Dear Woodworking Friends,
In preparation for our Annual Open House, October 2009, we would like to tell you about a new format we will be having for our woodworking event. This year, our woodworking event will be a combined silent auction in which woodworking pieces are submitted to our event, and each piece is auctioned off to individual bidders through a silent bidding process. The proceeds will be split between you, the woodworker, and The Ronald McDonald House of Albany. Wightman Specialty Woods will not keep any of the proceeds from the auction. The Ronald McDonald House is a wonderful charity that provides comfort and care to children and familes in need during difficult times.
All pieces must be made of wood except for joinery (hinges, etc) or handles. We will accept pieces of furniture, carvings, crafts, and miscellaneous woodworking pieces.
To learn more about this event please contact Naomi at 607.286.9201, naomi@wightmanspecialtywoods.com.
Happy Woodworking!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Winter Project: Radiant heating systems and Hardwood Floors
Radiant floor heating systems are becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States today. Radiant heating systems distribute heat "omni-directionally", or in all directions, offering greater energy efficiency than conventional forced air heating systems in which warm air naturally rises, resulting in warm ceilings but cold floors.Installing a hardwood floor over radiant heat is not much different from laying a typical hardwood floor, as long as you understand radiant heat, how it can impact wood flooring, what precautions to take, and what type of wood flooring to use.
Understanding radiant heat: Radiant floor heating systems consist of tubing installed under the finished floor that is responsible for delivering heat through the floor and into the home.
Impact on wood flooring and precautions to take: One of the most important factors in a successful wood flooring installation over radiant heat is a dry slab and a dry subfloor. This is important in any wood floor installation, but particularly over radiant heat systems, because once the radiant heat is turned on, any excess moisture in either the concrete slab or subfloor will be directly transferred to the wood flooring. Any moisture entering a wood floor in this manner will cause severe problems to the floor (swelling, buckling). To ensure that all moisture is removed prior to the wood flooring installation, the radiant heating system should be turned on and run for an extended period of time (the National Wood Flooring Association recommends 5-6 days) to remove any residual moisture.
Choosing wood flooring: According to the National Wood Flooring Association, wood floors best suited for installation over radiant heat include engineered wood floors, solid woods that naturally have good dimensional stability, and solid wood floors that are no more than 4" in finished width.
Choosing wood flooring: According to the National Wood Flooring Association, wood floors best suited for installation over radiant heat include engineered wood floors, solid woods that naturally have good dimensional stability, and solid wood floors that are no more than 4" in finished width.
Now that you are ready to install your radiant heating, here are a few ways to set up the system:
Direct Nail to Subfloor over Floor Joists:
A popular set-up in which radiant tubes are strapped onto a plywood subfloor laid over the floor joists. Wood flooring is then nailed to the plywood subfloor.
Note that a moisture barrier should always be placed over the subfloor to which the wood flooring is nailed. A good choice is #15 felt paper.
Note that a moisture barrier should always be placed over the subfloor to which the wood flooring is nailed. A good choice is #15 felt paper.
An approach used when you do not have access under the existing subfloor or when the underside of the floor cannot be used. Here the radiant tubes and sleepers are laid on top of the existing subfloor, and a second subfloor is added. Wood flooring is nailed to this second subfloor.
Solid T&G Floor Direct Nail to Sleepers: 
This set-up involves laying sleepers over the subfloor and radiant tubes between the sleepers. A vapor barrier is installed over the sleepers and wood flooring is nailed directly to the sleepers. Some individuals also choose to put a gypsum or concrete mix around the radiant tubing, which provides fire resistance and sound dampening.
Single or Double Layer of Plywood on Sleepers: 
Similar to the approach above, except a layer of plywood (or even 2 layers) is applied over the sleepers. The wood flooring is then nailed to the plywood.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Domestic Hardwoods and Softwoods
Whether you are planning to install a hardwood floor, replace the siding on your home, or begin your first craft project, at Wightman Specialty Woods our goal is to be a resource to help you select the best possible wood materials for the job.
Some of the most popular wood species come from right in our backyards here in the northeastern United States! Below we offer you some general information and best uses for these domestic hardwoods and softwoods.
Whether you are planning to install a hardwood floor, replace the siding on your home, or begin your first craft project, at Wightman Specialty Woods our goal is to be a resource to help you select the best possible wood materials for the job.
Some of the most popular wood species come from right in our backyards here in the northeastern United States! Below we offer you some general information and best uses for these domestic hardwoods and softwoods.
Domestic Hardwoods
Red Oak
With its attractive open grain pattern and light brown/red hue, Red Oak has long been one of the most popular northeastern hardwoods. Known for its hardness and durability, Red Oak stains and finishes well and is a classic choice for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and interior finishes including wainscot, mouldings and paneling.
