Specialty Woods
The pride of Studio 142 is the selection of specialty woods available. These woods are extremely rare–or even unique to my shop. The supply of each wood varies by type, but all are very limited.
Sandyland Cottonwood
Harvested form from the Wisconsin River Valley in “The Sandyland”, this is a bright, lightly-grained wood with a highly-textured, often rough, surface. The light look of this wood fits well with modern decor.
Sandyland Cottonwood was harvested as part of a forestry conservation process, and has been air-dried for over 20 years.
Century Pine
Harvested and milled prior to 1920, this pine has been sitting hidden and air-drying for almost 100 years. This long drying period has given the wood a clear, medium finish. The tight and subtle grain shows little variation, instead presenting a smooth and solid surface with broad and slight variations in coloring.
Century Oak (Red)
Century oak is solid and serious wood. The deep, variegated grain marbles the wood, changing depth and color as it catches the light. The light-weight, but dense structure makes for a smooth surface with minimal defects. It also means that this wood is extremely durable and resistant to damage.
Like the Century Pine, this oak was harvested and milled prior to 1920 and has been air-drying for almost 100 years.
Century Oak (White)
Supplies of this are extremely limited.
Take all the features of the Century Oak and replace the deep red coloring with a bright white wood.
Fresh Lumber
Any structure can, of course, be built from “fresh” lumber–contemporary stock purchased from a local lumber yard. Most common modern woods come from farmed forests, and will have a simpler and cleaner grain. The kiln drying process serves to seal the wood more than air-drying, preventing varnish (polyurethane) from penetrating as deeply. This results in a finish which is more flatter and shallower. This type of finish may be more suitable for modern decor.