In my first post i mentioned that I couldn’t find any dimensional lumber at my local big box stores. Well now that I have learned a little bit it was easy to find the hardwood section.
I could see that they had Red Oak, Poplar, and something called whitewood? that looked alot like Pine to my inexperienced eyes. The had 6 or 7 racks of boards of various lengths and widths. The one thing I did notice was the price. A 6×6 x 1 poplar board (3 board feet) was going for about $23. That means it was $7.60 / board foot. That seems pretty high to me.
I have to say it was an interesting experience to go into the lumber section and not be totally bewildered.
-- Danger: Novice Woodworker here.
8 comments so far
jcsterling
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296 posts in 1756 days
#1 posted 1465 days ago
May I suggest that you go to www.woodfinder.com to locate a retail lumber supplier near you . 7.60 for poplar is absurd. Currently I can get 4/4 poplar ( rough) for 2 dollars / bd ft. Small lumber yards are hurting right now and need to move product.
-- John , Central PA , www.jcsterling.com on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JC-Sterling-fine-furniture/104430802928776
a1Jim
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87255 posts in 1748 days
#2 posted 1465 days ago
Hey Haydar
That’s what you can get maple or walnut for. way over the top. Have you searched hardwood on line or in the yellow pages? If you want to see what some of the different woods look like hears a great web site
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2159 days
#3 posted 1465 days ago
I would only buy lumber at a big box as a very very very last resort.
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
lew
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8986 posts in 1926 days
#4 posted 1465 days ago
Haydar!!
Hagerstown, MD- I’m right up the road in Chambersburg. You can get all of the wood you need at the Hicksville Planing Mill. It is only a couple of miles from you. I buy all my wood there. Great prices, Great selection. Just don’t be in a hurry when you go.
Lew
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!
TopamaxSurvivor
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13194 posts in 1846 days
#5 posted 1464 days ago
Unfortunately, my two closest lumberyards have closed :-((
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
TraumaJacques
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433 posts in 1671 days
#6 posted 1464 days ago
I have paid for my jointer and planer twice in savings by buying ruff lumber rather than dimensional. Well worth the investment.
If I had storage space I would buy logs and have them milled that would save me even more but I live in the city and I am already pushing my luck with the neighbors.
-- All bleeding will eventually stop.
Haydar
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16 posts in 1470 days
#7 posted 1464 days ago
@lew. A couple other people also recommended Hicksville Planing Mill. Apparently that’s where my church gets any wood they need.
Yeah, I pretty much determined that I wasn’t going to buy my wood there after seeing the price. Even a newbie like me could see that the price was high.
-- Danger: Novice Woodworker here.
TATANKA
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2 posts in 1541 days
#8 posted 1464 days ago
Take a look at this one, I buy most of my wood from them.
EZ to shop and EZ to order and some items ship free.
http://www.woodworkerssource.com/
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