If you have been following along for very long then you have heard me make mention of my magic attic. When we moved into this house, just over two years ago, I discovered that the previous owner had left behind some wood in the attic. Well, “some” is an understatement. Almost half of the attic is covered in boxes of and slabs of wood.
Most of the slabs are clear pine. I have yet to determine if it is eastern white or sugar pine though. The slabs are over 2″ thick and range in width and length, but are at least 10″ wide and three feet long. Along with the pine I have found slabs of maple and even a few of walnut. There is also some bits of mahogany, possibly spapele, up there. I’m not sure I have the knowledge to tell the difference.
So, where did all of this wood come from? My best guess thus far is as follows. The gentleman that lived here, who passed away over twelve years ago, retired from a steel mill. I’m wondering if all of the wood was scraps that he hauled home from the pattern shop. Just a guess, but I’m starting to get really curious.
Anyway, I’ve been trying to get the shop a little more organized before jumping into my next project. To that end I thought it would be a good idea to separate the wood I have into species and take stock of what I actually have to work with. The scattered all over the garage system doesn’t seem to be working all that well. My thinking was to start with the material that I though I had the least amount of. Which I assumed would be mahogany. So up into the magic attic I went with a five gallon bucket.
I should point out that I have raided the mahogany stash a few time already. I made several cam clamps with it.
Framed my incense burner stand with it.
Used some in my book stands.
(stretchers are mahogany, posts are walnut..also from the attic)
Most recently I used some in the bodies of my clamp-on pincushions.
So I really didn’t expect to haul all that much more mahogany down from the attic. Several trips later I ended up with this pile.
Yes, it is mostly just bits and pieces, but they are fairly thick and there are a lot of project possibilities in this crazy big pile!
Greg Merritt
Very cool. I would love discover an attic full of seasoned wood! It’s nice to see your work.
Prolific by my standards…
CW
I feel really lucky to have all of this wood in the attic. It is a lot of fun to see what I can make from it.
Attic discoveries no matter how large or small include magic that makes us understand a different time. You have quite the mother load. Those pin cushions are awesome! Are you selling them?
Very true. We have an oddly sentimental attachment to the things that I make from the wood from the attic.
I would stop at a custom cabinet shop near work and help myself to their scraps and rejects. I didn’t have a wood shop where I worked. Your benefactor could be doing similar.
It could be something along those lines as well. I hope to track down the full story sometime in the future.
Given the odd shapes, pattern maker offcuts makes sense. That’s several hundred dollars of mahogany. Magic attic indeed.
Given the mix of woods that are up in the attic and knowing where he worked, that is my best guess. No matter the how, I’m greatful to have it.
Inspirational bit and pieces… we call it!
Although ‘Mrs Manager’ all around the world could call it ‘firewood’ if in a good mood!
😀 😀
For some reason management is not nearly as excited about the wood in the attic as I am. She needs to get her priorities straightened out. 😉
“Wall of mahogany”: I envision the awesomest wall of 100 mahogany cam clamps in various lengths and every saw, chisel and screwdriver lined up neatly with their new mahogany handles 😉 Thanks for sharing.
Chris from Florida
Not sure I’ll go to that extreme, but there are a lot of project possiblities. I predict the bulk of this will end up on the lathe at some point.
Nice find and collection, lots of future small projects to do
Once I hauled it all down, there was a lot more than I had first thought. It will be fun coming up with projects to use it on.
Maybe you could built yourself a storage unit for them, something a little more organised than my planter box. But it does save a lot of shop space.