Hard Maple
Hard Maple is the 'hardest' of the northeastern hardwoods (as measured by the Janka hardness test). With its closed, straight grain pattern, it is slightly more difficult to machine than other northeastern hardwoods. Maple is not very porous and does not accept stains well, however, it finishes quite nicely with polyurethanes. Hard Maple has excellent shock resistance making it the wood of choice for gymnasium floors. Hard Maple is also ideal for furniture, cabinets, and tabletops.
Red Oak
With its attractive open grain pattern and light brown/red hue, Red Oak has long been one of the most popular northeastern hardwoods. Known for its hardness and durability, Red Oak stains and finishes well and is a classic choice for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and interior finishes including wainscot, mouldings and paneling.
Hard Maple
Hard Maple is the 'hardest' of the northeastern hardwoods (as measured by the Janka hardness test). With its closed, straight grain pattern, it is slightly more difficult to machine than other northeastern hardwoods. Maple is not very porous and does not accept stains well, however, it finishes quite nicely with polyurethanes. Hard Maple has excellent shock resistance making it the wood of choice for gymnasium floors. Hard Maple is also ideal for furniture, cabinets, and tabletops.
Cherry (American) 
Not to be confused with Brazilian Cherry, which has a much higher hardness level, American Cherry is one of the softer northeastern hardwood species. Cherry has a rich reddish color that will darken over time and with exposure to sunlight. Cherry "sapwood" (which comes from the exterior portion of the tree) is creamy white in color. Cherry machines easily and finishes beautifully making it ideal for furniture, cabinetry, mouldings, flooring, turning, carving, and musical instruments.
Not to be confused with Brazilian Cherry, which has a much higher hardness level, American Cherry is one of the softer northeastern hardwood species. Cherry has a rich reddish color that will darken over time and with exposure to sunlight. Cherry "sapwood" (which comes from the exterior portion of the tree) is creamy white in color. Cherry machines easily and finishes beautifully making it ideal for furniture, cabinetry, mouldings, flooring, turning, carving, and musical instruments.
Basswood 
Though considered a hardwood, Basswood is quite a light, soft wood. This softness along with its uniform texture and indistinct grain pattern make it the premier wood for carving. Basswood is also ideal for painted mouldings, as it machines well, is easy to work with hand tools, and readily accepts paint.
Though considered a hardwood, Basswood is quite a light, soft wood. This softness along with its uniform texture and indistinct grain pattern make it the premier wood for carving. Basswood is also ideal for painted mouldings, as it machines well, is easy to work with hand tools, and readily accepts paint.
White Ash
With a similar open grain pattern to Red Oak, the coloring of White Ash has more variation, ranging from light white to streaks of grey and light brown. Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and gluing and accepts stains very well. White Ash has a relatively high hardness level, which makes it ideal for furniture, flooring, and the wood specie of choice for baseball bats.
With a similar open grain pattern to Red Oak, the coloring of White Ash has more variation, ranging from light white to streaks of grey and light brown. Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and gluing and accepts stains very well. White Ash has a relatively high hardness level, which makes it ideal for furniture, flooring, and the wood specie of choice for baseball bats.
Domestic Softwoods
Eastern White Pine
A popular softwood in the northeast, Eastern white pine may be used in a wide variety of projects from simple shelving to intricate furniture pieces. Pine is easily workable with power and hand tools, and though it does not stain well (will be blotchy), Pine accepts paints very well. Eastern white pine often contains knots, which are appealing to those hoping to achieve a "rustic" look.
A popular softwood in the northeast, Eastern white pine may be used in a wide variety of projects from simple shelving to intricate furniture pieces. Pine is easily workable with power and hand tools, and though it does not stain well (will be blotchy), Pine accepts paints very well. Eastern white pine often contains knots, which are appealing to those hoping to achieve a "rustic" look.
Cypress
Though this softwood specie is indigenous to the southeastern United States, its weather resistant properties make it a natural fit for outdoor applications here in the northeast. Natural oils within Cypress make it resistant to decay, insect attack and seasonal climate changes. Cypress is easily workable and readily accepts finishes. Though it is an ideal solution for outdoor decks, pergolas and stairways, it can be equally beautiful indoors as flooring, wall and ceiling coverings.
Though this softwood specie is indigenous to the southeastern United States, its weather resistant properties make it a natural fit for outdoor applications here in the northeast. Natural oils within Cypress make it resistant to decay, insect attack and seasonal climate changes. Cypress is easily workable and readily accepts finishes. Though it is an ideal solution for outdoor decks, pergolas and stairways, it can be equally beautiful indoors as flooring, wall and ceiling coverings.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
How is lumber made? Watch this video
Watch this video to see how lumber is made at Wightman Specialty Woods.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Coming Soon!
