Replies

1. 
   FNbenthayer | Jun 22, 2008 07:48pm | #1

   Try Conklin's, they may have something you can have re-sawn to suit your needs.

    

    

    

    

   The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
   - Fyodor Dostoyevski

1. 
   andy_engel | Jun 23, 2008 05:10pm | #13

   Thanks. I've got an email in to them.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

2. 
   DavidxDoud | Jun 22, 2008 07:50pm | #2

   "furniture-grade"

   tell me more - clear? KD? boxed heart (means checks)?

   pallet factories that use cants start with hunks about that size - they will contain the pith - assuming that one side will be hidden, you can kerf to the heart and the other three sides will behave, generally -

   I could stir you up a green hunk, without the pith (means it will dry out of square)

   KD = $$$

   "there's enough for everyone"
3. 
   Dave45 | Jun 22, 2008 08:07pm | #3

   I'm dying from curiosity, but I sense that you would really rather not get into the reasons for needing this, so I won't go there. - lol

   This sounds like something you need to talk to a good lumber yard about.  I'm not sure what you mean by "furniture grade", but I'm assuming that you want something very stable with no splits, cracks, or checks.

   And you thought that gasoline was expensive?? - lol

4. 
   coonass | Jun 22, 2008 08:48pm | #4

   Andy,

   Could you use 4 1x6 mitered oak boards to fake it? Ply or LVL beam inside if you need the strength,

   Really like Deck Builder.

   http://www.deckmagazine.com/filereader/1.html

   KK

5. 
   VaTom | Jun 22, 2008 08:56pm | #5

   14-15% do?  Not KD.  Don't remember whether I've white or red or both.  Delivery isn't offered.  I generally cut 6x12, wouldn't consider 6x6 a "beam".

   PAHS works.  Bury it.

6. 
   frenchy | Jun 22, 2008 11:50pm | #6

   Andy,

      Any chance you can swing by my place?  I've got plenty!  I went thru and culled all those boring straight grained timbers out and went with wood with character and interest..

1. 
   andy_engel | Jun 23, 2008 04:52pm | #9

   Where are you again? It might be worth the drive.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

1. 
   frenchy | Jun 23, 2008 05:13pm | #14

   Andy,

      I doubt it, I'm in Minnesota

7. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Jun 23, 2008 12:35am | #7

   Hi Andy - You might try calling Alex at the New Jersey Barn Company - http://www.njbarnco.com/  They've got a pretty extensive boneyard.

   Jeff

1. 
   andy_engel | Jun 23, 2008 04:48pm | #8

   Thanks for the replies.

   If I could do a mitered box, I would. That doesn't fit the design, though. I've attached a sketch of the thing, and you'll see that building it in a way that makes sense makes no sense.

   I'd considered shaping a 6x12, but figured that would be more expensive, wasteful, and prone to self destruction as I cut it out. So, I'm thinking buying the 6x6, cutting off the the ends, gluing them to the top of the main beam, then shaping the ends. Oh, yeah, did I mention the front needs to be quartersawn? That's another argument for the 6x6.

   By furniture grade, I mean with one knot free, QS face, with minimal checking. I'm afraid that 15% MC won't cut it. Sapwood on the back would be acceptable. I'd prefer air dried to kiln dried, just because the internal stresses that kiln drying creates makes for less predictable lumber. An old barn beam might work. I've checked my local sources and come up dry. Any white oak that comes in to the local suppliers gets turned into flooring before the ink is dry on the delivery receipt.

    Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

2. 
   andy_engel | Jun 23, 2008 04:52pm | #10

   Thanks, Jeff. I'm almost certain that anyplace in Princeton is going to be too pricey for my blood!Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Jun 23, 2008 04:55pm | #11

   No, I don't think so.  NJBC isn't in Princeton and I think that it would definitely be worth a call to Alex or Elric.

   Jeff

1. 
   andy_engel | Jun 23, 2008 05:10pm | #12

   I'll give it a whirl. I'm going to be in NJ later this week anyway.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Jun 23, 2008 05:23pm | #15

   Well if they think they might have something and you get down this way, give me a call - I'll go out there with you.

   Jeff

8. 
   maverick | Jun 23, 2008 07:36pm | #16

   try Conway hardwoods in Gaylordsville Ct past Brookfield (up route 7)

   I get a lot of white oak from them. I'm not sure how they order it in, maybe they could special order for you 

    

1. 
   andy_engel | Jun 23, 2008 08:05pm | #17

   I deal with Conways, too. What ever happened to Charlie? No one there seemed to know when I asked.

   I hadn't thought of them for beams, though. Condon's might be worth a call, too.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

1. 
   maverick | Jun 23, 2008 08:09pm | #18

   was charlie the guy did the milling in the store? that guy had a car accident that left him a little screwed up. he came back for a while then gave it up completely

2. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Jun 24, 2008 10:28pm | #20

   These guys seem to be in CT - http://www.oldwoodworkshop.com/fireplace_mantel_beams.htm

   Jeff

1. 
   andy_engel | Jun 25, 2008 01:32am | #21

   Thanks.Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

9. 
   jesse | Jun 23, 2008 10:24pm | #19

   Any timberframe shop will have one in the boneyard, or at least something that can be resawn. There must be at least one nearby.