deal = Scots pine = redwoods

I did a bit of research on Craig Smith's mystery wood, deal, the other
day and tried to post a reply about it.  For whatever reason, it didn't
show up in MMD.  [See 040219 MMDigest.  -- Robbie]

What I learned is that the wood is indeed commonly used, for decks
and fencing.  This probably explains why neither he nor I was able to
locate a reference to it at rare wood merchants.  My guess is that
it's a matter of nomenclature, and that 'deal' is sold as planks and
two-by-fours at big British lumberyards.  ("_Are_ there big British
lumberyards," asks this Midwesterner.)

Anyway, it's an interesting question.  The wood is variously known as
Baltic or Swedish or Polish or European redwood, scots pine, or deal.
It's quite possible that the folks at the larger local lumberyards,
like ours, don't quite know the names of all the woods they sell.
I hope Mr. Smith will let us know how the search comes out.

Mark Kinsler
Lancaster, Ohio, USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~mkinsler1