PODCAST · leisure
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update
by Shannon Rogers
An 8/4, Kiln dried podcast all about lumber and your questions about it. Let's dispel some myths and broaden an understanding of this ancient industry and help us all become a little more wood savvy...woodier??
Episodes
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179 - Which Stake to Make
Halloween is upon us and let's look at the ancient art of vampire hunting. We all know you drive a wooden stake through the heart of a vampire but which wood is best? In this episode I give you a top 10 list of the ultimate vampire hunting specification.
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178 Sassafras
The Sassafras was the first North American export. Or rather its roots and bark were as the miracle cure that Europe clamored for. The lumber excitement came much later and was the default for fence posts for farmers until the pressure treated stuff put it out of business. Today Sassafras is…
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177 - Sticker Stain
Sticker stain is more about the drying technique than the material used for the stickers themselves. Certainly the stickers play a role but the key is getting the lumber below the saturation point quickly to stop oxidization and enzymatic reactions. The stain can ruin beautiful lumber and go so...
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176 Limba
Limba is sold both as Black Limba and White Limba. It is the same species. Limba is actually more like White Limba and the Black streaks that make Black Limba are more of a form of spalting and staining. Its a species that you have probably seen already but didn't know it. From famous guitars by...
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175 - Reclaimed Wood QC
So you want to use reclaimed wood. But where did it actually come from and what kind of nasty might it have been exposed to along the way? In this episode I talk about where reclaimed wood comes from and what potential hazards might show up and how to test for them. Basically a green light…
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174 - Accoya
Accoya is a chemically modified wood to make it water and rot resistant and extremely stable. Not to be confused with chemical treatment like pressure treated pine, the chemical modification or acetylation process is non toxic and permanent. Accoya warrantees their products for above and in…
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173 - White Pine
The White Pine was the prominent tree across colonial America and it was thought to be an endless supply. Over 600 billion board feet of White Pine was logged after the Revolutionary War until the mid 1800s. When New England went dry, we turned west to the great lakes states and removed hundreds…
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172 - 2x4 Origin Story
The 2x4. Its the basic piece of modern stick frame construction. But it is not actually 2" by 4". Many of us know this, but do we know why the size has changed but the name stayed the same. Moreover how did anyone even start with those dimensions. This single piece of lumber is a representation…
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171 Western Redcedar
Its not actually a Cedar but who cares. Western Redcedar is an amazing exterior wood used in everything form boats to guitars, decks, shingles, siding and pergolas. Its known as the tree of life among the native peoples of the PNW. This tree produces some amazingly clear vertical grain boards and...
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170 - Spalting
Spalting is essential fungal rot in wood. But it is pretty and therefore people seek it out and even go so far as to "grow" their own. In this episode I discuss the 3 types of spalting found in wood and even discuss the fungi responsible for it.
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169 - Pacific Madrone
In this episode I feature Pacific Madrone. An interesting pinkish-orange hardwood with the same hardnesss of Hard Maple but a lot more character. I also talk about drying Holly and the gunk build up from Olive and many oily woods.
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LU168 DesignStyleWoods
Decorative arts trends are often tied to a particular species of wood. In this episode I discuss how and why certain species become intertwined in a design style. I also answer a question about the dramatic price differences between similar plywood products.
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167 Black Locust
Today I feature Black Locust and talk about how it was/is used for tree nails, how it resists rot for a hundred years in ground contact and how it invades and colonizes the soil around it for total world domination. Its a tough and imperialistic tree, what is not to love?
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166 Irish Woods
With St Patricks Day upon us I wanted to look at the traditional Irish woods and what they are used for an how they are sourced. This is not a country we think of when it comes to lumber but there is a long history or traditional crafts that is still alive today using locally grown and harvested...
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165 Zelkova
Zelkova lumber is starting to become more available as the 1st and 2nd generation of urban planting in the wake of the Dutch Elm blight is maturing and urban sawyers are finding more Zelkova in their inventories. This tree has many of the same properties of Elm and a long, revered history across...
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164 History of Drying Lumber
We have been drying lumber for thousands of years and in this episode I look into how it was done and how it evolved into the kilns we use today. Plus a look forward and innovations in drying tech. Most importantly though are the observations that drove the need to dry rather than any particular...
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163 Red Alder
Red Alder has increased in popularity substantially from its "junk tree" status and now shows up in cabinetry, floors, guitars and even saunas. Listen as I dive deep on the merits of this underrated hardwood. Also in this episode I talk about Walnut grading for color and how the potential of...
