Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 5:10 AM #1

Dan Donaldson
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Thursday Trivia

The wood from a red sweet gum tree was used a lot in early New York furniture as a substitute for mahogany. What did they call it?

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 12:22 PM #2

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla
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UNDOCUMENTED MAHOGANEY???????

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 1:10 PM #3

Basil
Guest

LOL.......U smart a$$..........good'un.

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 1:56 PM #4

Gary Smyth
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I have two names

only because I have several boards tagged with both names written on it. One name would not appeal to many New Yorkers, and refers to the bark but would work in Florida or Louisiana. The other has a smooth slightly dulled finish as part of the name and a species of wood that matures reddish with age as the second part.

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 4:29 PM #5

Ken Oakley-Sunny St. Cloud, Fla.
Guest

Georgia also has Gators

as well as Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 4:43 PM #6

Stuart Hough
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Re: Thursday Trivia

Not knowing that my ignorance gets in the way...I'll guess...red alder?

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Novice woodworker, tool-collecting nut, Trying to learn as I go using magazines, books, TV and the web as references. Live in Florence, SC. 63 years old/young (take yer pick). Will talk about nearly anything brought up, might know a little, or a lot...I just don't know! Got started on the path to woodworking several years ago when my wife Irene and I were in a high-end, really expensive "Exotic Furniture" store in Greer, SC. After watching me put my face down on the tabletops to gawk at how the grain leaped out at me, she said those fateful words..." Why don't you quit screwing around talking about this stuff and build me some things?" All I could do was to stop...slowly turn my head in her direction...and say........"Don't toy with me!!! If that's what you really want...be prepared....it's not cheap!" She said that if it got me home from work more often, that it would be worth it. My only regret now is that there is too little money for too much wood! I have told the kids (son Russ, 43 and daughter Courtney,40) that the only thing I want for any holiday or birthday is interesting wood, and in return, for their birthdays, they'll get it back, albeit in a different and hopefully more pleasing form. I am slowly learning (I guess you could call it being self-taught) from magazines and books and having an absolute blast doing it! One day I hope to design something that will stop people in their tracks, but if I only get a thank you kiss from my wife...that'll be just fine!

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 4:58 PM #7

Gary Smyth
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I didn't mean to ignore

those other places Ken. Truth is, I didn't know. The closest I ever get lately is a terrific soup/stew and that's in Virginia.

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 8:05 PM #8

Dan Donaldson
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Registered: 9/17/01

Hint

It is a single 7 letter word.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 8:06 PM #9

Dale Lenz
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Website

Re: Thursday Trivia

On some of the cheaper rifles, the stock was sweetgum and stain a walnut color, called satin walnut....so maybe satin mahogany? Also, red gum is lumber that comes from the heartwood of the sweetgum tree. I'm not familar with a native American tree commonly called a red sweetgum tree. Thanks for the question. Dale

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/8/07, 10:43 PM #10

Dan Donaldson
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5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

another hint

Starts with a "B"

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/9/07, 5:37 AM #11

Dan Donaldson
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Registered: 9/17/01

Thursday answer

The answer that I was looking for is:

BILSTED: The name given to the wood of the red sweet-gum tree, used in cabinetmaking, sometimes as a substitute for mahogany. It was much used in early New York furniture.

Thanks for playing.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/9/07, 2:25 PM #12

Steven Antonucci
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Registered: 1/21/10

I googled it, but my post was under Monday?

Not sure what I was thinking...

S

Re: Thursday Trivia

11/9/07, 5:26 PM #13

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

;-)

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Thursday Trivia

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