Visit Wightman Specialty Woods this winter in Albany and the Hudson Valley:
Great Northeast Home Show
February 6-8, 2009
Empire State Plaza, Albanyhttp://www.greatnortheasthomeshow.com/
BAHV - Trade Show
February 25, 2009
Anthonys Pier 9, New Windsor http://www.hvbuilder.com/
Visit Wightman Specialty Woods this winter in Albany and the Hudson Valley:
Great Northeast Home Show
February 6-8, 2009
Empire State Plaza, Albanyhttp://www.greatnortheasthomeshow.com/
BAHV - Trade Show
February 25, 2009
Anthonys Pier 9, New Windsor http://www.hvbuilder.com/
Fall Open House
Thank you to those who came out for our Open House last month!
Click here to view the winners of our woodworking competition.
Click here to view the winners of our woodworking competition.
Changing Seasons
It's that time of year again in the northeast. The leaves have fallen, the temperature has dropped, and the air has become dry. This time of year, many of us are thinking about "winterizing" our homes.
One thing to consider during this process is how to best control your indoor air moisture levels throughout the winter months. When air becomes too dry a variety of problems start to occur: our skin feels itchy, our eyes become irritated, and static electricity occurs. Dry air also affects wood by causing it to shrink which can result in cracks, squeaks or gaps in floors, cabinets and doors.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends indoor relative humidity levels at 30-50%. In winter months, it is common for our homes to become dry, in large part due to air leaks. When cold air from outdoors enters a home it is heated to the indoor temperature. Because cold air is not able to hold nearly the amount of moisture that warm air is, when these two mix, relative humidity decreases and the home becomes dry.
There are ways to mitigate this problem and maintain recommended relative humidity levels. It is important to seal and eliminate air leaks to reduce the amount of outdoor air coming into your home. Caulking and sealing around windows, doors, and any other seams, cracks and openings to the outside will make your home more air tight. This will help maintain your air moisture levels, reduce your heating requirements, and ultimately make your home more energy efficient. For more tips on sealing air leaks and to find out where air may be escaping from your home visit the U.S. Department of Energy.
Of course our homes will never be air tight - at the very least, we have to enter and exit our living space. Humidifiers will increase and maintain recommended air moisture levels and protect us from the adverse effects of low relative humidity. There are numerous humidification systems on the market from small, inexpensive humidifiers that can be moved from room to room, to whole house humidification systems that are built into heating systems.
We hope these tips will help you to enjoy a safe and healthy winter!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Our Commitment to Quality and Sustainability
The last time you purchased wood materials, did you know where the raw wood was sourced, or how your materials were manufactured?
At Wightman Specialty Woods we are committed to delivering our customers the highest quality wood materials, while leaving the smallest carbon footprint on our environment.
To reduce the harmful effects of transporting non-native species into our area, we source nearly all of our raw wood materials from our local forests of central New York State. Once raw materials arrive, they remain at our facility throughout the entire milling process.
In our day-to-day operations, we adhere to strict principles of conservation and preservation of resources. From our sawing, to drying to milling facilities, we use state-of-the-art equipment which allows us to generate the maximum amount of useable materials, while leaving little of our wood fibers to waste.
At Wightman Specialty Woods we also reuse or repurpose all materials that would have been waste. Our sawdust is primarily used as fuel for our boilers which heat our drying kilns; remaining sawdust is sold to local farmers. Bark and wood chip materials are sold to landscapers and regional manufacturers of fiberboard, wood pellets and other products.
Visit our website today to learn more about Wightman Specialty Woods' environmental commitment and get ideas for how to use our responsibly manufactured materials in your next project.
At Wightman Specialty Woods we are committed to delivering our customers the highest quality wood materials, while leaving the smallest carbon footprint on our environment.
To reduce the harmful effects of transporting non-native species into our area, we source nearly all of our raw wood materials from our local forests of central New York State. Once raw materials arrive, they remain at our facility throughout the entire milling process.
In our day-to-day operations, we adhere to strict principles of conservation and preservation of resources. From our sawing, to drying to milling facilities, we use state-of-the-art equipment which allows us to generate the maximum amount of useable materials, while leaving little of our wood fibers to waste.
At Wightman Specialty Woods we also reuse or repurpose all materials that would have been waste. Our sawdust is primarily used as fuel for our boilers which heat our drying kilns; remaining sawdust is sold to local farmers. Bark and wood chip materials are sold to landscapers and regional manufacturers of fiberboard, wood pellets and other products.
Visit our website today to learn more about Wightman Specialty Woods' environmental commitment and get ideas for how to use our responsibly manufactured materials in your next project.