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162 - Driftwood
This time I dive into the driftwood trade. This is a nearly 3 billion dollar global industry that I never knew was even a thing. Now I see driftwood everywhere. Plus I talk about log pricing, Oak staining, and freeze dried lumber.
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LU161 Bubinga Santa
In this episode I feature Bubinga and talk through its trade and CITES regulation. I then move into a conversation about how Santa might logistically pull off making toys for the entire world and what his lumber orders might look like.
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160 - Peruvian Walnut
In this episode I feature Peruvian Walnut and talk about how it has become a flooring species. Specifically how its drying difficulty drove it to be a flooring product. Additionally I talk about juvenile wood, Jindai wood, and the Hickory/Pecan confusion. Make sure you check out TDC's video about...
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159 Colonial Lumber
Today we look at the birth of the timber trade in America. From when the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower up until the Revolutionary War. Timber was one of those contributing factors that led to war. We all talk about throwing tea into the harbor, but what about the Pine Tree riots and the…
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LU158 Ponderosa
Today I feature the mighty Ponderosa Pine. I was marveling at these trees on a recent trip out west and knew I had to feature the species. A mainstay of the construction lumber industry often labelled as PP/LP on lumber racks. But also a species with a different life in the form of clear boards…
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157 - Roots of Terror
Happy Halloween! Let's explore some lumber and tree lore from around the world and some spooky tales that may make you think twice before you cut down that tree or plane that board for your next project.
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156 - Catalpa
The featured lumber species today is Catalpa. A very oak like tree but with a really soft workability. High quality, clear lumber that is easy to work and comes in decent widths and lengths. Why doesn't this wood more popular? Also on the show, Tree of Heaven as lumber and the engineered wood...
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155 Composite Lumber
Today I fight my strong wood bias and take time to talk about composite lumber. All the various plastic boards you will find on the market from wood flour and plastic slurry to polyethylene capped boards and fully plastic HDPE or PVC. What you should know about the differences and how you can...
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154 - Buckeye
My featured species this episode is Buckeye. Its a non commercial species but not terribly hard to find and has some unique color and high propensity to form burls. But the real meat of this show is a look at how a forest regenerates after a disturbance like a fire or logging. The successional...
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153 Hard to Source Woods
How do you find unusual and typically non commercial wood species? In this episode I give some tips to help the listener build a network of wood sources.
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152 Monkeypod
Monkeypod is a great timber coming out of Costa Rica that is almost entirely FSC. It is often sold as wider slabs due to the lighter weight and the way it is sawn in the jungle. A great alternative to many of the tropical species out there like Koa and Blackwood or even some of the fancy Rosewoods.
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151 - Plantation vs Natural Forests
Let's define plantations and natural forests and talk about what we can expects from the lumber coming from plantations. Also how plantations can evolve into natural forests. Ultimately why do we need plantations and why do we need natural forests. Also answer some questions about air drying and...
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150 - Hickory
It could be said that Hickory built America. Hickory's properties made the American felling axe possible with its extremely high MOR and MOE values. Today we discuss this great American wood and why you need to add it to your repertoire of woods.
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149 Douglas Fir
Douglas Fir is a species we find everywhere. So much so that we may not even know we are looking at it. It has two distinctly different markets: construction lumber and fine (very fine) lumber for cladding, decking, soffits, and even furniture. The species has had a rebirth of late and is...
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148 - Common Lumber, Common Uses
What are the markets for the common species of lumber you find at your hardwood lumber dealer. I delve into who is buying what and for what. Plus further discussion about logging in national forest land, wood movement and heat, buying veneer, and harvesting Boxwood.
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147 - Parota
This time I featured Parota or Guanacaste. The Costa Rican national tree and known for being avialable in wide slabs of red, ribbony goodness. I also discuss how to know if the wood you are buying will be good for the project you intend to build, and fungus..mmmm fungus.
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146 - They Don't Grow 'Em Like They Use To
Time to revisit the old stud torn from a building that is compared to the new stud fresh from the big box store. But more to the point, let's take a look at how wood is sawn from a log to meet market demands. Not that trees don't grow like they use to but do we actually need them that way too.
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145 - London Plane
This episode's featured species is London Plane or Plantanus hybridia. Nearly identical to American Sycamore it is a fun blonde wood option with a striking quartersawn lace pattern. Soft and light it is easy to work but can be difficult to dry without a lot of twisting and checking. We also open...
