Replies

1. 
   bww_maryland | Jan 06, 2008 04:31am | #1

   i looked in the yellow pages and found a wholesaler in Balt, but they did require a $250 min order. Another local retail place in Frederick, MD sold by the sheet but was ~40% higher in price.

   woodfinder.com may have some sources as well.

   - Brad

2. 
   saschafer | Jan 06, 2008 04:37am | #2

   Where are you located? You should be able to find it in any metropolitan area, although as bww says, you may have to buy it in fairly large quantities.

   -Steve

    

3. 
   jpat | Feb 17, 2008 04:41pm | #3

   Hey jd,

   If you are in the Princeton, NJ area you can buy it at a local building supplier for about $66.00 for the 3/4''. It has to be available all over ....

   John

1. 
   frenchy | Feb 18, 2008 01:07am | #4

   John,

     How much do you need?  The reason I ask is because a sheet of plywood is 32 bd.ft.  I buy white FAS hard maple cheaper than that  when I get it direct from a local sawmill.  (about $14.00 a sheet equilant). 

     While it's true you would need to take an extra step or two doing this at least with solid wood you don't have worries about edge banding and etc..

1. 
   Napie | Feb 18, 2008 01:29am | #5

   “An extra step or two”, now that is very optimistic to say the very least.  And let’s not forget about dealing with wood movement with a solid case side 24” wide.  I dare say that the huge cabinet making firms out there can get even better deals than you can on solid timber Frenchy and if it makes more sense for them to use sheet goods there is a reason.

1. 
   frenchy | Feb 18, 2008 06:13am | #7

   Napie,

     If Stickley and Hipplewhite etc.. used plywood to build with I could agree with you.

     Since they didn't, and they learned how to work with wood movement a few hundred years ago I suspect those techniques are available someplace if you were really interested.. <grin>

      As for the prices I pay for hardwoods.. I know others can buy cheaper than I do. In fact on occasion I buy cheaper than I mentioned..

    IF you are really interested in wood prices there is a news letter out there called the Hardwood Market Report that gives prices sawmills sell wood for across the country.. That changes slightly on a weekly basis which is how often the report comes out..

     What's not listed is surplus wood.. wood which is ordered but not picked up and it  may discolor on the surface..  (turn grey)  The normal prices are similar to what pallet mills buy wood for..  typically around 15 cents per bd.ft. 

1. 
   Napie | Feb 18, 2008 06:26am | #8

   Stickley made his own plywood as did some of the earlier furniture makers. It has been around in the US since before the Civil War and in fact it has been found in the tombs in <!----><!----><!---->Egypt<!----><!---->, so yes the old guys used it.  And a freestanding piece of furniture is a lot different than cabinets that are attached to a wall.   But mostly it is not about the material price, it is about the time required to build the job.  I could have made my kitchen with all solid stock, but he time required just to mill it and glue up the panels for the cases would have been equal to what the entire job took.   Not to mention waiting for it to air dry enough to use it.

2. 
   frenchy | Feb 18, 2008 07:07am | #9

   Napie,

       Some people buy enough wood at one time to have more than their immediate needs on hand.. that allows them to let wood air dry properly without waiting..

     You can afford to do that when wood is as cheap as it is at the sawmill.  The wood I used in construction of my home has a retail price well in excess of $800,000  however I purchased all that wood direct from a sawmill for under $25,000.   While that is an extreme example and most of that wood was purchased 7or 8 years ago and the retail prices I listed reflect currant market prices..

    There can be similar deals available today with careful purchasing..

    I have several pieces of Stickley furniture.   The only place "plywood" is used is in the backs and then only on certain pieces.. most of them have solid wood panels even there..   

       I do agree with you that if cost is the first, primary and most important  consideration then by all means use sheet goods..

    However please don't stop there.. Carefull shopping will provide complete cabinets for less cost than they can be made at a local cabinet shop.. Large shops  buy at prices that small shops simply cannot approach.

     MY sister bought a large order of cabinets from a custom maker only to find out after they were installed nearly every single piece was directly from various suppliers  and "Kitted" together. 

    Her cost was in excess of $37,000 and she later found virtual twins available for less than 1/4 of that price..

    

4. 
   mrbird90 | Feb 18, 2008 05:03am | #6

   Check out CHBRIGGS The Big Green Book, They offer all kinds of pre finished in numerous thicknesses Their web page is WWW. CHBIGGS.com Tel 1-800-355-1000 They appear to have several shipping locations so one may be near you.