Anyone know of a good source for rough-cut hardwoods (cherry and maple especially) in southern Wisconsin? I live in Madison, and would be willing to drive up to ~100 miles for a good supplier. Thanks!
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Replies
Badger Hardwoods just north of Walworth, Wi. Right on Rt. 14 north of town, on the west side of the road. Good guy, and good wood. Probably an hour from you.
Jeff
I used to live outside Madison; now live North of Milwaukee.
Kettle Morraine hardwoods is good (http://kmhardwoods.com/), probably 75 miles from Madison.
When I was in Madison, I bought some from a guy in Spring Green (http://timbergrowers.com/).
Now I also buy from an individual in Germantown who was a kiln in Allenton. I can provide contact info if you would like.
Grant
Gurk
You have two sources and I won't add to that except to say that the best and cheapest place to buy hardwoods may be differant.. A place that sells a lot of wood at retail levels will be the most expensive. Someplace that sells next to nothing at retail will be the least expensive.
It depends on the amount you need. A few boards now and again you pretty much need a retail outlet. however if you can use a few hundred bd.ft. at a time or maybe even a thousand, find a sawmill that normally sells to pallet makers..
Check pallets in the yellow pages and make a phone call and ask.. (I found better luck going in person)
Pallet wood sells for around 20 cents a bd.ft. It can be just about any hardwood and all they get for a flawless board is 20 cents per bd.ft. .. (or 17 or whatever the market is at) Sure it can have knots in some of the boards but some will also have burl, or fiddleback, or birdseye, whatever! If you buy what's known as mill run, boards as they come off the log prior to grading you will have roughly 30% FAS, 30%#1, and the remaining will be #2 grade or worse. Understand that burl is considered #2 grade as is most of the wood with character we seek..
Now if a sawmill has a good market they will have some wood graded out. You'll pay wholeslae prices for that graded wood if you buy enough volume.
Many sawmills that sell to pallet makers will also sell railroad ties (prior to treating) that's a 9x7x9 foot timber that is solid.. price they recieve per timber is $20 to $22.00 each.. Yes I have seen black walnut railroad ties!
frenchy
With all respect, and for your info, 20 cents a board foot may be the going rate in your neck of the woods, but completely out of range here in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, as the poster suggested for location.
I have spent the last 2 years putting together a business plan on the feasibility of opening my own sawmill business, catered specifically to the woodworker. I have made hundreds of contacts with sawyers, kiln operators, loggers, tree services, and even a Forester or two. The closest mill to me is 20 minutes away, and is charging $1 per board foot just to saw, and that's with your log. I was there yesterday, and he is quoting a 3 week turnaround time.
Things are a bit different down here, with an area population close to 12 million, and I just want the poster to know it, before he goes crazy looking for a couple hundred board feet locally for 20 cents per, or even anything remotely close to that.
Jeff
JeffHeath,
Then I suggest that you take a drive thru southwestern Minnesota,
That 20 +or- cents per bd.ft. is the going rate sawmills are paid for pallet wood. GMA Pallets as you know have to be sound, free of loose knots. etc.
The price of hardwood railroad ties are $20.00 to $22.00 each. That's a standard 9x7x9 foot long tie.. You can confirm that by checking your copy of Hardwood Market Report
Yes there are plenty of sawmills that charge retail rates especially on small sized orders. That is why I specifically mentioned the size of wood required.. I also mentioned that sawmills designed to cater to the retail trade would be more expensive than the sawmills who normally do wholesale trade..
Finally I didn't mention surplus wood..
Many sawmills are set up for thru put.. they don't have space to store wood once it's sawn.. On occasion orders are placed and not picked up. They sit there and age and once they have turned black or grey the sawmills only choice is to shred them for mulch.
I've recieved some wonderful fiddleback hard maple that way for only 10 cents per board ft. Most of my black walnut cost me only 17 cents a bd.ft. Same deal. (that was back in 1999 when darker woods like walnut had no market) I also got some 5/4 ash for only 15 cents a bd.ft.
I've gotten great deals on Tamarack and Hackberry that way..Too!
Those are always the case of being in the right place at the right time..
IF Pallet mills had to pay your price for wood they would be out of business faster than you can say Jack rabbit..
