Timber Prices

[Zeddedhed]

To my shame I've never really had a good handle on timber prices (joinery Hardwoods) and have always gone by what 'felt ok'. I know that's pretty stupid for someone who is in business but there we go.

Anyway, a sleepless night (back pain....grrrr) left me prowling around trying to find something constructive to do so I decided to do a quick analysis of my last major purchase.

For those who are interested here's the results.

When I order I normally tell the supplier what sizes I need to end up with (after machining) and leave it to them to work out the best and most economical sizes for sawn boards.

For American Black Walnut I ended up paying £77.09 per Cu ft (ex VAT)
Fort American Hard Maple the price was £40.45 per Cu ft (ex VAT)

These prices included delivery and unloading into my workshop.
The quality of the timber was outstanding. Although it was sold as sawn all boards were planed on both sides so you could see exactly what you were getting. The Walnut in particular was incredible - almost zero wastage due to defects.

The sizes I ordered were between 30 and 80mm thick and 160 to 190mm wide in ABW and 35mm x 220mm in Maple.

All in all not too bad I feel.

Boards all good and straight. No cups/winds/bows worth mentioning. Hardly any checks or splits.

How does that compare to some of you more experienced buyers?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I sympathise with the pain - I was up at 4.00am for codeine.

 

[doctor Bob]

I pay around the £60 mark for ABW, super prime, sawn not planed. Usually 1.25" or 1.5". I guess if you are having it skimmed and a bit of work on the order your price seems fair.

 

[memzey]

Where do you get it at that price Dr Bob?

 

[doctor Bob]

Brooks, I do have a big monthly account with them.

 

[RobinBHM]

For 32mm maple, Ive just paid £1003.25+vat (=£28.50+vat cuft), for American Maple

This was from Brooks Bros. They can quote for lump sum prices if you give them a cutting list, although I just order boards.

Brooks certainly hold stocks of very good walnut, although not a timber I buy. They must have excellent contacts with some US sawmills.

Total timber cost is often determined by how close the order matches the ordered boards sizes more than cost by volume. It is frustrating to order 2.7metre boards and have 3.5m boards delivered

 

[HOJ]

When I questioned one of my suppliers costings against a cutting list, for Euro Oak, they told me they had factored in an 80% over supply/wasteage in the lump sum.....

 

[Phill joiner]

Give international timber a go. I pay around £950 a cube for walnut. Good quality stuff too. There's also lathams and timbmet which can be good on price but watch the quality.

 

[doctor Bob]

Give international timber a go. I pay around £950 a cube for walnut. Good quality stuff too. There's also lathams and timbmet which can be good on price but watch the quality.

£26 a cu foot, I'm afraid I don't believe you.

 

[RobinBHM]

Yes, I wondered if it was a typo, but even £1950 would be cheap.

 

[Billy Flitch]

The argument about timber prices has been going on for some time as you cam see in the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqHHzb1m4CM just roll with it.

 

[sitefive]

I'm just wondering what kind of stuff you are making guys If you can buy timber for such insane prices and still make profit?
If I would be making stuff and buying at those prices ...well.... I would be losing £ on just material costs alone.

 

[RobinBHM]

I'm just wondering what kind of stuff you are making guys If you can buy timber for such insane prices and still make profit?
If I would be making stuff and buying at those prices ...well.... I would be losing £ on just material costs alone.

Clearly you need to think of a price, double it and add £50

The timber cost of a project isnt that great really, for example a bespoke kitchen, the timber cost will only be a tiny part of the overall contract value.

 

[woodaxed]

For 32mm maple, Ive just paid £1003.25+vat (=£28.50+vat cuft), for American Maple

This was from Brooks Bros. They can quote for lump sum prices if you give them a cutting list, although I just order boards.

Brooks certainly hold stocks of very good walnut, although not a timber I buy. They must have excellent contacts with some US sawmills.

Brooks get all there ABW from eastern europe im guessing other UK companys do the same, i dont know how much ABW from the USA is imported into the UK

 

[Phill joiner]

Give international timber a go. I pay around £950 a cube for walnut. Good quality stuff too. There's also lathams and timbmet which can be good on price but watch the quality.

£26 a cu foot, I'm afraid I don't believe you.

woops sorry guys......1950 a cube for 25mm walnut.

 

[ejtrent]

It varies loads strangely, I find most of the 'budget' hardwoods are had around £20-30 cuft then it jumps up to £60-70 cft for ABW. I've had ABW from Timbmet twice now (3 cubic metres or so) and the quality varies, most of it is good but you do get the odd very sappy board (one side use only).

Best timber I've had was of course from a little chap in a barn, but for convenience a lot of the time it's Timbmet as they have a depot here, I'm hoping to go up to english woodlands timber soon, seems very interesting and great prices.