Here at Hitch Exclusives, we
handcraft all furniture exclusively with
historic heart pine and fir reclaimed from historic structures. (Except for our barnboard and round-log cedar furniture.)
When building these historical structures, heart pine and fir were commonly used interchangeably. The majority of our furniture is built exclusively from heart pine, with the occasion of fir and other pine species, all reclaimed from the same building.
-AGE-
Heart pine had a life span of 200 to 700 years.
-THE STORIED PAST-
We hand-select old growth timber reclaimed from aged, historical structures.
Each piece has its own unique character or personality. You will find beautifully
distinguished authentic nail holes, markings, and checking unique to your piece of
furniture, telling its life story, giving you a nostalgic glimpse of the past.
-INVESTMENT-
Because of sources of its supply diminishing, reclaiming heart pine furniture is an
incredible investment.
-STRENGTH-
Also, this antique wood has been through decades of seasonal expanding and
contracting cycles, making it more stable than new wood.
HEARTPINE is the densest of the softwoods. Its' specific gravity varies between .48 to .59. At its' hardest, .59 in the center of the tree, it is very comparable to White Ash which is .60 specific gravity. At its leanest, it could be compared to Black Cherry at .50 specific gravity. Due to the fact we only use salvaged timber, which is 200 to 700 years old, our timber is old growth with tighter growth rings, making it close to .59 specific gravity and harder, as the growth rings get tighter. This makes our furniture very durable and more scratch resistant.
-HISTORY COMES ALIVE-
The combination of these historical treasures with fine craftsmanship is what makes
each of our products a true rare masterpiece.
-LOCATION-
Our present wood was reclaimed from the Gallun Tannery, Milwaukee, WI.
We have also used timber from the Racine Steel Company, Racine, WI, and the Hershey's Warehouse, Milwaukee, WI. We also have a few pieces remaining from the St. Joseph's
Orphanage, Milwaukee, WI.
The Orphanage was established in 1910, dismantled in 2001.