:: rawblogXport ::

:: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 ::

New life: salvaging old wood from buildings a growing industry By NICK GEVOCK, Boseman Chronicle
The most important element of any building is a good set of corners, because the timbers themselves can be cut to reshape the building. For example, a fireplace and chimney or windows can lengthen a side, which allows an architect to stretch a building.

And the corners reveal some of the best of Montana's historic craftsmanship. The Scandinavian, German and Dutch immigrants who settled Big Sky country brought their Old World woodworking skills with them.

They found the fir and pine here easy to work with, and chiseled out quality dove tailed corners, Hern said.

'Some of those guys were better carpenters than we'll ever be,' he said. 'You can hardly get a piece of paper through (the corners), and they made them with hand tools.'

Hidden, hungry invader threatens city of Mardi Gras CNN.com
Known as 'super-termites' for their ability to quickly destroy massive amounts of wood, experts think the bugs arrived in New Orleans aboard a military transport ship returning from Asia after World War II. From a mere four colonies in the 1960's, the termites have now expanded to dozens of colonies all over the Southeast -- often traveling inside recycled wood from old railroad ties.

The massive Formosan colonies pose a more formidable threat than other varieties. They are hard to find because their tunnels can stretch more than 300 feet -- over three times longer than the typical termite tunnel -- and they can chew through an entire building with military precision.

posted 5:15 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

-------------------------------------------