Endless possibilities: Square Edge materials
With the winter months fast approaching, now is the time you might be ready to start that woodworking project you've been talking about all summer. At Wightman Specialty Woods we stock a wide variety of northeastern hardwoods and softwoods to accommodate everyone from the professional cabinet maker to the do-it-yourself home owner.
Our S2S and S4S materials are available in a variety of dimensions and grades. Hardwood species include Basswood, Cherry, Hard Maple, Red Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, Ash, Birch, Black Walnut and White Oak. Softwood species include Eastern white pine and Cypress.
The possibilities that square edge materials hold are truly endless. Our wood has been transformed into hand-carved cribs, intricate clocks, turkey calls, guitars, doll houses and so many more.
For those of you looking for larger quantities of S2S or rough materials, we also accept small lot wholesale orders (500 - 3,000 BF).
Our S2S and S4S materials are available in a variety of dimensions and grades. Hardwood species include Basswood, Cherry, Hard Maple, Red Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, Ash, Birch, Black Walnut and White Oak. Softwood species include Eastern white pine and Cypress.
The possibilities that square edge materials hold are truly endless. Our wood has been transformed into hand-carved cribs, intricate clocks, turkey calls, guitars, doll houses and so many more.
For those of you looking for larger quantities of S2S or rough materials, we also accept small lot wholesale orders (500 - 3,000 BF).
Thursday, August 21, 2008
From stock to truly custom, Wightman knows moulding
When builders want solid wood baseboard moulding, they come to Wightman. When architects want one-of-a-kind custom crown moulding created from scratch, they come to Wightman. When museums want to replicate a small section of a historic chair rail, they come to Wightman.In addition to substantial stock profiles in Eastern white pine and Red Oak, Wightman maintains a database of more than 400 custom profiles that can be milled in a variety of northeastern wood species. And if you still can't find the perfect profile, Wightman's skilled technicians can take a small section of an existing moulding or a detailed drawing, and grind new knives to create the unique profile that matches your specifications.
Unlike other mills, Wightman places no minimum required quantity on custom moulding orders.
Visit our website today to learn more about Wightman Specialty Woods mouldings and get ideas for your next project.
Custom-Joined Flooring Makes Installation a Breeze
A growing number of our customers and clients have caught on to the great value and quality of our Custom-Joined flooring and other products.Wightman Specialty Woods' Custom-Joined flooring is pre-ordered to length, and because all our hardwood flooring is kiln-dried on site to a 6 to 8 percent moisture content, then stored in a climate-controlled environment, it can be installed on the day of delivery.
Wightman's Custom-Joined flooring can be ordered in 8'-16' lengths, in 1-inch increments. The length of the joined pieces ranges from 18 inches to 6 feet, with an average of 3 to 4 feet.
Wightman's Custom-Joined flooring can be ordered in 8'-16' lengths, in 1-inch increments. The length of the joined pieces ranges from 18 inches to 6 feet, with an average of 3 to 4 feet.
Custom-Joined products allow Wightman's lumber experts to trim away flawed sections of lumber, while salvaging high quality portions. These pieces are joined with joints that are precision cut and hydraulically pressed to ensure a tightly closed joint that gives a smooth, continuous appearance.
And there's almost no waste in the installation process, which can be anywhere from 3 percent to more than 10 percent in a traditional installation.
If you'd like to know more about the possibilities of working with Custom-Joined flooring and other Custom-Joined products, visit the Wightman Specialty Woods website.
Fall Events Right Around the Corner
A reminder that our summer plant tours are currently underway; please stop by and see us if you are in central New York this summer.
We hope you will consider our products when making the material selections for your next project.
To learn more about any of our products, visit the Wightman Specialty Woods website. If you would like a copy of our catalog mailed to you please send an email to natalie@wightmanspecialtywoods.com.
To learn more about any of our products, visit the Wightman Specialty Woods website. If you would like a copy of our catalog mailed to you please send an email to natalie@wightmanspecialtywoods.com.
Although we're in the middle of summer, we're already looking forward to a couple of exciting fall events.We'll be at The New York State Builders show Sept. 11-12 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. If you're in the area, please stop by and say hello. The show will be open from 4-7pm Sept. 11 and 10 am-4 pm Sept 12. For more information about the show, visit The New York State Builders website.
In October, make plans to come to our annual "Open house/Fall Family Festival," on Saturday, Oct. 11. Visitors will be able to tour the mill, and there will be a woodworking competition, seminars, and children's activities. Hope to see you there.
This month, we're featuring our Custom-Joined flooring, which is one of the many Custom-Joined products we manufacture. Clients love Custom-Joined because it's beautiful, incredibly durable and it cuts installation time in half.
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