LumberJocks
DAILY DEALS Wixey 8'' Digital Protractor  |  Makita Makita Recon LCT203W 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion Impact Driver 2 Pc Kit

Apple Lumber?

« back to Woodworking Skill Share forum

Forum topic by Jim Crockett posted 369 days ago 1251 views 0 times favorited 21 replies Add to Favorites Watch
View Jim Crockett's profile

Jim Crockett

329 posts in 632 days


369 days ago

I have been looking for some 1/2” thick apple from which to make a box. I’ve checked WoodFinder and none of the sites listed as carrying apple wood actually do so. I would even settle for apple veneer although that would not be my first choice.

Anyone here at LJ know where one might purchase 1/2 inch apple stock? Or any apple stock? I found one sawyer in upper NY state who will sell me 4BF for $60 but that seems awfully steep to this retired woodworker. Any help would be appreciated.

Jim

View bentlyj's profile

bentlyj

794 posts in 369 days


369 days ago

http://www.groffslumber.com/index.html
You can try here. There in PA. I’m not sure how far that is from you for shipping costs.

View grumpycarp's profile

grumpycarp

232 posts in 645 days


369 days ago

Check you local hardwood lumber supplier for either apple ply or baltic birch plywood, if you can actually use laminate. It is not your usual dog doo plywood but the material that drawer boxes and such are made of on some of your better cabinets for example. There are no voids on the edges when cut, and it is quite durable.
This is assuming that you don’t need actual apple wood for a particular reason . . .

Woodcraft (among others) sells small pieces (at a premium) but still reasonable compared to 15$/bf. A full sheet is a weird size, 60” x 60” and last time I bought it in 1/2” it I think it was about 30$/sheet which is 12 1/2 b.f. not that plywood is quoted that way . . . but to stick to that methodology, 2.40/b.f. a bit cheaper to be sure.

Why apple in particular?

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3502 posts in 587 days


369 days ago

http://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/sheet-goods-selector/?page=3
Unfortunately , Appleply contains NO Apple Lumber….which is what I believe that you are searching for…

http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/hardwoods/exotic_hardwoods/domestic_wood/apple_lumber/apple_wood.html?gclid=CJHD-v3Uj5cCFSUqHgodL2IJ_Q
hearne hardwoods stocks both European and Domestic Apple : ) Its rarity makes it expensive….it costs more than Bubinga does !!! I also didn’t see any 1/2” stock listed , so you might have to resaw it yourself.

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View grumpycarp's profile

grumpycarp

232 posts in 645 days


368 days ago

Mr. Crocket & Dusty,

While dining heartily on the omelet I have made from the egg on my face from my overly enthusiastic reply to the original post about apple wood and my suggestion of “apple ply” I heartily agree with Dusty that there is in fact no “apple” in apple ply. Even more embarrassing was the realization that once upon a time I knew this via an even earlier misunderstanding.

Some people never learn . . .

View LeeinEdmonton's profile

LeeinEdmonton

150 posts in 480 days


368 days ago

Many years ago when I lived in Ontario my pal & I would drive about in the countryside checking out the apple orchards for dead trees. When we spotted a candidate we would approach the farmer to see if he would let us harvest it. Most did. Apple was as hard as a rock & we always had to file the chainsaw blade several times before we had the tree cut & stowed in the pickup truck. Have not handled apple wood since.

-- Lee

View Doug S.'s profile

Doug S.

306 posts in 607 days


368 days ago

Have you tried eBay? I’ve seen it listed there on a fairly regular basis.

-- Use the fence Luke

View dirtclod's profile

dirtclod

166 posts in 759 days


366 days ago

We’ll have the mill back in the neighborhood soon. I’ve got a medium-sized apple tree that needs to come down. The butt log is only about 12” D and 4’ long. I figure it may have some splating in it. There’s 2 ~8” limbs that are ~8’ long. I’ll mill them as well. Won’t know what the quality will be until it’s milled.

Let me know what sizes you need so we can look into shipping. We don’t normally ship but I may be able to talk my brother into making an exception. My only other concern is getting an order large enough to make it worthwhile. I’m in no hurry on this and have many logs I was planning on milling first. But if we can work a deal we’ll work it in.

