An online log home community for log home enthusiasts.

What's your opinion on Blue Stain in the logs?

Some people like it and some people dislike it?
What's your opinion?
Why do you like it or why do you dislike it?

Permalink Reply by Dean Schinnerer on November 10, 2008 at 3:07pm: Even though the blue stain is a fungus which substantially reduces the value of the timber, I do like some of the color variations for the color textures it provides in cabinetry or counter/table tops if designing a kitchen around the theme. I much prefer blue over the grey tinting. Other than for that use, it makes a good fire log........

Dean Schinnerer; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly on November 10, 2008 at 4:48pm: Hi Dean,

The blue stain does have a prettier color then the grey. Thanks for your input!

Kelly; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jim Mulkern,Jim Barna of PA on November 13, 2008 at 10:31am: As a distributor and builder of log homes, I hear both sides. A few logs here or there can add a nice break to a wall, especially in a milled log. Some people absolutely hate it but it doesn't have any structural issues related to it. We have a supplier of log stairs that use logs with extensive bluing in them. People love them. It really all comes down to personal taste but it is good to let your builder know your preferences in advance.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly on November 13, 2008 at 4:17pm: Hi Jim,

I have seen log stairs with the bluing in them and they are beautiful!
It really gives a uniqueness to them! And it brings out the grain on them when it has been polyurathane.

Kelly
I-Wood-Care; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on November 13, 2008 at 12:07pm: Blue Pine... I Love It!

I would assume when you say "stain" you're talking about the natural wood color and not an applied stain. It may be different for other parts of the country (don't know for sure), but around these parts, "Ponderose Blue Pine" usually sells for a premium. At one time, such blue pine was discarded as worthless due to such 'blemishes'. Today you pay extra...

Our home has lots of blue pine. Our great room ceiling is entirely covered with T&G blue pine boards and it is beautiful. In fact, most of the furniture I've made for our home is almost exclusively made from blue pine.

This log and slab coffee table and a complimentary end table just seem to make the great room come together.

A couple years ago I made my bride the blue pine china closet hutch below. (Those links will show close-ups and info on how I made the furniture).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on November 13, 2008 at 12:21pm: Rachel, IMHO you have great taste :-)

Actually, this is a huge piece of furniture because my wife wanted a place to store some of those big appliances like bread makers, but keep them accessible. The 'top' slides on a shelf over the log supports so it can be moved more easily. Also, that shelf has embedded lighting to illuminate the server top below. It really is a nice looking piece and blends well with the whole theme.

That picture was before and finish was applied, but it shows the character of the blue pine. Thanks for the compliment, glad you liked it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly on November 13, 2008 at 4:56pm: Hi Tom,

What a beautiful coffee table! And the server hutch has alot of character to it!

It is beautiful! You should really sell your furniture!!!

Kelly; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on November 13, 2008 at 5:09pm: Kelly, thank you very much for the kind words... and the entrepreneurial encouragement :-)

The problem I have is this woman I'm married to... her 'Honey Do' list expands faster than the list of companies seeking the Government bailout du jour. She has decided we need a log bed and of course, all the other bedroom furniture to match. Then there's that dining room table and at least 8 chairs and let's not forget the built-in entertainment center for the den. Get the idea?

Seriously, thanks for the compliment, but if I had to take orders for these pieces, I'd probably lose interest. As you know, there's a huge difference between a job and a hobby and creating such things for our home is a fun, rewarding experience for me... it's my therapy... And it keeps me off the streets and out of bars :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anne on November 13, 2008 at 1:56pm: Tom- I guess we still live in an area of the country that discards blue pine. When our builder hung our T&G interior walls, several boards had this blue coloring - My husband and I initially considered asking him to replace the boards, but then it started to grow on me. The more I looked at it, the more I thought the blue added....something - more character, perhaps. Anyway I am so glad to know that some people actually seek out and prefer this blue wood. To think I almost relegated it to a burn pile!!! Everything happens for a reason. You make beautiful furniture. Thanks! Anne; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Glenn V on November 13, 2008 at 9:20pm: Tom, what size of tennon and countersink bits do you use? I would like to build some log furniture such as the coffee table. It is beautiful btw.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Heatherington on November 13, 2008 at 9:55pm: Hey Glenn, thanks for the compliment. The tenon cutter size I choose depends upon two things....

A.) The size of the log to which I want to add a tenon
B.) Whether or not I have the right size cutter :-)

I only have 3 sizes of tenon cutters, all "Veritas Tenon Cutters", and I swear by them. IMHO, they are the best buy for the buck. I've priced some high-end cutters that would make me miss a mortgage payment. My largest cutter is a 2" and that is the size of the tenons on the china closet above and the coffee table.

The china closet had mortises cut through the 1" shelf that supports the top cabinet, while I drilled blind mortises on the coffee table slab. You can see the tools I use to make log furniture here.

Hey, when you make something... share it with us. Just don't tell my wife, she does NOT need any more ideas :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Justin Wright on November 13, 2008 at 10:38pm: Tom, The bench and Hutch are very nice. Do you make many pieces?; ▶ Reply to This