Buying Walnut

[Renoj]

Rather than hijacking the recent post about oak I thought best to start a new post.

I quite often see walnut chopping boards or bowls being sold at prices that I couldn’t even remotely consider with the price I get from my local mill. I think of American black walnut as being way more expensive than oak but products I see are often sold at a similar if not cheaper price than oak of the same product.
Last time I checked the local mill sold ABW for £4700 Ex vat per m3 which is crazy expensive.

Is there a secret source of cheap ABW I don’t know about?

 

[marcros]

Yes, don't buy walnut to make chopping boards from. Use the offcuts from a paying client project and the timber is free.

 

[TheTiddles]

Marcos has it, you sell the waste you just charged one client for to another one. You know that bit you cut out of a worktop for a sink? There’s 2 oak boards

Aidan

 

[thetyreman]

I wouldn't know because I've never been able to afford it

 

[AJB Temple]

I would add that the AB walnut boards that I have seen in the last year or so, were iffy quality.

 

[sunnybob]

Admittedly I'm in Cyprus, but I can buy walnut planks of 3 metre x 180 mm x 25 mm for around 40 euro. Although I have been told the price has gone up recently due to shortages.

But no, you will never be competitive on price if you buy just to make chopping boards.

 

[Renoj]

Thanks for the replies, good to know I’m not missing something in regards to the price. Would have been making them at a loss if I was to compete with some of the prices I’ve seen. Will stick to oak and maple.

 

[Hornbeam]

American Black Walnut is around £110 cuft for that works out about £3500/m3