[mike16]

wood quality has alot to do with whether the wood was old or new growth, age at time of harvest, altitude and location it was grown at and when and how it was harvested, and water content/seasoning / drying when cut for boards. Even the type and speed of the blade used to cut it effect its length of service life. Pallet material at one end of the spetrum and musical instrument grade material at the other.

expensive and fickle at best. But worth it. People make a career out of selecting wood for thier industry. maybe one or two trees per acre are hand selected. they can sell for thousands of dollars. Lots are stolen from government land unfortunatley.

Pick up bed grade wood is somewhat lower on the quality scale, but in my life I dont recall there being any knots in GM's wood.Maybe some but very few,


type and amount of maintenance. and that varies based on the envirionment where its used and maintained.

I have seen origonal wood in Conneticut and Arizona. I rant on about linseed oil but inthose cases the owner refinished it seasonaly with linseed oil. Boiled. I dont know who contracted with GM to supply them wood back then or what the contract spec'ed the wood at. Suposedly, .....linseed oil with carbon black added,maybe for pigment maybe for protection. linseed oil alone is pretty good, the carbon black adds good protection too.


Next time you go hunting or camping, research the flora and fowna of the area. You never know.