[Tony B]

These are the prices I paid today for hardwood at HoustonHardwoods.com

Padauk 4/4 $10.50/ Bd. Ft.
Curly Maple 4/4 $8.15/ Bd. Ft.
Red Oak 4/4 $3.45? Bd. Ft
Red Oak 4/4 at 10" wide $3.80/ Bd. Ft.
Red Oak 6/4 $4.10/ Bd. Ft.
Red oak 8/4 $4.30/Bd. Ft.

 

[Jim Frye]

About the same as my local dealer. but some species are up quite a bit from this spring, most notably maple hard and soft.

 

[B Coll]

About the same as my local dealer. but some species are up quite a bit from this spring, most notably maple hard and soft.

I just paid $5.75 bd ft for 4/4 FAS soft maple in the rough. Almost double what I paid two years ago.

 

[Jim Frye]

I forgot to mention that my dealer's prices are for S2S R1E FAS wood.

 

[Tony B]

The last time I was there about 2 months ago I think, was the first time they raised their prices since before Covid. Now they are coming down again.
The price I pay per board foot is for FAS but does not include SLR and only one face is mildly surfaced so that you can see the grain and patterns. Any additional milling is extra but is very reasonable. I used to buy it S2S and SLR but not anymore. I like the wood as thick as I can get it. The 1" stock can be planed by me down to 7/8" and both sides are good to go. If you just tell them plane S2S, it will be planed to 3/4". When I used to get it milled by them, I would tell them to plane till one side is good and the other side I wasnt concerned with. That would also give me around 7/8' final. Keep in mind that the 'other' side was still really planed nicely. Their planer cuts both sides at the same time.
I like the extra thickness for table tops and the aprons.

 

[Steve Neul]

These are the prices I paid today for hardwood at HoustonHardwoods.com

Padauk 4/4 $10.50/ Bd. Ft.
Curly Maple 4/4 $8.15/ Bd. Ft.
Red Oak 4/4 $3.45? Bd. Ft
Red Oak 4/4 at 10" wide $3.80/ Bd. Ft.
Red Oak 6/4 $4.10/ Bd. Ft.
Red oak 8/4 $4.30/Bd. Ft.

I think before the world went nuts 4/4 FAS red oak was running $2.30. All things considered $3.45 doesn't sound bad.

 

[DrRobert]

Yup, you have to be willing to pay the price, but good lumber is worth it. I was at Rockler the other day, all their lumber is 25% off, but sheesh, I perused through their walnut and would have selected maybe 2 boards.

Buying direct off the sawmill is cheapest, but has its drawbacks too, the main one being bugs and kiln drying. Ideally you have your own kiln. But you also have to be doing enough work to justify the expense. The other advantage is often you can buy several boards originating from the same log.

I have to drive 7 hours to a sawmill owned by an excellent sawyer to get that kind of lumber I want.

 

[BigCountry79]

As a hobbyist you also need to know why you are in the hobby. Are you trying to make cool wood things, or are you trying to learn to dry wood. Some people like the tree to table approach and they enjoy that, but you're not going to make as many tables (and it's probably going to cost you more too).

 

[Tony B]

Nothing like a reliable source of quality hardwoods.
Dont have to worry about warping or anything. I have never had a problem with a project straight from the metal building with no climate control and into a house or apartment. No acclimatizing necessary. The wood is stable.

 

[GoIrish]

If asked, my hardwood shop will take a skim cut to knock down the high spots and most of the rough wood. Like another post said I can finish to 7/8 in most cases but I save a little time and wear on my blades by not having to remove the rough stuff.

 

[firehawkmph]

We have a local Amish mill about 45 minutes away. They carry all domestic wood, 4/4, 6/4, 8/4, and live edge slabs. The dimensionAl lumber is surfaced 3 sides FAS. They also carry some #1 common, ingrown bark, curly, wormy, gummy, and cutoffs at half price. Curly maple used to be $3.30, it’s now over $5. Walnut is $7-8, depending on thickness, #1 common is $4.20. Red oak is still in the $3-4 range. Their wood is dry, live edge slabs are surfaced on two sides. Nice place to go to and nice people.
Mike Hawkins

 

[DrRobert]

We have a local Amish mill about 45 minutes away. They carry all domestic wood, 4/4, 6/4, 8/4, and live edge slabs. The dimensionAl lumber is surfaced 3 sides FAS. They also carry some #1 common, ingrown bark, curly, wormy, gummy, and cutoffs at half price. Curly maple used to be $3.30, it’s now over $5. Walnut is $7-8, depending on thickness, #1 common is $4.20. Red oak is still in the $3-4 range. Their wood is dry, live edge slabs are surfaced on two sides. Nice place to go to and nice people.
Mike Hawkins

You are very fortunate!

 

[GCTony]

We have a local Amish mill about 45 minutes away. They carry all domestic wood, 4/4, 6/4, 8/4, and live edge slabs. The dimensionAl lumber is surfaced 3 sides FAS. They also carry some #1 common, ingrown bark, curly, wormy, gummy, and cutoffs at half price. Curly maple used to be $3.30, it’s now over $5. Walnut is $7-8, depending on thickness, #1 common is $4.20. Red oak is still in the $3-4 range. Their wood is dry, live edge slabs are surfaced on two sides. Nice place to go to and nice people.
Mike Hawkins

Hmmm. 7 1/2 hour drive. I wonder if I can convince my wife of vacation to Cleveland Ohio.

 

[firehawkmph]

Hmmm. 7 1/2 hour drive. I wonder if I can convince my wife of vacation to Cleveland Ohio.

We also have a number of people with 45-60 minutes that advertise on FB Market Place that have bandsaw mills. Some sell the wood fresh cut, most have it dried. Check around in your area, I would think there’s a handful of small businesses selling nice wood.
Mike Hawkins