Siding opinions

Hello Brody, I don't have any practical experience of shou sugi ban, have only watched videos.

This one was particularly useful

Throwing another variable into the situation: what about basswood for siding? Just talked to a guy who said “old timers” used to use a lot of basswood and hemlock for siding around here because thats what they had access too and as long as its kept dry it lasts. Plus they get big, they are light so easy to work with, cut easy, and hold paint and stain well.

Ive git access to several very large basswoods and a few of them need to come down anyway, and they arent really any good for firewood so I figured what else can I do with them besides make siding? And, since they are huge, i could get away with maybe having them sawn in whatever way that would leave the boards more stable during the drying process (quarter sawn?) and could make wide live edge boards for lap siding which i think is the look my wife and I would prefer over straight edged lap siding or even board and batten.

Any thoughts or opinions?

I wrote:Steve, you've convinced me to try my hand at making clapboard for the first time, to side a cabin-office that I'm building.  

Results so far...

George Yacus wrote:

I wrote:Steve, you've convinced me to try my hand at making clapboard for the first time, to side a cabin-office that I'm building.  

Results so far...

What went wrong on the second try?

Brody Ekberg wrote:

George Yacus wrote:

I wrote:Steve, you've convinced me to try my hand at making clapboard for the first time, to side a cabin-office that I'm building.  

Results so far...

What went wrong on the second try?

I rushed and didn't dog my log down well or use good support underneath, and the blade twisted through it making the cant super goofy and angular rather than clean and square.

Any opinions on spruce vs red pine for siding? Leaning towards board and batten except for maybe doing some live edge lap siding on the gables.

Was planning to use red pines but I have a lot of obstacles to avoid dropping them and kind of like where they are at. But then remembered we have at least 8 big spruces on the property and have access to more nearby. They are in a bad spot and would be good to get out of the way. Plus, spruce are getting sick and dying around here so it could be good to get some use of them soon.

Would one be more desirable than the other for siding? Or are they more or less interchangeable?

I'm no expert, but I think the pine would resist rot a bit better than spruce.

But if you are planning to paint/stain/burn or in some other way protect it... it might not be a big difference.

Matt McSpadden wrote:I'm no expert, but I think the pine would resist rot a bit better than spruce.

But if you are planning to paint/stain/burn or in some other way protect it... it might not be a big difference.

I assumed pine would last longer due to resins but have had other people say the spruce would last longer, although they couldnt say why.

I have no interest in painting wood, but definitely will use an oil based stain.