As a passionate DIY enthusiast, I understand the significance of hardwood lumber in the world of furniture crafting. While its exceptional durability and stability make it the preferred choice, newcomers often face challenges due to its premium cost.
Rest assured, I’m here to guide you through securing top-notch deals on hardwood lumber for your next project.
What to do Before You Shop
Estimate How Much Hardwood Lumber You Need for Your Project
Before buying any material for your woodworking project, you must strategically plan how much lumber you’ll need. Ask yourself considerations like: will ½-inch plywood would suffice instead of ¾-inch? Do I need a 4/4 lumber or a bigger sized 5/4 lumber for this project?
Some may argue that such tactics may jeopardize the quality of your project. However, skilled woodworkers will always find a strategic way to make the most of their available resources.
Units of Measurement to Know
If you survey the local market or any sawmill near your place, you will notice that hardwood is sold via board foot (BF) metric. You may not know, but many retailers round off these measurements when they hit the store.
For example, if you’re buying a 6.85 BF of hardwood, most sellers would round off this measurement to 6.9 or 7.0 BF.
Because of this, the costs may increase significantly, especially if you’re buying in bulk. I recommend having your calculator with you to ensure accuracy in pricing.
How to Calculate Approximate Pricing
When buying affordable hardwood pieces, you must remember that one board foot is equivalent to the volume quantity of a 12 x 12 x 1.0 inches board.
The pricing would depend on what kind of lumber you’ll purchase. If it’s oak, expect the pricing to sour up to $20 per board foot.
The calculation for approximate costs is simple. All you need to do is multiply how many board feet you’ll need by the retail price indicated by the seller. If you need a 10 BF of oakwood, multiply it by the general retail price of $20, and you’ll be paying around $200.
How is Hardwood Lumber Sold
The concept of board foot may confuse new woodworkers, so it’s best to tackle it through wood thickness as how many retailers would specify. The calculation of hardwood lumber when selling always revolves around the formula Length x Width x Thickness, divided by 144.
All lumber measurements are calculated in inches. The overall result will be the BF calculation sold to you.
How and Where to Find Hardwood Lumber Suppliers Near Me
#1: Join Woodworking Clubs and Organizations
Drawing upon my extensive experience as a seasoned woodworker, engaging with woodworking clubs and organizations can yield a multitude of benefits. These associations often possess insider knowledge of the top-notch wood retailers in your vicinity, and their members gain access to exclusive deals and discounts—a valuable resource for any woodworking enthusiast.
You’ll also have the perk of consulting with your fellow members about the complexities of your project.
#2: Check Your Nearest Local Supply Store
If you’re working on a massive project, the chances are you’ll need a large number of materials. Because of this, you should check the nearest stores if they have what you need. Keep in mind that transportation of these boards may add to your expenses.
#3: Do a Quick Search on Google
Quickly searching the keyword “Hardwood Lumber Near Me” could get you a long way. As you know, Google is the best search engine worldwide [1] that can give you reliable results on any of your lumber-related queries.
Plus, a retailer with a decent website is mostly more credible than those with none.
#4: Look Around on Social Media
In this digital age, it’s not surprising that many businesses are establishing their presence on social media channels. These retailers often post their events and deals on their profiles, so it’s wise to keep track of their accounts and see if they have the best wood for your workbench project.
How to Choose a Supplier
Weigh Your Options
When choosing a hardwood supplier, the wisest thing you should do is check if their available stocks suit your woodworking needs. You may not know, but there are different types of wood pieces offered in the market. The thickness of these boards may range in quarter-inch increment measurements, from ¼-inch to 4/4-inch.
These lumber options are also classified into four grades. The United States has a grading system for these wood pieces that’ll greatly help you, with Grade 1 as the highest quality and Grade 4 as the lowest.
I highly recommend asking your retailer if the wood is dried or not. You’ll encounter timber options that went through air-dried and kiln drying. If you want the best quality, go for the latter.
Bargain or Ask for a Discount
If you’re buying from big home improvement stores, creating an account through their websites can score you some discounts. If that’s not an option, getting social with salespeople in your local lumber store is a great alternative.
Picking Up Your Order: Important Reminders
Confirm Your Requirements
Shopping for wood pieces requires a lot of time. So before you hit the road along with your lumber orders, you’d better check if you got the right board size or thickness for your 4/4 lumber.
Straightness of the Lumber
Buying longer boards such as 8/4 wood size is the standard to avoid another trip to the store. However, some pieces coming out of the mill may not be in perfect shape. Some parts need to be cut, such as grains and knots.
Secure Transportation
If you’re picking your material far from your woodworking shop, get a transport vehicle that suits the size of the lumber you bought. You wouldn’t want your wood pieces damaged before you begin your project, do you?
Conclusion
As a woodworking expert, I’d like to emphasize that a simple online search for “Hardwood Lumber Near Me” can significantly streamline your wood procurement process. Armed with this knowledge, your next strategic move should be hitting the road to source the finest wood materials for your upcoming project. This small investment of time on the internet can yield substantial benefits in your quest for quality lumber.
You've probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
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