Gary,
I have a question about buying wood. I don’t live near any hardwood lumber suppliers so I order on line. Here’s the question: if a board foot is a board foot is a board foot why do they charge more for thicker stock. If I order 10 bf of 4/4 oak it’s about $ 3.00/bf but order 10 bf of 6/4 and it’s about $ 5.00/bf. The same amount of material but more $ per bf.
Regards,
Rich Holzheimer
Replies
Hey,
Well the simple answer is that it takes more work to make thicker stock. I know this doesn't make sense since the whole tree is thick to start with, but consider what has to be done to make a board. You have to fell it, move it!,cut it, move it!, sticker it, move it!, then dry it, move it!, sticker it, etc. It takes longer in the kiln to get dry, flat stock that is not riddled with checks so there's time there being eaten up. It's just more work to deal with thicker stock. I just handled a whole bunch of 8/4 Southern yellow pine. It was work that's for sure.
That being said, a $2.00/ bf difference is pretty steep. I'd check around and see if that's normal for on-line sales. Usually the difference at the yard is less than that, closer to .50/ bf different. Good luck. Gary
Thanks Gary, It was what I was thinking also, It was the only thing that made any sense. The cost is not as high as I stated I was just throwing numbers around.
Thanks again,
Rich
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