The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Bed wood

Just wanted to get an idea of what people have used for their wood in their bed. I'd really like a light color for contrast (pine, ash) but i'd also like a decent durability. I didn't wanna buy a pre-cut kit; i can do the cutting and milling myself and save. Any suggestions or pictures of finished products? Thanks

white oak is strong and light (in color) and would be better than pine or ash IMO. As for a finish, it depends are you won't a show finish or a finish to use the truck as a truck?

I used Hickory in mine DONT GET MUCH HARDER THAN THAT ..LOL..pics in photobucket.

The original yellow pine that came in the truck has lasted for how many years?

Yellow pine is your best bang for the buck.

yellow pine...it is the original and best

Where can one go to get yellow pine though? The original yellow pine was old growth wood which is not available anymore except as a reclaimed wood if you can find it...

Things to consider when selecting wood for a truck bed.

1. How will you use it?
2. Will it be stored inside or outside?
3. Originally they were painted black. Do you want a painted bed?

For my truck, which I leave outside, and use for hauling building materials, I decided to use purple heart with an oil finish. It has been over 1 year now, and I'm still very happy with my bed. If you click on my 48 link below you can see photos.

If I wanted to paint the bed, I would have made it from doug fir and saved a couple hundred dollars.
Chris

I lucked up and discovered that I had some great looking 1960's southern yellow pine. There is plenty to do the bed.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2320182270103315458TCRsND

Yellow pine is readily available.

I'm having a really hard time tracking some down in the northwest and I only need about 35 sq ft (upper rails too) but all places require 100 or 200 linear feet at least... The bed will almost always be used just for show... I might try and find flooring planks...

You are haveing a hard time tracking down what? The north west is probably one of the richest areas for wood species in the US. While hard yellow pine is somewhat hard to come by here in Colorado, western pine, douglas fir, and western cedar are plentifull and cheap. You asked in the first post only about light colored wood. In the last post you mentioned doing a show truck. If you are doing an all original truck yellow pine coated with lamp black and oil is your only choice. If you have chopped up the truck into a rod, then a wood that when finished, complments the paint job would be the way to go.

Sorry for being confusing. I'm wanting a show finish on the wood. Not going for a show truck, nor am I going for the rod thing. Wanting the yellow pine but keep it's natural color. I know I have plenty of choices, but the yellow pine really would pop against my red paint...

If you go HERE you can click the Product Locator link and find a dealer for Southern Yellow Pine in your area.

I did a quick check and there are two dealers in Oregon, one in Lake Oswego sand another in Portland. That should get you started. Good Luck.

EDIT: Mar-K also sells Yellow Pine board kits.

Southern yellow pine may be durable, rot resistant, and original (painted black), but if you want beautiful grain and figure then perhaps go with something else. Quartered white oak, ribbon striped mahogany, tiger maple, the list goes on..