You are not too picky. I don't know what the "1F" means, but those are not FAS grade. At least, not in my experience.

 

I agree… I would be upset if I were you.

 

While I cant see the faces of the boards, to me, they dont look too bad. The price is not over the top expensive or cheap. Sort of what I would expect one to pay without a good connection to a lumber supplier. What is the actual thickness of the boards? If they are really 1" or 1 1/2 " they will flatten out with some jointing and planing.

 

Sometimes they give you extra board feet when there are flaws. Measure the board feet of the
walnut and see.
FAS should be a little better looking than what's pictured. Figure out your order and explain your dissatisfaction
and see what they say.
Keep what you bargained for and ship the rest back.
No, you're not being picky. You wouldn't of purchased that stock
if you went to their store.

 

Not at all. I will never buy wood online because I am so picky. Fortunately I live a few miles from a good lumber mill in one direction for all my domestics (to the north east), a few miles in another direction to a hardwood outlet/reseller for just about every American wood, and right down the street from a Woodcraft with a good selection of exotics that i get 10% off of.

Not only do I like clean boards, I like really long ones - 14'+. I find it's easier to match grain when a lot of it comes out of the same board. I don't even want to know what it would cost to ship 150bf of hard maple in 14' lengths.

 

Does this help? http://www.globalwood.org/tech/tech_hardwood_grade.htm

 

The boards are a full 1.5". I thought I would end up with a finished thickness of at least 1 1/4" after taking maximum of 1/8 off each face. I thought the standard was that one should need to remove about 1/16 from each face. (more or less) (not sure where I got this bit of info) I will probably end up having to take a 1/4 off each face to get it flat which will leave me with an inch or less of finished thickness. if that is the case why not just buy 4/4 s2s. Being inexperienced, I probably should not start with rough cut lumber anyway.

Learning as I go…

They deliver for free with a $500 order, but I think the bottom line is that I should make the 90 minute drive to Jacksonville to pick out the boards and haul them back myself.

 

It looks fine to me. Thats what rough cut FAS generally looks like. If I had a beef with what I am looking at, it would be the amount of sap wood I see, albeit allowed it never stains/looks like the same being light coloured.

I always use at least a 25% waste factor when using solid lumber purchased the way you did. I also pick the boards out myself.

 

If you make the drive, why not take the boards back and just exchange them?

 

more good info…
How do I identify the sap wood?

 

If you cut your material to rough lengths of a planned project before you joint and plane it, you will find you won't be removing nearly as much stock as if you try to joint the full length.

I have never purchased material online (except for pen blanks) but I would certainly encourage you to discuss your order with the supplier. On the other hand, some of the wholesale suppliers here charge a premium of 25% if you want to pick your own lumber.

Often when I buy a lift of hardwood, there will be half a dozen boards similar to what you have pictured.
Trees don't grow perfectly straight…

The sapwood is the lighter (cream) colored material in walnut. I really don't see too much there myself.

 

This is a perfect case of why you select your material yourself in person. I have purchased on line but only from sellers
that show photos of both sides of the material and are fair with shipping cost.

 

Bob www.bobkloes.com

Fellow LJer Bob sells lumber here and he is honest with fair
shipping rates.

 

It's always a danger when you don't pick your own boards. And what happens when people do pick their own boards is that all all the good ones get taken out the bale first, leaving all the crap behind.
Walnut is difficult to pick thru when its rough sawn as well, sometimes you don't see the knots or you think you might have a couple of pieces that are that rich chocolatey colour, but when you plane it they look totally different.

What project did you have in mind for these? If you are using short pieces it might be usable.

 

I was going to make a table top, but these will probably turn into cutting boards. I wont let them go to waste. I think I should have gotten somewhat better quality and perhaps I was expecting a little too much at the same time.

Quarter sawn, rip sawn, rough, FAS, S2S, SLR, sappwood… you guys take this for granted, for me its a bit overwhelming. It really makes me appreciate the projects you guys create. My father would say make if fun or get out.

 

I buy walnut from Steve Wall Lumber. They sell 20 bf packages at $6 per bf for 4/4 or $7 per bf for 8/4. That price includes shipping, and surfacing two sides if you want it. I've ordered several times and the quality has always been better than what your photos show.

 

Hang in there lazyoakfarm. I have been reading this forum for about 4 years and I'm beginning to get it ;-))

 

BTSW, I learned a bit more on this thread!

 

LazyOakFarm,

You might want to find a local sawmiller who handles the lumber you're looking for. Since you're in Georgia, if it's not too far from you, why not check out Dan (LumberJock user WDHLT15). He mills and dries a variety of species of lumber and is also a serious woodworker himself. He's a good guy and will do you right.

Good Luck!

Herb