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Bedivere Why Do Witches Burn?
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7464 | TRs | Pics Location: The Hermitage |
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Bedivere
Why Do Witches Burn?
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Fri May 05, 2017 7:45 pm
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Wondering if anyone around here has any experience...
I need to build a new fence around my property. I'll need to buy a rather large amount of cedar fence board - the typical 5"x3/4"x6' boards (or whatever the exact finished dimensions are).
I've seen ads on Craigslist from small private mills in places like Chehalis and Olympia and out on the Peninsula advertising such boards for prices cheaper than the big box stores have them.
Anyone ever bought bulk lumber from a place like that?
Thoughts? Suggestions? Obnoxious unhelpful blather?
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mike Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 6397 | TRs | Pics Location: SJIsl |
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mike
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Fri May 05, 2017 9:10 pm
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Typical cedar these days is poor quality second growth. Especially the cheap stuff sold for this kind of use. I would reject any boards with big and/or loose knots and white sap wood. Dry is preferable. If not you'll have to stack 'n sticker. Remembering to re-stack and move the stickers so they won't stain. Treat or paint.
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wickerman323 Member
Joined: 04 May 2017 Posts: 3 | TRs | Pics Location: Granite Falls |
You can definitely get some better prices from small mills. They don't have to worry about marking up the price because of as many middle men like the box stores do. Just keep in mind buying from a small mill would mean the boards don't have some of the chamfers and flourishes that a board from the big box store would have if that is important to you.
I would love to find a good small mill that has reliable lumber for cheap.
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InFlight coated in DEET
Joined: 20 May 2015 Posts: 847 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle area |
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InFlight
coated in DEET
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Sat May 06, 2017 12:00 am
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With ceder fencing the upright 4x4 are a critical feature. There is no good pressure treated lumber any more, none it will survive long with any soil contact. I had to bust up concrete and replace a few of these rotted posts at my old house.
Most of the commercial installers use pipe in post installation. They pour a concrete footing and have a 1 inch metal pipe sticking out of the footing. They center drill a matching hole in the bottom of the post. They then drill a hole horizontal through both and bolt it, suspending the cedar post about an inch or two above grade
You might check with some of the lumber only retailers, and Dunn. They may have some better prices. Cedar Fencing is always sold green, none of it is kiln dried.
Cedar fencing is graded as Clear, #1, #2, and is available as rough sawn or surfaced four sides. You need to compare the identical grades to have a meaningful comparison. Number 1 runs about 50% more than number #2.
Some of the cheap ads you see could be #2 or lower.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...” ― Henry David Thoreau
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...” ― Henry David Thoreau
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moonspots Happy Curmudgeon
Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 2456 | TRs | Pics Location: North Dakota |
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moonspots
Happy Curmudgeon
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Sat May 06, 2017 5:31 am
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Bedivere wrote: | ...I'll need to buy a rather large amount of cedar fence board - the typical 5"x3/4"x6' boards (or whatever the exact finished dimensions are)... |
You may ask about buying 8' instead of 6' lengths. Last time I build such a fence it was cheaper to buy 8' lengths, then cut (or not) than it was to purchase boards that had already been cut. Bonus, is that the short pieces you do eventually cut make excellent kindling - if you use firewood anywhere.
"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
"Out, OUT you demons of Stupidity"! - St Dogbert, patron Saint of Technology
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Gregory Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2014 Posts: 386 | TRs | Pics
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Gregory
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Sat May 06, 2017 7:50 am
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Box stores are the most expensive place to buy anything.I use these guys for cedar
http://www.cedarproductsco.com/
I have also done a fair amount of business with mills out on the coast but none are in business anymore.
like anything, you need to take a look at the product.A lot of times with low-grade fence boards they will throw in extra to help compensate for culling.
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contour5 Member
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 2963 | TRs | Pics
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contour5
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Sat May 06, 2017 10:10 am
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Box stores tend to offer fairly mediocre quality in a lot of their lumber product. Take a look at Compton on 1st Ave S. Better quality lumber and their prices are usually reasonable.
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Navy salad Member
Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 1865 | TRs | Pics Location: Woodinville |
I've had good luck buying from small mills, getting what I believe was better quality than the big stores for a better price. But it is likely hit or miss. The nice thing is it's not hard to check the quality by eyeballing it.
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Sat May 06, 2017 4:13 pm
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DIYSteve seeking hygge
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics Location: here now |
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DIYSteve
seeking hygge
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Sat May 06, 2017 6:20 pm
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Galvanized cyclone fence is much more fitting for OP's neighborhood. Think of it as a lost-cost angle on that post-modern industrial chic thing.
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Bedivere Why Do Witches Burn?
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7464 | TRs | Pics Location: The Hermitage |
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Bedivere
Why Do Witches Burn?
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Sat May 06, 2017 9:12 pm
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Thanks for the input everyone! Well, everyone except for you, Steve.
mike wrote: | ...Dry is preferable. If not you'll have to stack 'n sticker. Remembering to re-stack and move the stickers so they won't stain. ... |
Mike - I have no idea what this means. Can you explain?
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markh752 Snoozing on a rock!
Joined: 03 Dec 2011 Posts: 866 | TRs | Pics
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markh752
Snoozing on a rock!
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Sat May 06, 2017 9:43 pm
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Bedivere wrote: | I've seen ads on Craigslist from small private mills in places like Chehalis... |
According to Google, Reichert Shake & Fencing is close to Chehalis.
According to their website they "strictly produce WRC Fence Boards. We currently do not ship any products overseas, but only throughout the USA."
I am not sure what WRC means, but the fact that they do not ship overseas is pretty neat.
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Bedivere Why Do Witches Burn?
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7464 | TRs | Pics Location: The Hermitage |
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Bedivere
Why Do Witches Burn?
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Sat May 06, 2017 10:57 pm
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I'd bet WRC=Western Red Cedar.
Thanks!
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Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12831 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
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Ski
><((((°>
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Sat May 06, 2017 11:45 pm
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Sir Bedivere:
just a note:
most all of those "cedar fence boards" are cut from green second-growth - at least most all the stuff at the big box retailers - and it's terrible when it comes to cupping, warping, and shrinking.
I put up a 14-foot section out in back a few years ago - tacked the boards onto the frame with 1-1/4" self-tapping drywall screws (NOT nails) - butted them up against each other tight. a year later there was almost 1/4" of space in between each board.
another issue is that they're so green they don't take stain well.
just a couple things to take into consideration.
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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DIYSteve seeking hygge
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics Location: here now |
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DIYSteve
seeking hygge
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Sun May 07, 2017 8:32 am
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Bedivere wrote: | Well, everyone except for you, Steve. |
Just tryin' to get you thinking outside the box, er fence, bro
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