"Blue" Pine

[Janette]

Hi all,

Recently, I've had a lot of e-mails from people looking for a source for "blue" pine. I had been getting it locally and luckily still have a few boards of my own-but I'm getting concerned! My supply is diminishing and there are a lot of people out there trying to hunt it down.

The place I was getting it from orders #3 grade pine, or contractor grade. Sometimes it comes in with the blue streaking, sometimes it doesn't. On a lucky day, I can go in and pick through the pine pile and find a few 8" to 12" wide - 8 foot boards. Somedays there is none, other days the entire stack is (this hasn't happened in quite a while).

I would suggest to people to first go to their local lumber yard / mill first and ask them if they can order it in. Many places don't carry everything, but can easily order what you need.

A second option is to check out the big box stores and look in their "cheap" piles- a lot of time you can find a few pieces mixed in-with varying degrees of streaking. It is considered lower grade so keep that in mind while you hunt for it.

Mills in the west that harvest pine would no doubt have some or be able to get it easily as many of the pine trees in the west have been infested by the beetle that kills the tree- and stains the wood this color. True solid gray is the most elusive. You also need to check for the bug holes as some boards have a lot, and if you're lucky some have none.

I'm asking all of you - if you have found it - I wanted to start this thread for people to post places in their area where they have been able to find it. At one time, I was able to get a lot and did ship boards to people. If I can get my hands on a bunch, I'll do it again (although storage has become a problem for me!)

Here are a few places that I and others have found that do have it. Please add to the list if you know of somewhere. Keep in mind that I haven't used these sources so I can't recommend them one way or another.

Mister Jones Warehouse in Redmond, Or 541-923-2662. kiln dried

Blue Pine Designs 541-389-2350 888-577-0002 fax 541-389-5253
(he cuts his own and mills it- air dried)

Morgan Timber Products, 2532 W. County Road 54G, Fort Collins, CO, 80524. Phone numbers are (970) 484-4065 or (970) 224-3877

[doodle1]

No shortage of "blue" pine in my area. All of the pine trees here are standing dead from the pine beetle and people are practically giving it away for fire wood.

[Janette]

Saw a listing for blue pine on ebay. I've dealt with this seller so know they're good to work with. If anyone's interested...

http://cgi.ebay.com/WOW-Blue-Spalted...QQcmdZViewItem

[JohnB]

G'day Janette,
I can understand using Blue Pine for intarsia etc, but it seems a whole industry has started up calling it Denim Pine. We sometimes get a bit of pine with blue staining in Oz, but I cut it out and chuck it. Guess I'm just old fashioned, but I can't imagine ever making furniture with it.

[Janette]

there's companies here in Oregon that make JUST blue pine furniture. They use it for cupboards, flooring..you name it. Nothing wrong with it vs regular pine other than the coloring. Strength is the same. Wouldn't be my taste for furniture but man it's great for intarsia!