Over the years I have seen a continual decline in the quality of the wood available to me at the local lumber yards.
Consequently, I've had to discontinue offering Play Stands.
The Paint Trays may be next.
The problem is knots.
Or more accuratly, the type and quantity of the knots that are present.
In the past most knots were the solid hard yellow knots indicative of a live branch.
Now I'm finding that most knots are either much larger and cracked or they're bark ringed indicative of a dead branch and will fall out.
In both of these cases it means that section of wood must be discarded.
If I can't get long enough pieces between the knots or if yeild from the board would be too low, I must pass on the board.
The current batch of paint trays is made from wood that I bought 2 years ago. Every chance I get I look for more, but haven't seen any that's good enough. My choices are to either discontinue the paint trays or make them from a different wood. The yellow pine that I make the stools from is a possibility and I'll probably try it. But the current batch of paint trays is probably the last that will be made from the soft light white pine.