Hello,  Craig Smith has started another interesting transatlantic
thread with his request for 'deal' softwood.

In England the term 'deal' (plural: 'deals') was originally a term
applied to softwood timber planks (boards) of a section between 2 to 4
inches thick and 9 to 11 inches wide, most frequently imported from the
Baltic.  As Craig mentions, red and yellow deals are cut from Pinus
sylvestris (Scots Pine).  White deals are cut from Picea abies, the
Norway spruce, also known as Picea excelsa.

However, because deal originates as a _timber size_ rather than a _wood
species_, it is difficult to be certain what is meant and in England,
the term 'deal' often just means a softwood.

It's likely that if Craig searched through my wood stock he would
find something suitable; sorry I'm not a bit nearer.  One of the best
sources of good quality deal in England is found in builder's skips
when wooden window and door frames from Victorian and Edwardian houses
are being changed to plastic.  But act quickly, because few wooden
frames now remain.

Yours sincerely,

Keith Reedman
Derbyshire, England