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Best price for cherry hardwood...

30K views 24 replies 23 participants last post by  Polishcannon 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am in the southeastern PA area and it seems very difficult if not impossible to locate a local source for small lots of quality hardwood. So I was overjoyed to have found someone in South Jersey to be selling lots that might be within my price range and storage capacity.

After visiting the vendor, I was impressed with his inventory and immediately fell for a 544bf lot of 4/4 cherry, select grade, forested from the Adirondacs. Not having any prior experience purchasing unmilled lumber, I was wondering about the price of 4.60/bf.

Does this seem reasonable?

TIA,
Bill.
 
#2 ·
I'm on the other coast, but I'd definitely put off my upcoming Domino purchase for that…

(Especially since my sweety has decided that she really likes the cherry "man room" look for the guest room/office…)
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi Bill,

This is a reasonable price. I typically pay 2.40 for #1 common and 3.50 for FAS here in Kentucky. But I am getting my wood from a supplier who deals directly with sawmills and has his own kiln. If you compare the prices with retail and internet outlets the prices they charge are higher.
 
#4 ·
If your in Pa. there are alot of places to buy hardwood. I felt the same way when I first started. After alot of questioning of local woodworkers , I found there are alot of small mills in Pa. often mom and pop operations. I am in southwestern Pa. Currently I'm paying $3.75 bf for KD rough cut cherry and walnut in 100 bf lots, larger lots get a better price. Your biggest problem will be finding these small mills, once you start finding them they are real gems for you. If you look in the yellow pages or find someone with a saw mill they are a treasure trove of places to get hardwood. Last year a saw mill operator tipped me off to a person who was clearing land and the sawmill was cutting it for him. I went there and was able to buy green cherry and maple, the cherry was $1.50 bf and maple $1 bf., but that was green, I stacked and stickered it and it's ready to use now.
 
#5 ·
Go with the small mills. Call your state forester and ask for mills in your area. Also call Woodmizer and ask for woodmizers owners in your area.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for all the valuable replies.

Any recommendations on ways I shouldn't store this Cherry once I bring it home?

My shop is garage-based so it is a 20×20. The load is 27" h x 46" w with the bulk of the boards about 8'.

I was considering storing some of it in a ceiling mounted rack of some sort, but I have yet to evaluate the joists in my garage since it is completely drywalled. My wife's uncle is a retired general contractor and will be coming over this weekend to help me assess this option.

Would anyone consider it unwise to store the stock vertically?

Would anyone think it stupid to store it outdoors if kept off the ground and covered with a tarp?

Thanks,
Bill.
 
#9 ·
I drive up to Hearne Hardwoods in SE PA. Walk-ins are welcome and there is generally no minimum for walk-in customers. The have a pretty good selection and advertise FAS 4/4 (which measures 1-1/16" rough) cherry for $5.00. The do discount for larger orders but I don't know when the discounts start.
 
#11 ·
Storing it vertically does not sound like a good idea to me.

And thanks everyone for the posts about suppliers in this area. This is a very timely post for me, as I am looking for cherry in the Columbia Maryland area.

Steve
 
#12 ·
Hey all, I'm new to this site but wanted to comment here. I'm from Northeast Pa, not to far from Cherry Township, Sullivan County. Some of the best cherry lumber is hidden away up here, and it's fairly plentiful in this area. We have a lot of land owners and small mills (WoodMizer and Scrags) that cut and sell at very reasonable rates ~$1.25 green 4/4. A local mill/kiln/planer adds 25 cents for drying and 25 cents for planing, however I don't mind planning ahead and drying myself and planing myself.

All said, yes, I do need to sort and grade my own and I do get my share of less than #1 lumber, but, so far, I have not had any problems selling a bit of mineral or even a knot here or there depending on the project.

Last year I was given 1000 bf of cherry, as long as I removed it in log form, paid for the sawing, and stickered it at home. My total cost= $75 sawing, gas and time to move it.

