boards run 4' to 15" wide. If you want a really nice piece, use a log set.  I also have these in birdseye maple as well.

 Always glad to help answer any questions you have on wood you buy from me. Finishing, building, whatever you have for questions, I am here to help. Its what sets me apart from buying from other places. I use this stuff every day and can help with the issues that it has. Figured wood is funny stuff. Not something from the big box place that you can finish any old way. Feel free to look at my web site,
www.bobkloes.com
My email and phone number are there.