Large tropical hardwood beams; how to sell them...?

[Squaredy]

14 hours ago, nepia said:

A friend locally has a pair of huge wooden beams to go; 14'x18"x12".

Apparently made of a tropical hardwood - 'if you cut into them the wood's red'.

Came from the railways where they were used for supporting heavy equipment.

 

Where/how could these be moved on?

 

Cheers,

 

Jon

I am sure someone will have a use for those beams.  The problem as always is finding that goldilocks customer.  Many customers would want lots of them, and others will only want a 6ft piece etc.

 

I think the way to go is Facebook marketplace.  Include photos and as much info as possible in the advert.

 

I will say though I don't think they are tropical hardwood.  Zoom in on the end grain and you can clearly see the springwood and summerwood.  It looks exactly like a quality softwood - pitch pine, or even larch or douglas fir.  This doesn't make them any less useful in my view.  If you want to get a better idea cross cut a couple of inches off one end.  

[nepia]

That's useful; thank you.

 

I'll definitely make a cut and take pics.

FB Marketplace does seem the way to go these days.

 

Cheers

[dan blocker]

If they’re ex rail they could be cresoted or the old quality tantalised, if so would make some good bridge main beams for a stream or drainage channel? Don’t expect a fortune then won’t be disappointed? Try a farm, plant auction?

[Steven P]

for 2 beams I guess you will have to sell them local to you else the cost of transport will be too much

[JLA1990]

Where are you in the country? 

[nepia]

East Hoathly in East Sussex: the beams are about five miles away on a farm.

[JLA1990]

On 18/01/2026 at 07:23, nepia said:

East Hoathly in East Sussex: the beams are about five miles away on a farm.

Ta - too far for me 

[5thelement]

The larger one looks more like Larch or Douglas fir, which has very distinctive smell, the rings look too wide for decent pitch pine.

Cut the end off and take a close up of the end grain, then compare it on the wood database. 

[nepia]

I got about 30 seconds to brush a saw over the end yesterday.  I can't say the smell was distinctive; not one that shouted Douglas at me but that is a possibility isn't it.

[Squaredy]

1 hour ago, nepia said:

I got about 30 seconds to brush a saw over the end yesterday.  I can't say the smell was distinctive; not one that shouted Douglas at me but that is a possibility isn't it.

Douglas or larch I would say.