A CL sale on Hardwood

[chopnhack]

Hello all, I found a Craig's list sale on hardwood from an individual owner - doesn't have much but I am interested in building a toy chest for the little one (by the time I finish it he will need it ) and he has some smaller pcs. Can anyone tell me if these prices seem good as I have never had the pleasure of working in hardwoods before.

$1.5/bd ft Poplar
$4/bd ft Walnut

S4S, poplar is 3/4" thick, 10-12" wide by 4-8ft long
S4S, wlanut is 3/4" thick, 8-10" wide by 3.5' long
Thanks for your input

[crokett]

Those are decent prices. I pay a little over 3 for poplar and about 6 bucks for walnut. What I buy is 1" thick but if you were going to mill it to 3/4" thick then that wouldn't matter.

[jackellis]

I'd grab all you can buy at those prices, but I also live in California where lumber is expen$ive.

[p8ntblr]

I'd grab all you can buy at those prices, but I also live in California where lumber is expen$ive.

QFT..........

[LCHIEN]

doesn't seem like a super bargain to me. Might be retail prices, but it depends greatly upon the area of the country you live in which your profile does not say.

for craigs list, private sale, stuff he was trying to clear out, small quantities I'd expect better prices.

[chopnhack]

what is QFT stand for? Retail here is about $5.5 bd ft for 1x10 poplar at home depot! ($3.5-3.70 per ft 1x10) I had nothing to compare the walnut to though.

[cabinetman]

what is QFT stand for? Retail here is about $5.5 bd ft for 1x10 poplar at home depot! ($3.5-3.70 per ft 1x10) I had nothing to compare the walnut to though.

QFT = Quoted For Truth

Your consideration of buying hardwoods online present a few things to think about. You can't see, feel, lookover any of the goods. By the time you figure handling and shipping costs, the price becomes out of whack.

My suggestion is to get familiar with local hardwood distributors in your area. You get to know them, their stock, and they get to know you. An advantage of this relationship, is that they may give you considerations for choice or price. Some will do millwork if so equipped.
.

[gary]

Buying lumber at Lowes or Home Depot are the most expensive choices.

I'd need to know where you are in order to say if the prices are decent or not. I'd say that walnut is a little cheaper than that here in KY.

[chopnhack]

I am in Florida, and this is not an online purchase. The seller lives about 10 miles from me and I will have a chance to sort and choose boards. CabMan is right, and as soon as I start to do more work in hardwood I will def. be heading over to a place I visted once. The folks there were both helpful and knowledgable.

[radhak]

I am in Florida, and this is not an online purchase. The seller lives about 10 miles from me and I will have a chance to sort and choose boards. CabMan is right, and as soon as I start to do more work in hardwood I will def. be heading over to a place I visted once. The folks there were both helpful and knowledgable.

Frankly, as a fellow newbie (to woodworking), I'd say you should grab all you can get from him. It would be the gentlest intro to hardwoods you can get : getting to S4S from lumber from a lumberyard can take some effort, and believe me, unless (and until) you have all the jointers/planers etc, the overall cost is gonna rise fast (DAMHIKT!).

That offer is pretty good, and as you already said - Walnut is not even easily available.

Another thing - once you get that wood and work with it, you would be more knowledgable on your next visit to a lumber-yard. eg - cutting straight/square edges is not tough, so long as the piece itself is plane, and you should really avoid any that's warped (or even cupped). again, DAMHIK...

[chopnhack]

Agreed Radhak, I spoke to the seller today and he was very knowledgable. He said that he hand selected all the pcs he is selling, but he has run out of storage room and is behind on his projects and needs to clean out the rented storage. He also has some Koa and other exotic scraps as well as some logs of black walnut! The guy sounds legit, but if don't post a gloat on Tuesday its cause I am dead! Just kidding (I hope).

[LCHIEN]

as always the final price depend on the sellers motivation to sell and the buyers willingness to spend. If he's proud of the wood personally selected but his wife tells him he needs the space to park her car in the garage, and you're impressed with and need some nice hardwood, then its not a bad price.

[chopnhack]

Yeah, should be interesting LChien, he mentioned that the poplar was from primary sources (he explained that to me as old growth trees). That would be perfect for a nice toy box for the little one. Perhaps heirloom quality if I don't screw it up first! I will post pics if I get the pcs.

[Black wallnut]

The prices seem fair to me given that the walnut is "shorts" meaning not full boards. Keep in mind that since it is s4s and milled to 3/4" he will most likely be charging you for 1" thickness in the bf calculation. Do not be alarmed as this is normal. So with a 10" wide board one board foot will be 13.01" or pretty close to that assuming he also rounds up the width, which is also normal.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I think it is a great price if it meets your needs ie the short Walnut. If you buy in volume I would be looking for a discount, particularly on the Walnut. As noted, they are techinically shorts. If he will allow you to cull through them and pull out the nicest stuff and it is defect and sap free, I think $4 bf is pretty darn good. And that is coming from a guy here in PA.