It's around. Depending on what you need, what you need it for, and what you can sell your project for. But, don't give up thinking there a short supply, or you are at the mercy of the dealer.
 
#13 ·
I use alot of cherry. Most of what i buy is green lumber from a local saw mill and I pay around $2 to $3 a bf. one of the places that I've always bought kiln dried lumber from is Acadian Hardwoods in Ponchatoula, la. They wholesale lumber in any quantity. This past fall the price of cherry was around $3.50 bf for kiln dried 4/4 rough sawn. 3 weeks ago it was Almost $7 a bf. I don't know what has happened to the prices. but it is like everything else, it is all in supply and demand.
I know cherry usually retails around $8 to $10 a bf in a few lumber supply places and a nearby woodcraft store.
 
#14 ·
Hey Bill I am also from SE PA in Philly actually but I have family all over the burbs and south Jersey. I have found similar result when I have inquired about a local hardwood dealer who does not deal in large amounts if you find any great supplies please pass the info along. It would be greatly appreciated. If you have any concerns or questions please let me know thanks.

-Lou

Civilize the mind, but make savage the body.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Vertical storage is a good way to store lumber and have access to each board without moving a stack. The only thing to avoid is having it leaning against a wall with no support as this will end up bowing it. I used a 2×8 long enough to fit the area I was using. Then I cut another 2×8 into 14" pieces and connected them at a 90 degree angle to the long 2×8 by using countersunk lag bolts on the back. About 14" apart. Picture a "T" with a long top and lots of legs, if you will. Then I bolted the whole thing into the studs on the shop wall.

This created a lot of "pockets" to store wood by species, and I can easily pull out whatever one I want. Just keep the pockets full by switching stuff from other ones. As long as the boards stay straight up and down, they'll won't bow. Vertical storage makes great use of a limited amount of space. The center portion of the shop ceiling is 11' so I can store up to 11' long lumber.

I also drilled 3/4" holes thru the front of the pocket dividers so I could slip a dowel thru and keep the stuff from falling out (on my head.)
 
#18 ·
I'd second Spacht Dave is as smart as they come when it comes to wood, he's kinda all over the place though so get there early. It's a very small mom and pop operation. I sourced the white oak for the bike in my profile. He actually custom sawed the stuff just as I wanted at no extra charge because he wanted to see the bike completed. Hearn has good prices but are not very flexible on price. Mom and Pops are the way to go in my opinion.
 
#19 ·
Can anyone give me an idea of good wood suppliers in the Chicago area? I am in need of some cherry for a bedroom project.

- OldTimeShopSmith
Owl Hardwood is a Chicago supplier for retail customers. Raynor Rinn Scott is a good one for commercial buyers. Check out Craigslist to locate small mills. If you're not able to find anything and want to drive 50 miles south of Chicago, I'm willing to sell from my stock of 4/4 cherry at $4.50/bf. I buy it in 500bf lots so there's always plenty on hand.
 
#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
Try Spacht s as well.

http://spachtsawmill.com/index.html

I ve had really good luck with them. I was able to pick up a couple boards at ~$5/bf S2S. I m sure you can get bulk pricing. They re in the Norristown area. Dave is a real pleasure to work with.

- Bill Hall
Not sure why that link isn't working, but I'm always open to find reasonably price lumber in my area!

Edit: just tried the link cutoff at the .com and had better luck.
http://www.spachtsawmill.com
 
#23 ·
I get all my wood from Logs to Lumber in Canton, OH I found him on Craigslist. Cherry $1.25/bdft Walnut is $2/bdft Maple $1 bdft. The guy has a bandsaw in his yard he mills everything with, mostly urban trees though. Every once and a while I get a less than spectacular quality board, nothing is graded or anything, but at that price I can deal with it. Very nice guy, will sell you any size order you want. It has really made woodworking fiscally feasible being on a tight budget.
 
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