Out of the woods, works!

I’m just reading a novel about a hundred year old person climbing out a window to escape into a more exciting life.

Reminded me of our bus floor. The Rimu for our floor boards came out of the woods at least about 100 years ago, and was then used as timber in the roof of the St Helen’s Homestead, which was built in 1917. We were so lucky that the current owners, who are restoring the place, have not just thrown out all that timber, and let us go through their wood pile.

Denailed and brandspankingly remachined, the Rimu is now destined to embark on a tour around the whole country – I can only imagine what it must feel like, covering so much ground after a lifetime of slumber.

All the way back in November we had went through the wood pile like bark beetles through bast fibres (yeah?) and salvaged about 150 linear meters. Taking out what felt like 5000 nails, but probably just was 500, and cutting out bad bits took the good part of two days. But it was so exciting, and fortunately family friend and carpenter Chris suggested getting them remachined at some outfit in Belfast (Christchurch) rather then planing and thicknessing them ourselves. And that was totally worth the money, which worked out to be about $1.70 per meter. It felt like Christmas, Easter and Nikolaus day had all rolled into one when I went to pick it up, all smooth, taken down to 15mm, and with tongue and groove.

Before and after

We couldn’t have been much more stokeder about how it all turned out. And, it was so much fun to work with!