Replies

1. 
   stancalow | Jul 16, 2003 03:10am | #1

   Jeff

   This subject comes up a lot, but not exactly in the way you asked it.  You asked how to find quality, cheap wood.  As a hobbyist, I'll give you what I've learned.  Most of the big dogs that run here don't mess with small quantities, or have time to deal  with unreliable wood sources. 

   If you have access to cheap standing timber, you have the patience, and you need small quantities, dry it yourself.   It takes a minimal investment in equipment,  space, and a lot of time.  Hopefully someone will respond with a reference or website, but there's at least one good book on the subject of building your own drying system with a dehumidifier.  

        Three sources I can think of of cheap or sometimes free wood:

         1   pallet wood.  Many places just throw them away, and will gladly let you take them.  Sometimes the wood is very usable.  I have heard of people who have scavenged cherry, oak,  walnut, cypress, sycamore etc., out of discarded pallets. Some stuff, such as the masonite sheets at Home Depot, come from South America, on pallets sometimes of what we would consider exotic hardwoods.    Since they are
   roughly dimensioned, you can get the wood into usable shape with basic tools.  You do need a metal finder, though, or you could miss a nail, and damage your tools or yourself.

         2.   Dumpster.  Some people have good luck scavenging wood (with permission) from companies that use a lot of wood, such as a local cabinet-maker, furniture business, even a hardwood floor installer.  They sometimes throw away their shorts and other pieces still usable to the hobbyist. 

         3. Trees.  This is what you were really asking about.   Cutting your own, having it milled, and drying it yourself is certainly doable.  There have been a ton of threads here on the subject.  If you can get the trees at low cost, and you do have access to a mill it's probably worth it.  You will need a bandsaw for re-sawing, and there is always a danger in un-managed trees having nails or other metal in them.   But what it does cost is your time.

         Here's my long story.  About two years ago, we had a massive ice storm, that damaged just about every tree in the city - thousands and thousands.   The clean-up took several months.  Seeing an opportunity,  I visited a local park, where the city had cut down some damaged walnut limbs (yes I know  - reaction wood) into some obligingly manageable pieces.  I loaded my pickup with about ten logs, about 8 inches in diameter and  three feet long.  Not that big, but free wood, right?  I intended to use it for picture frames, and other small projects.  I  removed the bark, covered the ends with wax, and let them dry for about a year, in the basement.   When I had time, I cut them into usable pieces.
         I spent hours and hours trimming them to size and trying to resaw the logs into usable pieces.  Some of the logs were just not usable because of knots and obvious defects.   When I decided to quit, I had only a few usable pieces, maybe about 3 BF total, the largest about 3 inches wide.  When I figure the hours I spent (without actually making something) the saw blades I wore out, the mess and the minimal product, it wasn't worth it.  I would have been better off buying S2S or better at market prices, and not wasting any wood or time. 

         So if you have the time and interest, maybe worth a try, but definitely take into account the time and effort invovled.    If you like the idea of using found wood, look into woodturning.  If you have a planer and jointer, look into buying rough cut wood from a saw mill or dealer - it's usually cheaper.  There are probably many in your area, check with your state department of natural resources, forestry or conservation, whichever you have that deals with wood products.

1. 
   ToolDoc | Jul 16, 2003 03:40am | #2

   Thats the most sound advise that I have read here on this subject in a long time.. Thanks..

                               ToolDoc

2. 
   Jeff | Jul 16, 2003 04:02am | #3

   Stan

   I understand where your coming from, but thought I'd try anyway.

   Jeff

3. 
   Napie | Jul 17, 2003 10:27pm | #7

   I'm in total agreement, it material costs are a real consideration, then you are better off buy your furniture at the local discount big box store.

2. 
   adamws | Jul 16, 2003 05:19pm | #4

   For me, as a hobbyiest, it is well worth it to find wood second hand.  I keep an eye out for the local auctions and estate sales of woodworkers.  Around here not many people are interested in the wood at these auctions.  I picked up a full truckload of shorts and some full size stock for $10 at a local auction.  On another location I paid $135 for a full truckload of large stock of Maple, Walnut, Oak, Sassafras, Mahogany, Wenge, Purpleheart, and some I'm probably forgetting.  I estimated at the time I had gotten away with well over $1000 worth of lumber.  Anyway my point is that for the low cost involved it is, for me, well worth it to take the risk!

   Adam

1. 
   Jeff | Jul 16, 2003 11:49pm | #5

   Yeah

   My last buy like that yielded alot of oak & cherry.

   Don't see them very often tho.

   Jeff

1. 
   Biscardi | Jul 17, 2003 12:02am | #6

   By all means, take advantage of windfalls. I bought 200 bf of walnut once for a song and it lasted several years. Wood as old as that should be fairly dry depending on the conditions it was stored in. Buy/borrow a moisture meter and check before investing in getting the wood kilned.

   I have cut lumber from yard trees. I am not certain it is worth the effort unless you really come into something special. If you have acess to a mill and the equipment needed to move along a big log  you might consider it.

   Framk