If it has been stored with the bark on the edges of the planks, it probably has some worm/borer holes. Look for obvious defects like end checking more than a couple inches long, small knots (which can be hard to see in rough sawn lumber), etc. Look for mold and rot (take a pocket knife and a block plane with you). Then look for any figured pieces which appeal to you. On highly figured pieces, make sure there is some clear grain where you can lay out the stock wrist. Given the choice, go for tightly spaced grain lines, but this isn't crucial. I'd look for vertical grain, but that's my preference. By that, I mean planks that are quarter sawn. If the wood has been stored stickered and weighted, with the bark off, and under cover of some sort, and with the ends painted or waxed, it's probably in decent shape. Bring your wood home and sticker it for storage. By that, I mean 3/4" strips of wood laid between each plank, about 8 or 12" apart. Weigh the top of the stack down with concrete blocks or similar. This is because the wood will re-acclimate to the environment in your storage area, and some of it will want to cup or twist. If possible, store it where the humidity is somewhat constant, like an indoor shop rather than a detached garage. If that's not possible, bring planks in a couple weeks before you want to work with them. About 30 years ago, I bought an entire pickup bed full of gunstock blanks from a local walnut mill. They were rejected for checks and knots in the wrong places. The guy was selling them for firewood! I used them for boxes, tool handles, small table tops, and showy, self-made veneers. I traded some of them for other wood. I just cut the last one into 1/8th inch head plates for guitars and mandolins late last winter. If you're a good scrounger and know what you're looking for, "found" wood is the bomb!
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