-- Wonderful new things are coming! - God

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1723 posts in 889 days


365 days ago

I’ve heard that apple is very hard and splits easily when drying which is probably why you can’t find it so easily. Might be best to avoid it and opt for something else.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View johnpoole's profile

johnpoole

74 posts in 365 days


365 days ago

http://www.innernet.net/galleryofwood/pricelist.htm..

this price looks like a gift, even with shipping.. i have not ordered from this source so i can’t vouch for the site. they have been on line for years

-- it's not a sickness, i can stop buying tools anytime i want

View Jim Crockett's profile

Jim Crockett

329 posts in 632 days


365 days ago

Looked at Gallery of Wood and their apple looks nice and their prices are wonderful. But, they don’t ship under 500bf, only pickup at their site- since they are in SW PA, that certainly lets me out up here in ME!

Jim

View blackcherry's profile

blackcherry

731 posts in 722 days


365 days ago

It’s the best smoking wood for my smoker. Blkcherry

View johnpoole's profile

johnpoole

74 posts in 365 days


362 days ago

not a short ride from sc either… 500 bf, a little more then i usually need at one time.. or need to pay for

-- it's not a sickness, i can stop buying tools anytime i want

View Karson's profile

Karson

25811 posts in 1299 days


362 days ago

I noticed that the address that Johnpoole gave you has a price list and at the bottom they state that they ship wood samples for $1.50 each minimum 10. You might call back and see if the sample size would fit your needs.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Karson's profile

Karson

25811 posts in 1299 days


362 days ago

Jim You might try Steve Wall Lumber They don’t show Apple in their list of products, but since its a small supply item they might just have some and they ship all over the country.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View johnpoole's profile

johnpoole

74 posts in 365 days


362 days ago

i don’t know why i didn’t think of wall lumber, he is always the first source i check if i can’t find it local

-- it's not a sickness, i can stop buying tools anytime i want

View Jim Crockett's profile

Jim Crockett

329 posts in 632 days


361 days ago

Got a response from Wall Lumber today – no apple!

Jim

View bentlyj's profile

bentlyj

794 posts in 369 days


361 days ago

View grumpycarp's profile

grumpycarp

232 posts in 645 days


358 days ago

I’m still curious why apple in particular? Perhaps some of the L.J.s could suggest a workablity/appearance substitute, depending on its’ particular use.

View Lloyd_in_Mississauga's profile

Lloyd_in_Mississauga

3 posts in 358 days


357 days ago

I had a flowering crab apple on my front lawn that died and I got milled out to boards for scroll sawing. I made the mistake of getting them cut to 1/2” thick.

Apple twists and turns as it dries and really needs to be weighted very down well as it dried to try and keep it close to flat. Once it is dry, it really does not change much seasonally at all.

It is very hard, so trying to flatten the 1/2” boards with my planer yeilds only about 1/4” to 5/16” thick material and it still has chip out. A drum sander would work better for the final couple of passes to be able to keep more material but I do not have one. Each planer pass is done at less than a 1/32” cut and I have tried wetting the surface of the wood before a cut as well.

It is great looking stuff for small items as the wood is a variety of carmel colors ranging from reds to browns and an oil finish just makes that pop.

My wife has used almost all of it up though, so I am keeping an eye on my neighbours flowering crab apple tree to try and replenish my stock.

Lloyd

View Jim Crockett's profile

Jim Crockett

329 posts in 632 days


357 days ago

Grumpy, you asked why apple in particular. A couple of reasons

(1) sentimentality: when I was growing up, we had wild apple trees all over a large granite quarry hill behind our house. That hill is where I played, learned to ski, learned about the outdoors; I knew where every apple tree that provided good apples was located , every raspberry & blackberry bush, where the strawberries were to be found, rhubarb patches – all of nature’s produce. I spent many an summer afternoon sitting under an apple tree reading or thinking.

(2) Apple is just a very pretty wood in my eyes.

And if I can ever find some American Elm priced reasonably, I’ll want to get some of that because of a large elm tree we had in our front yard that provided shade on hot summer days and a gathering place for family and friends in the neighborhood.

Looks like American Elm and Apple are about as rare as hen’s teeth!

Jim

View corey cyr's profile

corey cyr

45 posts in 564 days


357 days ago

did you try www.bellforestproducts.com?

You must be signed in to reply.

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase