Frequently Asked Questions.

Are the pieces heavy?

Very. But even the heaviest are well within the limits of the average home. Consider that a king size waterbed weighs in at 2000 lbs., but our king size Streamlined Bed weighs in at a mere 650 lbs. Most other pieces weigh less than two good-sized men, so placing them in your home or office is no more weight than two men standing in the same area.

Do you do custom pieces?

Yes, most of what we do is commissioned work.

Is this everything you make?

Not even close. The pieces here are merely representative of the types of work we do.

Are the crossties used?

No. All of our crossties are virgin timbers that have never been treated. We use only stains and finishes that are consistent with what you would expect to find in just about any American household.

What species of wood do you use?

The majority of our timbers are varieties of oak with white and red oak being the most common. We do get the occasional hickory, maple, elm, cherry, walnut and other species. We note the species for each piece as definitively as possible.

What are culls?

Culls is the term for describing timbers that have been "culled" from a stand of timbers. These timbers may be split on the end, have excessive knots or may have twisted or warped in the process of drying. These timbers were viable material for ties when cut, but as the wood dried and seasoned, some fared better than others. While our timbers do not meet standards for running 180,000 pound rail cars over them, they do quite nicely in home service.

Why can't the rail be relayed?

Rail that is not overly worn can be relayed, but much of what we use is worn from use and has been taken out of service. In addition, the size of the rail may no longer meet standards for rail traffic. Much of the rail we use is 70-, 80- or 90-pound rail. Today's standards require a minimum of 100-pound rail or more.

Where does the rail come from?

The rail comes from track renovation projects where maintenance work is being done. Most of the rail we use comes out of the southeastern U.S. However, we can only speak definitively for its last point of service since rail can be relayed repeatedly and may have been in virtually any part of the country at some point in its life.