Is there such a thing as a straight board?

[lcm1947]

Let me ask you guys something. Are the lumber places in your area open on the weekends? It really stinks that this one in Austin is closed especially since most retail stores and everybody is open both Saturday and Sunday. Just curious.

[Slik Geek]

Let me ask you guys something. Are the lumber places in your area open on the weekends?

In the far northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, Menards and Home Depot are open every day, and on Sundays until 7 or 8 pm. (If that is what you mean by "lumber places").

[Slik Geek]

Slik Geek, mostly the boards were bowed.

Mac (lcm1947),
You are bad luck! I stopped at a Home Depot on the way home from work tonight to get an 8' 1x6. Everyone that I grabbed was bowed! I don't remember having that problem before... not until your post appeared, anyway.

I normally buy my lumber from two other Home Depots, so I suspect that there is some difference in the "personality" of the stores. The lumber storage might be less optimal in some locations. Perhaps the guys stacking the lumber are "smarter" in some places (or just "care" in some locations, and could "care less" in others)?

[lcm1947]

Yeah Slik Geek I bet each store differs or at least could. I worked for 15 years a K-Mart and the stores reflected the managers a lot. Some more interested then others in certain areas. One might really pay particular interest in say the garden area for example or another the auto dept , etc. Sorry I jinxed you though on the board purchase. I didn't mean to. No when I say wood places I really don't mean places like Home Depot or retail stores. I mean places that sell strictly lumber or plywood. You know wood places. Hope you find your board.

[LCHIEN]

Let me ask you guys something. Are the lumber places in your area open on the weekends? It really stinks that this one in Austin is closed especially since most retail stores and everybody is open both Saturday and Sunday. Just curious.

That's the part that really stinks.
All the Hardwood lumber stores (as opposed to general building supplies lumber yards) in the Houston area are open from like 9-5 M-F and 9-12 on Saturdays. More like commercial office hours than retail hours.
since i have a standing activity on Saturday mornings, there no time they are open That I can get to without taking time off work.

And they're not even that close or near to places I frequent. I have to plan a special trip to get to any of them, it's like an hour in Houston traffic.

[sacherjj]

The place I go to has similar hours: weekdays 9-5 and open Sat 9-12. Luckily, it is also 2 miles from where we eat lunch, if we go out for lunch. On days I need to get wood, I just take the truck and "eat" at the hardwood dealer.

[lcm1947]

Yeah I know. 7-5 pm through the week days but not even short hours on weekends and don't expect them to be open on any holidays. I mean the boss will only understand so many times about you taking off work to go get wood and a guys only got so many relatives to die off. I'm even thinking about ordering online but boy I can just see the junk you'd get in.