Red Oak Lumber pricing.."HOW MUCH...?!?!"

[Andy Griffith]

I just can't believe that it's gone up THAT MUCH!!!


Of course, I was purchasing Red Oak 2"x4"x8's, in #1 common grade, which isn't a "popular" item.

They are running about $1.55 bf down here.
Finishing up a project.

Not exactly something you will find at one of those "home improvement" stores which, I refuse to shop at, because my hardware stores treat me very well.

I had to go across the mountain this morning to Cleveland though to get these- they have a kiln over there.

I really wanted a solid 4"x4" piece, but they don't do those because they tend to split too often, and that's why they don't have them. They did offer their laminated board- which is roughly two 2x4's glued together...It may be stronger, but I don't like it.

Let me say, I am no lumberjack, sawmill guy, or wood expert in any way. I have no experience in this area...so, forgive me if I'm asking for the impossible.

I do know the difference between green and dried wood, and what looks good on grips.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I just can't believe that it's gone up THAT MUCH!!!


Of course, I was purchasing Red Oak 2"x4"x8's, in #1 common grade, which isn't a "popular" item.

They are running about $1.55 bf down here.
Finishing up a project.

Not exactly something you will find at one of those "home improvement" stores which, I refuse to shop at, because my hardware stores treat me very well.

I had to go across the mountain this morning to Cleveland though to get these- they have a kiln over there.

I really wanted a solid 4"x4" piece, but they don't do those because they tend to split too often, and that's why they don't have them. They did offer their laminated board- which is roughly two 2x4's glued together...It may be stronger, but I don't like it.

Let me say, I am no lumberjack, sawmill guy, or wood expert in any way. I have no experience in this area...so, forgive me if I'm asking for the impossible.

I do know the difference between green and dried wood, and what looks good on grips.

 

[dennis40x]

I was involved in the design Radio Frequency gluing equipment for the wood working industry. There is no such thing as a solid wood table top. There are a lot of pieces glued together. We use to walk around the equipment with a florescent bulb on a broom stick checking for leakage if the light came on there was a problem. If you were the operator of that piece equipment you could be cooking from the inside out.

 

[617fan]

KD #1c Red Oak is selling for .70 bf in trailer load quantities, if you can find any buyers. Thats its lowest price in about 15 years, it was double that before the housing bust started about 18 months ago.

 

[Forester]

Red Oak log prices are well down as well. In 2004 I was selling average red oak stumpage for $600 per thousand board feet. This winter the average price was $360 or so. This is the value to the landowner for the trees standing in the woods.

 

[Kevin G]

15 years ago bought about 70 red and white oak butt logs 8' to 16' from a firewood processor. Bumped into him and he told me about this beautiful oak he was into.
Hired a portable bandsaw mill that came to the site and sawed it up, about 4500 bd ft, into 1", 2" boards and some 6x6's.
Using a 1/2 ton pu truck got it to a barn,stickered it in the loft and waited a few years.
Believe I allowed it to dry to fast, lots of checking and movement. In retrospect should have had the boards quartersawn. Oh well.
After going thru the process I decided wood products were not overpriced. Was quite an education. Did end up w/some pretty figured wood similar in appearance to culy maple.
Kevin