There is a lot of heritage up north, in Prince Edward Island (a small maritime Canadian province). Raeford waite from RW Woodworking & Custom Milling has a good business because of all this. Raeford Waite and his trusted three-man team are the best option for any Eastern White Pine turning, lathed or curving to make arched doors. Raeford has the ability to build cabinets, as well as other items, but what he really loves is turning wood stock into tools that can be used for historical preservations such churches, small storefronts and state mansions.
Canada grants range in size from $5,000 up to $50,000 to help heritage projects. Raeford reflects back to the 1970s when this money was scarce. It was not easy to maintain historical landmarks or renovate them. Vinyl siding was sometimes used because of a lack funds. The government now ensures these covers-ups are found and rectified. You need to be able to meet the needs of those who value real wood and genuine craftsmanship in this age of digital cameras. Raeford Waite is excited to take on this challenge.
Raeford has a deep appreciation for White Pine. Raeford can clearly speak about the improvements in stock quality that he has seen from suppliers across eastern North America. He says that over his 25 years woodworking has seen the grain’s density and tightness visually and physically degrade. Due to decades of large harvests, Eastern White Pine trees today are much younger. The growth rings of older trees tend to grow quicker and are larger and more flexible. Raeford says that the grain in a 1/8-inch to 3/16-inch ring will be less durable than a ring of about 1/32 inches to 1/4 inch. Softer grains are more vulnerable to moisture and can cause rot. Mold is more prevalent now that lead paint is off the shelves. Maintaining pine intact is much more challenging than before. Modern woodworkers face such challenges.
Raeford also points out that wood glue is a benefit to craftsmen today. Raeford wonders about what 200-year-old woodworkers might have done if they had modern resin and glue chemistry. His tales include stories of secret formulas that were kept alive in an old wood stove by a carpenter. These may have included horsehair or other strange ingredients. Current glues are capable of holding 3,500 pounds. The fact that current glues can hold 3,500 lbs. per square inch prompts him to wonder if old windows from the heritage projects he has restored wouldn’t have held up for another 1,000 years. Lucky for Raeford, his crew, and horsehair, it didn’t work out in this capacity.
Raeford can bring out mystery and excitement by sharing history lessons about the milling of pine. Picture a saw cutting into centuries-old pine trees and coming in contact with lead and buckshot from wars no one knows about. You might also imagine men looking for the ideal pine stand on abandoned property, unaware that an old well could be waiting to devour you. The trees have also been known to eat lucky horseshoes or clothesline pulleys over the years. Raeford says that you don’t want to be near a saw that strikes a horseshoe. Raeford seems to be naturally drawn to the story of Eastern White Pine, and other trade materials. His voice is rich in an Irish accent and gives off the youth of his 40s. But what he actually says reveals a smarter, more determined soul. His crewmen are a special part of his life. He often allows them to decide on the projects they will take on, so that they have a pride in their work. He continues to talk about how his crewmen make him feel. “pride before profit”Credo refers to the heart and soul of the worker as well as the material. “love for the wood”His men are what he expects. He has high expectations for his men. These standards he expects him to follow. Timothy is eight years old and already builds a fleet from pine scraps. At three, Raeford held his very first hammer. Raeford is certain that “Tim the Tool Man”His father will also be his son. He’s the son of an alone son. After speaking with Raeford, I realized that Eastern White Pine is part of the heritage.