Hi Y'all
A bit of info. re: Billk's "black rotten stinky Rdwd"...yep...you don't want to live with that smell....but Redwood doesn't rot by itself for a long, long time.... now"sinkers' ... logs that have lain on the bottom of the mill pond for a year or two, that's different... there's no word for the odor!...I worked at a plywood mill years ago-...right next to a big Georgia Pacific Mill and the pond....it took years for the smell to get out of my nose!! ( Been over 25 years-I can still almost gag!) And it does get a greasy slimy black. Now dry Redwood..it will last forever!! And heartwood exposed to weather, will last years and years without paint, or stain....turns pale grey on the surface.
The sap wood, however, will rot fairly quickly. Of course, that's one big reason the old growth is so valuable...Big Trees are. oh, I'd guess about 80% clear heart.
All the lumber I have is salvage..recycled fence posts and the like..I avoid buying "new" lumber if at all possible, esp. Redwood.
shamus....been a whole lot goin on in my life...still plan to send you some of the 'real stuff' soon's I can get to it. I'll pick up some bark next time I'm out t' th' woods!!
Bye y'all
VGN