dpb wrote:
George wrote:
I'm doing some structural work on an old addition. A fair amount of the
wood I take off is in decent shape. (No water damage, in particular.)
It's T&G sheathing, 2x6's, and (especially) clapboards. It all seems to
nail OK.

It would be nice to just re-use this stuff, where I can. Is there an
informed opinion on doing this?

I reuse stuff all the time--most older lumber is far better quality
material than new. If surface checking on tuba-x material is excessive,
I'll plane it down to one-by if it isn't going to be hidden.
Structurally, unless it is actually rotted or split up too badly it'll
be as good as or better than new.

Only problems are
- additional time/effort required to clean it up by pulling nails, etc.,
(the primary reason commercial and professionals don't is that added cost)
- related but if it needs finishing again it may take more extensive
prep work owing to filling nail holes and the surface oxidation/existing
finish
- possibly appearance if not hidden but that's cosmetic defect only so
for framing, who cares?
- sometimes it's harder to work owing to being much harder than new
lumber (fir or SYP are particularly noticeable in that regard). Again
that really goes back to point (1) of taking more time/effort (but
probably having better material).

I've taken 16- to 20-ft 2x6, -8, -10, -12's out of places that were
essentially knot-free. Imagine the cost of one of even one of them
suckers today _if_ you could even find it!!!

--

I'll add an 'AMEN' from the peanut gallery to the above. When I was a
wee lad, we used clear redwood for gutter boards and outside window
trim. Not even a rich man could do that today. When I think back to the
big scraps we routinely threw on the burn pile back then (every
construction site had one), I could cry. Who knew? Poster above is
correct about old wood getting hard as a rock- whatever the heck this
place is framed with, I can't drive nails in it, or drill it with a dull
bit. I just drill pilot holes and use screws now, to avoid trashing the
drywall on the wall behind where I am working.

When salvaging old wood, your nose and a sharp icepick are helpful- nose
to smell any funny-looking spots, and ice pick to probe for mushiness.
If you can afford it, one of those airport metal detector wands like
Norm uses on his show is a good saw and planer blade saver. If that is
too pricey, a fistful of super-magnets in the end of an old sock will at
least find the big ones.

--
aem sends...