Years ago when I built my carpenter’s tool chest, I used cypress for its base. Cypress was a good choice since the tool chest sometimes rested on damp surfaces. Yet, in addition to its resistance to moisture and rot, cypress has long been a favorite wood species for furniture making because of its unique grain pattern of false annual rings. The false growth rings occur when multiple tree rings are produced in a single year, making it difficult to determine the tree’s exact age. My favorite feature of cypress is not these false rings but a rare condition known as Peck. When the fungi Stereum taxodii attack the heartwood, a peck is the long, narrow burrow or cavity left behind in the wood. Once felled, the fungal attack stops, leaving the beautiful, unique pecky patterns. As I was applying the tool chest’s base, I shied away from the Peck, positioning it out of sight.
Fast forward some twenty-five years. As I was once again rummaging through the old cut-off bin, I found a few pieces of that very same pecky cypress. With not enough to do anything with, I thought I’d try another ratcheting book stand. Here I’m laying out the top rail, trying hard to miss a huge knot!
Carving did not produce the disastrous results I had anticipated. I just had to go slow and be aware of what lies beneath. I never knew when a peck was going to appear.
Things went well until using the file box on the 3/4″ square crosspieces. It was at this point I decided to accentuate the Peck, making it a focal point. That was harder than one can imagine, but I prevailed nonetheless!
The real challenge came as I resawed a piece for the shelf. I could feel the voids in the wood as I gently sawed through. The results, however, were spectacular!
So, there you have it, one ratcheting book stand in pecky cypress!
16″ wide by 15-1/2″ tall by 14″ deep at its maximum (12″ minimum). After letting it get used to being a book stand for a day or two I gave it an oil finish.
Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor
Nice save on the Pecky wood Ron and fine carving. Looks like it can also be used it as a tablet or iPad stand. But I guess there were not iPads or tablets in the 17 century. 😃 Steven: But they had Pepsi in Medieval Times?
Nice save on the Pecky wood Ron and fine carving. Looks like it can also be used it as a tablet or iPad stand. But I guess there were not iPads or tablets in the 17 century. 😃 Steven: But they had Pepsi in Medieval Times?
