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Discover the River Reclaimed Advantage

The virgin forest that covered nearly 100,000 square miles centuries ago has been severely depleted, and not replanted to a great extent due to the lengthy duration necessary for these trees to reach maturity.  Only about 5 percent of the virgin forest exists today.  

Wood reclaimed from rivers carries certain advantages over wood salvaged from old buildings.  First, the logs lay whole, untouched and preserved for one hundred years plus under cool waters.  A lack of light and oxygen prevent normal rot and deterioration.  Our wood has not suffered the wear and tear of time.  There are no nail or bolt holes.  In addition, with control of the entire log, we can mill in larger dimensions according to customer specifications.  

It is important to remember that wood is a natural product.  Therefore, no two pieces will look exactly the same.  While the wood you order will be consistent in quality and general appearance, minor variations such as few small knots, color and pattern nuances should be expected.  If requested, we will hand pick the boards to suit your preference, based on availability.

 

Why Heart Pine?

In virgin forests, an abundance of trees unrivaled by any of today's forests grew slowly over centuries.  The thick forest conditions encouraged the wood to grow more dense and more resinous with the passing of each year.  Heart Pine is renowned for its strength and durability, setting it aside from all other types of wood.  

Our Heart Pine is cut from branded, old growth logs recovered from the rivers of Northwest Florida. There is moderate color variation within species and grades. The grain is very dense with high figuring. Flat sawn has a more leafy appearance, vertical grain is linear or pinstriped. Curly or Rosemary Pine has a whorled appearance, with intense figuring and is very rare.  This wood is offered in limited availability.  It is best for trim or accent pieces.  Heart Pine has a natural resistance to insects due to its density and high resin content. It's workability characteristics (machining/finishing) are excellent. While only 5% softer than red oak, Southern Longleaf Pine is nearly 30% more stable dimensionally.  We offer wide planks and solid exposed beams in tight-grained old growth heart pine. 

The following characteristics are what make Heart Pine so unique and valuable.  These are the major traits of this substantial wood:                                                                     

 

Examples of Vertical Grain Heart Pine:

                  

           

 

Examples of Flat-Sawn Heart Pine:

                     

                             

 

Examples of Rosemary/Curly Pine:

            

 

 

A History of Teredo Pine:

This unique patterned wood, suitable for paneling and accent, is a natural product designed by the teredo worm.  This organism, known also as shipworm, is actually not a worm, but a destructive clam, a member of the bivalve species.  The teredo is called a worm because of its elongated body and wormlike appearance.  The full grown teredo may range from several inches to about 3 feet in length.  It has two shells, on the front of the body, ridged and jagged, that it uses to bore into wood.

These creatures penetrate wood as larvae, creating long cylindrical holes as they grow.  They reproduce rapidly and crowd together in bordering burrows.  Teredos can be found in oceans worldwide, but especially thrive in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.  The animals were a major problem in the days of wooden ships, causing much destruction and leading to many a sunken vessel.  The ships were sheathed with copper to prevent damage.  The shipworm still presents a problem to pilings and other marina woodwork that is submerged.

Please call for more information and pricing on the teredo pine.

 

 

 

 

Cypress: The Wood Eternal

The nickname of the durable Cypress illustrates the everlasting quality of this rare wood.  These giant trees towered over the ancient swamps and wetlands of the southern U.S.  A very slow growing species, it can take over 50 years to produce a single inch of growth.  Old growth Cypress is very durable and well suited for interior trim and molding as well as many exterior applications.  We offer full width and full length lumber from old growth, river retrieved, deadhead logs.  Characteristics that this wood features make it ideal for a myriad of applications:

 

 

 

 

  

"Cypress forest in Dixie County, late 1920's.  The trees are ringed or deadened six to twelve months before cutting." (Florida Archives)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examples of Cypress:

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For inspired custom furniture design and finishing, visit www.pinson.net/dannecker~pinzon