"Practical Woodworker": red/white deal?

[Joe Cunningham]

I got a copy of "The Practical Woodworker" by Bernard Edward Jones this past week, and in reading the section on workbenches he talks about building a basic bench out of "red or white deal". Based on the context, I'm guessing this means some kind of pine.

I searched SMC without seeing either mentioned.

VERY interesting book, thanks to Harry Strasil for recommending it, as well as "The Complete Woodworker" which has been harder to find.

[Michael Gaynes]

This might help:

http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/Whats+The+Deal+With+Deal.aspx

[Joe Cunningham]

Thanks, that didn't show up in a web search.

[harry strasil]

Joe, in old books Deal mostly referres to an inferior wood (soft wood) used in making Carcases, a carcase was made of deal and covered (veneered) with a more expensive or Noble species.

Sawmills still saw Deals from logs usually 5 by 9 inches and sold to furniture companies, who dry it to their specs and then resaw it to their specs. I know the old sawmill here used to cut Cottonwood Deals and ship them to some of the name brand furniture makers for the hidden wood used in making furniture.