Nothing wrong with that! you serve a differant market than they do.. PS most sawmills that cut wood for pallets and railroad ties will also cut graded wood and sell it.. Mine for example cuts around 2 million bd.ft. a year.. in a good year over 70% of their wood is sold as graded wood. Poor year like last year they drop down around the 30% ratio.
frenchy
I'll tell you what. If you have the time, please find me 10,000 bf of hard maple or soft, white maple, as well as cherry and walnut. You pay the 20 cents, and I'll pay you 50 cents. I have 2 International 4700's with 16' beds, fold down sides, and a 14,000 lb. trailer, 20 feet long. I'll have a cashiers check for $5000 for you, or cash, if you prefer. It'll be a nice commission for you, about $3000, and I'll do all the running.
That stuff will sell down here for $4 to $5 per bf, all day long, any day of the week.
It just doesn't exist anywhere I've been, including that source you gave me last year. They wanted $4 pbf for walnut, and a little less for maple. (Johnson logging)
I called.
Cheers,
Jeff
PS. I'm serious about the 10,000 bf. Let me know.
Jeff,
Johnson logging will charge you whatever the market is, however if you look you'll also see them selling wood to pallet mills.. Pallet mills don't pay 4 dollars for anything!
They have a contract with a buyer for all the black walnut they can get, even I can't buy any lately..
As for your offer if you can get 4 to 5 dollars for it why should I sell it for 50 cents? You'll have to improve your offer..;-)
Yeah......that's what I thought. None of this helps the fella in Madison, so I'm bowing out of the "discussion"...
Jeff
Hanson & Leja in Watertown.
Gurk,
Give Francis Freymiller a call he is over in Boscobel, WI. He has a small mill with great prices. I posted his prices on another forum just yesterday. Let him know that Jay sent ya, oh before you call make sure you have plenty of time to talk, he loves to talk. Hope this helps.
Jay
Francis Freymiller
608-537-2306
Hi Gurk, Sorry, this has nothing to do with hardwood. Just to say I was born at U of W some 51 years ago and spent my first two years of life there but have never been able to get back.. I'm very proud of my Badger birth and have won a few bets on the boys.
Born a Badger!!
So how is the weather right about now? Yikes!
Brian
Brian,
The weather is currently alternating between F@#%ing cold and snowing like hell. I get to spend at least 8 hours a day in it. You gotta love construction! :)
Rob
Wow, Don't know how you guys take that kind of weather. I live in the central valley of California and if it hits the low 30' I'm whining like a little girl.
Stay warm brother.
Brian
I have lived my 39 years in Illiniois and a person doesn't get use to it. In 2004 I Spent 3 1/2 months in Cal , starting in October that year, we went from SF to Bakersfield. When we got home in mid january in 2005 it took me until spring to get warm. Being a farm kid and battling some tough winters over the years didn't seem to come to my rescue.
By the way Rob I would be considered a flat lander and not a FIB. I live to far away from Chicago and don't have enough money to come up to WI, buy land and raise your taxes.
"By the way Rob I would be considered a flat lander and not a FIB. I live to far away from Chicago and don't have enough money to come up to WI, buy land and raise your taxes."
ROFL
Jay, not all of the residents of Illinois are FIB's. As far as the taxes go, our esteemed (cough, cough) Governor is taking care of that without any outside help. Second highest overall tax rate in the nation and climbing as fast as they can think up new reasons. Lets have a big hand for the redistribution of wealth! YAY!
Rob
Ok guys, I'm curious ...what's an FIB? And I'm guessing Maine is number one in astronomical property tax rates. I just purchased a small piece there 3 years ago and it's painful believe me. $2200.00 a year on just under 2 acres with no dwelling! It's on the water and they DO like getting the out of staters who come in and buy land. I shouldn't complain tho. That piece of land in California would be worth God only knows.
Brian
FIB: F$%^ing Illinois Bastards"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid." - Frank Zappa
Gothcha! Kind of like Mainers referring to the good folks of Massachusetts as Massholes. Now before anyone from Mass gets their blood pressure up my older brother lives in Maine but isn't considered a true Mainer cause he wasn't born there..besides he says, he would have to knock out a few teeth and lower his IQ by many points to be a TRUE Mainer!
Thank God I live in California...no one makes jokes about US!!! Hee Hee
Brian
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