I have a buddy with access to an old barn to be torn down that also dabbles in woodworking in a northern state. Can anyone help him learn how to identify old chestnut lumber? Is there much demand for it?

Also, on a different project, does anyone have any interest in an old barn in central Texas, or know who I can sell it to?

I've got a friend that owns the antique store in Paige and that's her main project is tearing down and buying old barns and then reselling the wood. I can get you her number or you can find it on line if you want. She's easy and great to work with. Her name is Jessie

Alright, I'm the friend, but I couldn't post earlier about this. . .

Here's the deal, the barn I'm working in will be burned to the ground tomorrow. My best guess is that it was build around 1900. It is in Michigan. There is some strange looking wood that comprises most of the beams and much other flat boards as well. These boards are wide (10-12 in) and sawn with a circular sawmill--not the really old hand-hewn timbers. They are hardwood, not soft pine (the exterior siding is soft pine.) Some of the beams have a bark on the corners that is slick like beech. Many of the boards have burrowing insect marks like the emerald ash borer, but finer in nature. I'm wondering if maybe these are chestnut beams/boards, and whether it is worthwhile to dive in with both feet to salvage more of this extinct lumber or not.

It kills me that they are burning this sucker, it is still sound, but cest la vie. . .

Chestnut has a "coarse" looking grain, looking similar to ash. By "coarse", I mean you can see a clear distinction between the rings, especially when looking at flat sawn edges.

Why the heck are they burning it? There's a lot of money in salvaging old barn wood, especially hardwoods and heart pine.

Kinda sounds like a gold mine.

I have a friend who does nothing but this wood work in central Texas. Email me at steve@stevebott.com and I will connect you to him.

Does indeed sound like a gold mine. And from someone who's building a home soon and would like some reclaimed timbers....I has checkbook if you get the beams.

Am I the idiot? Not sure why.

I spoke with the owner today and was told the wind expected to be to high tomorrow so the burn is off. Another few days to go picking, I guess.

Steve, I'll try to get some pics to you. There's a couple of pretty beams, but I'll be damned if I win a Darwin award getting this lumber.

Log, the big grain is what got me thinking this might be chestnut, but I've only ever read about it. I'm not sure why they're burning it, only that they're older and busy and want it gone. They've encouraged me to get all I can.

Idiots are the ones doing the burning. I didn't think that was you.....

My guy will not be interested in Michigan but will be for the Texas structure

Been some long days. Will follow up with yall on Monday. Thanks.

One of my son's started buying houses in a fairly small town that were delinquent on the tax roles for decades. They tore a bunch down and turned the lots over to the city. Renovated others. Was averaging a purchase price of around $500.

One was a two story doctor's house that had been abandoned for over 40 years. He discovered that it had three layers of wood floors down stairs and up stairs as well as more on a variety of walls. He brought some home. I dug the nails out of pieces and planed them off. Beautiful wood.

Flooring people said Don't touch it! Leave all the paint on it! Roughly $30,000 from one house.

Ultimately bought the house his Mom was born it. Recovered those floors and installed them with some backup in the ranch house and it turned out fantastic.