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144 Windwood LLC
My guest today is Mark Dubac of Windwood LLC in Portland, OR. Mark has a reputation on social media for humorous posts about the sawmilling world. Often making fun of influencers he has become a bit of an influencer himself by pulling back the curtain and showing what actually goes into sawing…
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143 Red Maple
Red Maple is also sold as Soft Maple and it is one of the species of Maple commonly found in the Soft Maple group like Big Leaf, Silver, and Striped Maple. Box Elder is often lumped into this group and sold as well as Soft Maple. Also in this show: KDAT, Lumpy plywood, and untarped lumber.
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142 - Thermalwood Canada
In this episode I have the CEO of Thermalwood Canada, Bob Lennon on to talk about thermally modified wood. Thermalwood is a member of the Thermowood Association and follows their procedures for modificiation so you can expect consistent quality throughout their kiln runs. But beyond just the...
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141 - Persimmon | North American Ebony
Today I highlight Persimmon wood as a lumber source. The North American Ebony. Then dive into the variety of decking products on the market and their lifespans. Might start to wander into touchy topics when I get to the composite market...maybe. Also I talk about Lignosat and what the future of...
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140 - Camp Small
Today I have Shaun Preston, the Director of Camp Small, Baltimore Urban wood recycling center and saw mill. Baltimore leads the nation in its treatment of their urban canopy as a resource and Camp Small's ability to be an intake yard for EVERY city tree that comes down. Then they repurpose the...
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139 Holly
Holly is a shockingly pure white in color with almost no visible grain. But it stains quickly if not felled, sawn and dried in the same day. Moreover kiln drying it can be tricky to keep it white. It also has a lot of significance and lore surrounding it that makes it a central part of the...
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138 Compressed Wood
This episode is the Venn diagram of me. I talk nerdy sciency stuff related to wood that can be moulded into high bike frames. What a perfect confluence! Chris Mroz of Pure Timber joins me to discuss cold bending hardwoods using compressed wood technology. This stuff will blow your mind and yearn...
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137 White Oak
This time I feature White Oak but spend time talking more generally about the Oaks and the differences between the Red Oak group and the White Oak group.
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136 - Curly Figure
This week I dive into curly figure in wood. Curl encompasses a lot of different types like blister, pommele, beeswing, fiddleback, etc. I look at what causes it and how to grade it.
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135 - Magical Woods
In this special Halloween episode I will talk about magical woods. Woods with folklore and mystery that surround them. A listener who has a Harry Potter obsessed daughter asked me about the properties of wand woods and that is what has inspired this episode.
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134 - TimberHP Wood Fiber Insulation
Today I have guest Dan Edelman from TimberHP a wood fiber insulation company out of Maine. This company has create 3 insulation products: fill, batten, and board using the wood waste from the nearly defunct paper mill industry in Maine. They repurpose a large percentage of the millions of tons of...
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133 Narra Wood
Today I discuss the featured species, Narra. It is a beautiful SE Asian wood mostly known in its burl form where it is called Amboyna Burl. Narra is undoubtedly a tropical wood in the Padauk genus but unlike many tropical woods it is easier to work with due to a lower hardness and a luster that...
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132 - What are Burls?
Today I talk about burls. What are they to the best of our knowledge and how to work them. But I also spend a fair bit of time talking about genuine Mahogany and some statements made lately that 80% of Mahogany is illegally harvested. Buried the lede a bit on that one but its important to...
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131 - Tamo Ash
This week I feature the Tamo Ash, Fraxinus mandshurica. It is a species of Ash primarily sought for the unique "peanut" figure. Like a lot of figured woods it is not totally understood how the figure is formed but proper use of the whole tree must be considered for the health of the species. Also...
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130 - Healthy Forests
What is a healthy forest? Today I have a guest, Nick Smith from Healthy Forests to talk about it. Nick is the executive director and he is the man behind building awareness and policy that can help us manage our forests and reduce the growing threat of wildfires that are decimating our forests...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
An 8/4, Kiln dried podcast all about lumber and your questions about it. Let's dispel some myths and broaden an understanding of this ancient industry and help us all become a little more wood savvy...woodier??
HOSTED BY
Shannon Rogers
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Shannon's Lumber Industry Update have?
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update currently has 178 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Shannon's Lumber Industry Update about?
An 8/4, Kiln dried podcast all about lumber and your questions about it. Let's dispel some myths and broaden an understanding of this ancient industry and help us all become a little more wood savvy...woodier??
How often does Shannon's Lumber Industry Update release new episodes?
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update publishes regularly with 178 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Shannon's Lumber Industry Update?
You can listen to Shannon's Lumber Industry Update on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Shannon's Lumber Industry Update?
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update is created and hosted by Shannon Rogers.
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