Hi Debbie;
This does not seem like much of a sale to me with or without shipping cost….and then if I’ve got to pay shipping cost, well forget it for sure!
Much of this wood is in oddball lengths and then they are not telling about widths. I can visit one of my local wood distributor’s and in their ‘shorts bin’ (1’ – 5’) get better thickness, (4/4, 6/4 and 16/4) plus width and all wood species listed plus exotics as and when available. Plus cheaper in cost….much at close to half price.
Take for example the ‘hard maple’ in 5’ – 7’ lengths, they are quoting everyday cost (regular cost) without the sale at 3.59 and with sale at 1.79, plus shipping. I can get the same everyday select ‘hard maple’ and at any length, at 1.95, plus all I have to do is drive one hour each way.
I believe that when we are choosing between ‘select’ and ‘common’ for most woodworking projects, common will afford the better all around grade unless one is needing length. And as one will notice here, you are not getting length for your dollar, as they specifically state; “Meets all grading rules for Select and Better lumber with the exception of length.” Knowing when and where to use ‘common’ and ‘select’ can make your head spin, but if you are willing to work the wood and since we are ‘workers of wood’ here, common will normally yield up to around 65% vs. 85% for select and better. As far as working the wood and choosing between ‘select’ and ‘common’, well I would have to say….save your money on shipping costs and buy a planer if you don’t already have one, plus get some fantastic grain patterns in that ‘common’ wood.
Common is an excellent choice for furniture and such, and unless your are building say a long and large table top and want ‘clear’....then going with common can save you some money. Common also gives you hidden treasures and plenty of character in the wood, which you will not get with select and clear.
So having said that, I will give another example of wood prices here, that are called sales. The sale folks are offering ” 4/4 Red Oak Selects 5’ – 7’, $2.29 per board foot Regular Price=$3.25”. I can also get “Red Oak 4/4 Common S3S 3/4” $1.80 at any length and that again is an everyday price, unless this also goes on sale. Also if I find what I’m looking for in the shorts bin….well price goes cheaper and again my shipping charge is one hour drive each way.
I usually like to go through the wood at the place where i am buying as you never know what someone is placing in the pile. Also what one is calling select, I might be calling common. Two things I have learned in life are; no-thing is free and when you really get to examing those ‘sales’ with all their hidden costs….not many are sales.
Thank you, and then also this is just my two cents and what do I know, since I live in the woods.
GODSPEED,
Frank
-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/
