Sticker Shock

[Tom Miller]

I've been putting off a trip to buy lumber after hearing that my "usual" place recently went belly up. I finally took the time on Saturday, since my loft railing project is at a standstill until I get some hard maple.

So, I picked out three each of 4" wide and 6" wide 8 footers (4/4), and a couple ~8" wide planks of 8/4 maple; one was 8' and one was 10'. Then, I figured I'd get a couple-three sheets of baltic birch plywood, as long as I was there. Then, there was this very nice looking 10"-wide piece of 5/4 cherry....

Well, it was mostly stuff I needed, so I didn't see much point in calculating the cost. I figured even if it's pushing $300, so be it. I knew I was in trouble when the guy showed me the calculator, instead of just telling me the number.

It was $569! Holy cr@p! What especially hurts is that, while surfacing 3 sides (while you wait) is included in the price, I'd rather do a better job myself. But, I don't get any discount for taking it as is.

Lesson learned: even if I plan to buy regardless of the price, it's still a good idea to know, roughly, how much I'll be spending, so I don't have another coronary.

Lesson not learned, yet: find a place that sells rough lumber at rough lumber prices.

FYI - 8/4 hard maple was $8/bf. The 5/4 cherry was $9.50/bf, but it practically had enough figure that it shouldn't have been in the straight cherry section. (I was operating on a don't ask, don't tell basis.) The 3/4" baltic birch is only $44, which I think is reasonable.


Regards,
Tom

[cabinetman]

Tom

It might pay to make friends with someone in the woodworking business, and when they order, pay them to have some "extra" thrown in on the order. In this area, the difference in "retail" lumberyard prices, and "to-the-trade" is much different. One difference is that if it is a delivered load, you almost have to take what they send. If you complain too much, they earmark you. I usually go to the supplier and pick out what I want and either take it then or have it delivered.

You probably already have done your homework as to who sells what in your area. But you might call some cabinet shops and see if you can find out where the best place to buy.

On the occasions that I need something "right away" and have to go to the retailer, it's a convenient transaction and the selection is very good.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[Brian G]

Tom,

Try Logs To Lumber. I have not been there since last spring, but I always have gotten great stuff. That's where I got the QS red oak for the china hutch project. He operates on a cash only basis. He should be pretty close to you, right?

I used to periodically check the website for Northern Hardwoods in Cannon Falls, but their website quit working. I don't know whether they are still in business.

I'm guessing your previous source was the outfit in Lake Elmo. I've never been there. I went to Youngblood's, once, but I didn't have a spare trunk of extra money for their prices.

p.s., If you're too "skeered" to go by yourself, let me know and I'll go with you. By the way, do you have a truck?

[Bruce Cohen]

Hey Tom.

Don't feel too bad, in July I shelled out $115.00 for a 4x8 sheet of Maple 3/4" ply, $135.00 for a sheet of Cherry and $55 a Bf for Macassar Ebony.

Real quality stock, but the next big piece I make, I might try swapping my daughter for wood.

Bruce

[Tom Miller]

Hey Tom.

Don't feel too bad, in July I shelled out $115.00 for a 4x8 sheet of Maple 3/4" ply, $135.00 for a sheet of Cherry and $55 a Bf for Macassar Ebony.

Yeah, that looks like the going rate for the ply here, too. What the...?!

Real quality stock, but the next big piece I make, I might try swapping my daughter for wood.

Hmmm, I would have traded the 12-yr-old for an armload of firewood last night, but he ended up getting his homework done, and all's well again....

Regards,
Tom

[Tom Miller]

Try Logs To Lumber. I have not been there since last spring, but I always have gotten great stuff. That's where I got the QS red oak for the china hutch project. He operates on a cash only basis. He should be pretty close to you, right?

I've had my eye on the Logs-to-Lumber -- I think I recall you giving them a thumb's up earlier. What kind of operation is it, anyway? Do you just arrange to meet some dude at his pole barn, or do they have some kind of "retail" space with normal hours? Can't be too far if it's in Inver Grove Heights....

I'm guessing your previous source was the outfit in Lake Elmo. I've never been there.

Yep, Elmo's Hardwoods. They had some pretty sorry retail space, with not a lot of species. But what they had was S3S, and ready to go. Their wholesale operation moved a lot of material, though. Once when they were out of BB ply in the retail side, I went with one of the "boys" to the warehouse. I've never seen so much sheet stock in one place, including three 4 ft tall pallets of 3/4 BB over in the corner. They ran several kilns, too, and dried their own.

I went to Youngblood's, once, but I didn't have a spare trunk of extra money for their prices.

p.s., If you're too "skeered" to go by yourself, let me know and I'll go with you. By the way, do you have a truck?

I ain't skeered! But, I will have to wait a while 'til I'm out of the doghouse, first! I've never been there. Have you heard anything about a discount for members of the MN WW Guild (or whatever)? I've heard it's a 30% discount, but don't have confirmation on that.

I ended up getting this last load at Forest Products Supply (www.forestproductssupply.com) in Maplewood (Hwy 61 & Cty C, I think). It's a pretty interesting place because they have a whole cabinet shop operation in the same large space as the hardwood stock. (Bring your own dust mask and earmuffs. )

Regards,
Tom

[Kristofor]

I recommend Logs to Lumber as well, though I'm a newbie and I've only been there like 4 times to the tune of maybe 500bf.

Each time, the owner (whose name is esaping me right now...) has happily picked through his stock for what I was asking for, and then would toss in a bunch of shorts or otherwise odd wood for free. He would also quite often simply round down when adding up the boards with fractional board feet. The QSRO and QSWO that I have purchased has been 1-1/8 to 1-3/16th in thickness so you can get a full 1" out of a "4/4" board if you're careful. I have not observed any sheet goods, I don't think he sells any.

I'm not sure if he offers any formal discounts for various group memberships, as I don't belong to any . As mentioned before it's a CASH only deal.

The "operation" is at the guy's house + barn/shed w/ saw + kilns on a big lot in Invergrove Heights (though it feels more like what I would call Rosemount). It has never seemed to be too well signed to me, but maybe I'm just dense. I've always called ahead since it's like a 35 mile drive for me, but I'm not sure if he has regular hours where that's not needed...

$0.02
Kristofor.

[LarryG]

Gee, thanks, Tom. Seeing how I'm looking to move my shop into larger quarters and will finally be able to build a workbench and a new router table and a few other shop goodies for which I want to use "good wood," posts like yours are just what I need to read. NOT.

[Ken Massingale]

Good grief! And I gripe about $2.50 bd/ft for Cherry....
k

[Tom Miller]

Good grief! And I gripe about $2.50 bd/ft for Cherry....

OK, that's it...GIT 'IM, BOYS!


Larry, it sounds like you might be OK, after all. It's just us northerners that pay through the nose.

Looks like I'm definitely going to have to check out Logs to Lumber -- thanks for the extra info, Kristofer. By the way, it's Youngblood's that supposedly has the group discount.

Regards,
Tom

[LarryG]

Good grief! And I gripe about $2.50 bd/ft for Cherry....

If you'll kindly email me 100BF of cherry at that price, I'll fax you a check for $250.

[Bruce Cohen]

Hey Ken,

YOU SUCK

Bruce

[Brian G]

Thanks, Kristofor for following up to Tom's question.

He (Brian, of Logs To Lumber) takes great pride in his stock, and seems to be very selective in the logs he mills. I like that he stores his kiln-dried stock in the lower level (i.e., double garage) of his house. It's climate controlled, so the moisture stays consistent.

He had a few ads recently posted on Craigslist. If only I had some spare change and a pickup, I would have a nice stash of QS red oak and some maple, as well.

I've been wanting to go on a scouting mission to Siweks Lumber to see what their operation is like. I've noticed their ads in the classifieds on Sundays. I see that their recent specials are on hardwood plywood. I don't know what the quality is like, but Tom probably doesn't want to know what they are asking for 3/4" Baltic Birch plywood.

[TheRic]

Tom: Your hard maple is $1.00 higher than mine, your Cherry is $0.05 higher. SO I know where you are coming from.


Ken:
YOU SUCK!!

[Ken Massingale]

If you'll kindly email me 100BF of cherry at that price, I'll fax you a check for $250.

Gotta fess up, guys. It is rough cut at the mill, not S4S.

Feel better, now?

;-D