davidlane

I recently completed a cabinet made from reclaimed walnut, using hand tools. It was a wonderful experience. Regarding the wood, some main thoughts: 1) The vendor, Elmwood Reclaimed Lumber, in Missouri, was primarily a supplier of floor boards. But they had some walnut from two old barns, posts and some 16" wide tongue/groove floorboards. They denailed the material and also heated it to kill any bugs. 2) It was expensive, which is counter-intuitivedue since it's "used", but the processing costs are added in; 3) The color and grain were unbelievable. The walnut came from two different barns so there is a nice contrast between the posts, rails and panels. It's deep, deep red, almost like mahogany. I used no stain at all. 4)It was also very close grained due to its age and slower growth; hence it was and is very stable. I see this as a BIG advantage to reclaimed wood. 4) There were old worm holes throughout, but I cleaned out the dust and made no attempt to hide them. They look great.
I would use reclaimed wood again for a project. It was a real joy to find the beauty below the surface, and to think that some old barn wood could become a piece of furniture. Here is a link to my project: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnwwg/3836945572/in/set-72157606564469864/