Old Lumber Reborn

All true greenophiles know, everything old is new again! This can apply to fashion, but for now we're talking about wood. Reclaiming, refinishing, and reusing discarded wood for new buildings, interiors, and commodities is a great way to save materials and take the strain off overloaded landfills. This Pulse video travels to North Carolina to visit the Whole Log Lumber mill, which purchases wood from demolition sites, fires, and trash heaps in order to revive and resell it. This place is the fountain of youth for worn out lumber, and the high quality of the semiprecious hardwoods that are routinely uncovered takes business away from rainforest-clearing loggers. It's enough to have sticklers for fine and rare wood muttering about the 'good old days.' But when we follow the wood back to Brooklyn, we find a restaurant under construction, using reclaimed wood from the Whole Log mill to finish a beautiful dining room. Easy, old timer. They're still making 'em like they used to.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• riverwired
• green
• eco

[ripsaw99]

I have a small shop. ( Retirement Type ) I use a lot of old wood , I also save the scrap pieces to make Key chains, Small Jewerly Boxes. I Also use new wood if the Custom Piece Is what the customer wants. I'm in the process right now resawing old ceder 4x6's and making porch railings, for a new home. Love Your story, Keep up the good Work

[clnmyjts]

what a great way of recycling old wood & old buildings.. Reborn Lumber! thus..and from what I understand about this type of recycling business the old lumber brings a much much higher board foot sale price than if someone was to go out & buy new lumber for their building remodel project... these type of buyer are willing to pay extra for the historical rich rustic look the old wood provides for their home or business ( definitely a win win situation for the enviornment )

[talkradiohead1]

I work at a small business that manufactures reclaimed wood just like the mill in this video. I love the fact that this wood is being reused and can be transformed from something ugly that most people would throw away, into a beautiful finished product fit for the finest home. It's good stewardship.  My job is as close to being a "green job" as it gets, but I can tell ya, Obama sure didn't create it! We depend on the rich and good 'ol fashioned capitalism for our livelihood!

[Postie218]

Almost all of my woodworking is done with reclaimed wood from cabinet shops, old pallets, and construction/demolition sites. I made bead board for my dining room wall, two tables, a butcher block table and a set of four Adirondack chairs this last summer and the wood only cost me the gas and time to get it. You do have to prep a bit more, but it's worth it, and the scraps go into my wood stove during the winter.

[dariod2007]

you guys are awesome, recycling archeology!

[CKS5000]

thats awesome, you guy's keep up the good work

[PghGingerKid]

So what your saying is, instead of taking the wood just outside Brooklyn (or possibly even in Brooklyn) they shipped the wood down to North Carolina to be de-nailed by what seems to be illegal aliens, an then shipped back to Brooklyn. And you wonder why both Hippies and Red Necks are mad at you.... of course this was going to get political.

[1ChevyGuy375]

Very cool. I really like the look of old wood and the story behind It. Also salvaging It on top of that.

[toadabc]

@MrRodmo1 I re-read my post and admit it was politically charged. And if you call hating big nanny state goverment partisan, that is your call. But you missed my point. I AM the person who has been saving and using reclaimed lumber for 40 years! I love the beauty and history of the lumber, especially our redwood. I have saved thousands of board feet. But I am telling you why it is on longer possible to do here on the left coast.

[MrRodmo1]

@toadabc I didn't realize this was a political argument. I would have guessed most people watch this out of an interest in reclaimed lumber and woodworking. This partisan BS is getting a little old don't you think? Now woodworking isn't even safe from ideologues...thanks