Choosing WoodWhat kind of wood? Treated or untreated? Clear or construction grade?In lumber, the word "clear" means "without knots." How important this is varies depending on your project and whether you are free to sift through the pile of lumber at the lumber yard looking for the best piece. If you are carving your peace pole, you must get wood that is clear, at least in the section to be carved. If you are painting it, a few knots might not be a problem, depending on where they are and how big they are. Knots are the first thing to deteriorate as the pole weathers. Knots expand and contract differently than the surrounding wood and can fall out leaving a hole. If that knot is in the middle of the "a" in peace, it might not be the effect you want. Cedar is expensive ($50 to $60 for a 4 by 4 post) and naturally is full of knots. It can be found in a smooth and clear form, but most people in construction who order cedar want it rough and full of knots because that is a look they are seeking. It can take some searching to find smooth, clear cedar. But cedar is good for making peace poles because it resists rot and bugs. So it lasts a long time. Standard untreated construction lumber might be a better option in some circumstances. It is inexpensive (perhaps $6 for a 4 by 4 post) and will last as long as your paint. Why pay for a post that lasts longer than the paint? To keep untreated wood from rotting from being in contact with the ground, look at these installation options for ways to handle that. * * * By the way, what is smoother and clearer than cedar, usually less expensive, can last even longer and is more environmentally friendly is a kind of wood that is politically incorrect and probably will cause me to be harassed just for mentioning it. It probably would cause you to be harassed for using it too. It is farm-raised redwood. The cedar that people use to make peace poles is cut from virgin forests in Canada. The redwood available in lumber yards comes from a farm the size of Ohio that is in California. It was planted in order to be sold as lumber and then replanted - a sustainable forest. But redwood is a hot button that causes politically correct hackers to damage your website and send nasty emails. So everyone uses cedar instead. Home |
|
Mail: |