I was a framer for a long time. If I needed good straight stuff I’d get it. If I could use older dried out stuff for things that didn’t show or didn’t matter I’d use it. Some tree gave its all so we should use wisely
No word of a lie, this happened two weeks ago: At the big orange box, bought a 2x4x10 and a 2x6x10. Toss on the cart, roll up to the check-out: "Hello Sir" says the fella behind the till I haven't seen before. Looking at my sticks, he says: "Oh.....you might want to pick out some other wood, Sir. These are quite crooked". I says, without much thought and in my off-the -cuff, sarcastic humor way: "Ah!.....You must be new here. Those are Canadian straight. You must be thinking of American straight. They get all the mathematically straight wood. We get hockey sticks and fried bacon strips here" ....... He looks a bit confused, but proceeds to scan and ring it up. "That's as straight as they are?" "Yep, those are the finest! Took me 15 mins to dig them out. And they're only that straight because they're soaking wet, right outta the kiln. I'll have to clamp them for a month and hope the ends don't curl up and touch....." Him looking at me in disbelief, but maintaining a friendly smile. "Very good, Sir" As I'm tapping my card, it occurs to me, this gentleman's complexion AND heavy accent means his is likely "new here" as in the country. Not as in "new here" as in working at the store, as I had intended in my opening monologue........ oh schit. So I lean in: "Sorry, when I said "new here" I was referring to you working here, at the store, not new to Canada." He maintains our shared lean-in and says, "I assumed you meant new to the store. But yes, indeed, I have not been in Canada that long either...." Both leaning back up right, he extended his hand and we shook. We both smirked and started chucking. "Good luck with the clamping, Sir"
If I’ve learned anything from woodworking there is almost no straight boards at any lumber yard
Indeed!
I was a framer for a long time. If I needed good straight stuff I’d get it. If I could use older dried out stuff for things that didn’t show or didn’t matter I’d use it. Some tree gave its all so we should use wisely
No word of a lie, this happened two weeks ago: At the big orange box, bought a 2x4x10 and a 2x6x10. Toss on the cart, roll up to the check-out:
"Hello Sir" says the fella behind the till I haven't seen before.
Looking at my sticks, he says:
"Oh.....you might want to pick out some other wood, Sir. These are quite crooked".
I says, without much thought and in my off-the -cuff, sarcastic humor way:
"Ah!.....You must be new here. Those are Canadian straight. You must be thinking of American straight. They get all the mathematically straight wood. We get hockey sticks and fried bacon strips here" .......
He looks a bit confused, but proceeds to scan and ring it up. "That's as straight as they are?"
"Yep, those are the finest! Took me 15 mins to dig them out. And they're only that straight because they're soaking wet, right outta the kiln. I'll have to clamp them for a month and hope the ends don't curl up and touch....."
Him looking at me in disbelief, but maintaining a friendly smile.
"Very good, Sir"
As I'm tapping my card, it occurs to me, this gentleman's complexion AND heavy accent means his is likely "new here" as in the country. Not as in "new here" as in working at the store, as I had intended in my opening monologue........ oh schit.
So I lean in:
"Sorry, when I said "new here" I was referring to you working here, at the store, not new to Canada."
He maintains our shared lean-in and says, "I assumed you meant new to the store. But yes, indeed, I have not been in Canada that long either...."
Both leaning back up right, he extended his hand and we shook. We both smirked and started chucking.
"Good luck with the clamping, Sir"