Here we go AGAIN !!!

[kmcleod]

Well, after much discussion I've finally gotten moving on the cupboards and shelves for the study.

Now this is nothing to fancy,,just three small cupboards in an L shape and some shelves to go on them.

Having made a small bookcase out of Southern Yellow Pine it was requested that I use the same wood for the cupboards and shelves....so far,,so good...

So after a good few hours scratching head and working out sizes, parts etc I start scouting around for a timber supplier who can sell me sawn SYP,,,,,(the planer / thicknesser already paying for themselves),,,,and start to run into a wall,,,,

My normal wood stockists no longer stock it, so after a number of phone calls,,,,,(timber merchants don't endear themselves to the DIY trade do they), finally find Atkins and Cripps nr Ely,,,,

So last week I call em and, yes we do supply SYP, these are the thicknesses, widths and the usual board lengths are 2.1 or 4.2m boards....Good stuff thought I,,,,,OK, how do I get a quote? - oh send an e-mail to Timbmet I was told - (seems Atkins & Cripps are now part of a larger group)..

So did this,,,sent them the parts list as I was told to,,,,that was yesterday.

Today I get an irate call from someone at Timbmet in Oxford (I'll come back to that) basically telling me he didn't have the time to work out a quote....so after some to and fro, and speaking to his boss I get a quote...

But it doesn't look right to me,,,so I call back,,,and all of a sudden I get told,,,the wood is in 'random lengths' there are no stock sizes, erm,,,cant tell you what overs we have allowed (I usually allow for 30% extra), oh and it'll be delivered from Oxford (I'm in essex nr Stansted airport)

OK,,,now I'll take a breath and calm down, after this little escapade I feel like a cross between Victor Meldrew and one of the Grumpy old men on TV, but this is the sort of experience that drives newbies like me away,,

I appreciate that Timbmet is more used to dealing with requests for tonnes of wood for construction,,,but if they do not want to deal with the DIY trade,,,then say so,,

Now completely cheesed of,,,and wondering what the heck to do,,,best bet is probably to go back to usual stockist and see if they can get SYP for me,,,it'll cost more,,,but at least they don't look / talk to you as if you have grown another head...

:evil:

 

[MooreToolsPlease]

We deal with Timbmet quite a bit at the workshop here, when we place an order we specify what lengths we require as minimum, and the same with widths, but the thickness is always the same.
We get a quote through that is an approximation, but is never guaranteed until the stock has been picked, thats where their 30% wastage comes into it.
What we do find with them though is that our boards are usually a lot closer to what we ask for than from most other suppliers.
What is the rough quantities you are after?

 

[newt]

Have you tried Yandels, long way from you but I expect they would deliver.

 

[kmcleod]

Roughly speaking I'm looking at 10 x 3.8 m long and 305mm wide, x 25.5 thick boards..

These are going to be machined to 18mm (3/4")

 

[wizer]

'tis annoying when they treat you like this. I got a similar response from Richard Russell the other day. Don't want to sell me your boards? Fair enuff, you can't have my folding paper.

Did you try AJ Smith in Benfleet or Morgan's in Rochester. Morgan's are good. Not dealt with AJ Smith for a few years. SL Hardwoods will also deliver and have always been impressed with their service.

 

[big soft moose]

I generlly use S&L hardwoods , who are in croydon which shouldnt be that far away from you (plus they deliver) http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/

of course i know SYP isnt techincally a hardwood but they might have it or be able to get it - and IME their customer service is considerably better than that you experienced from timbnet

 

[CWatters]

Dumb question but what is SYP?

 

[davegw]

Having made a small bookcase out of Southern Yellow Pine it was requested that I use the same wood for the cupboards and shelves....so far,,so good...

SYP = Southern Yellow Pine

 

[kmcleod]

Update - Tues 28th July

Well after much to and fro I now have two quotes for the wood,,,,one from SL Hardwoods, the other from Timbet

Prices are roughly the same, so thats ok,

I did try Yandles,,,and got to say, very charming lady on the phone who told me they just couldn't handle the requirement, then when it was explained that I was looking for Sawn Boards. not finished sizes, went on to tell me that they are closed for two weeks, so couldnt tell me the cost, sizes or anything for boards, other than a rough cost per square foot.
One thing to watch out with Yandles,,,,if you cannot pick up the material and they are shipping it to you,,,,it will be shipped by a courier and you will pay a per pallet price.
Definately got the feeling that they are more than happy to deal with people visiting site, but for anything other than small items, forget ordering via website, e-mail or phone...they aren't setup to do that.
Which I have no problem with,,,,just be better if they told potential customers that on their website.

So now to order and see what gets delivered,,,,

This is where the joy of making furniture stops being fun...

 

[bugbear]

I.. i know SYP isnt techincally a hardwood

But balsawood is...

BugBear