Bill Tarbell Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 I got lucky and caught a craigslist add for lumber yesterday. The guy had said he had 1000-1500 bf of multiple species of wood and many dimensions, but he didn't have any pictures. He was asking only $500 so I figured at that price it'd be hard to lose. I began calling around to rent a truck, but wouldn't ya know.. there wasn't a single uHaul truck available in the entire city of pittsburgh. Thankfully, a buddy had off work and was able to lend me his van. The catch was that i had to unload/reload it.. and it was very full. After 45 minutes of clearing the van and another 50 minutes of driving we ended up at the guys place. It turns out that he has a rather large saw mill operation on his property. He said he typically sells it all via contract when it's green. The stuff he was selling on craigslist was put aside about 10 years ago for his own projects, which never materialized. It was quite dry and the great deal of it was nice and straight. About 40% was cherry, 25% walnut, 20% oak, 15% soft maple, and a few boards of sassafras, hemlock, He had moved the lumber prior to the sale, so it was just loosely piled in a big hopper that was as wide as the van and a few feet taller. We really didn't think it was all going to fit, but once it was stacked flat it ended up just barely fitting. Check out these pictures. We had to drive the 50 minutes back home on the interstate looking the van was just exploding with wood. I'm not really sure exactly how much is there but it should last me a good many years. I'm still in awe that it boiled down to only 30-40 cents per bf for so much cherry and walnut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Great score! The thing that I find funny is all that wood hanging out, and the solitary orange flag. 50 minutes is a long time! Glad you made it home safely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Wow, I'm surprised the weight didn't break a spring or something on the van. Congratulations on a really nice haul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 That is an incredible haul ! That looks like a 1 ton Dodge van to me. I had one for years and it was a workhorse. When you get a few pieces planed you should post some pictures. That ought to kick the envy up a few more notches ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Wish you were closer, I'd be hitting you up for some lumber! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krtwood Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Ah the rare porcupine van. Don't let the dog at it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Nice capture! Ya can't go wrong with that selection! Must have looked like a white cat with a brown tail screaming down the interstate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jHop Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 I can't believe they let you on the interstate with that.... (I know I wouldn't. I would have pulled you over and confiscated... er... lightened the load slightly to make the trip safer. Yeah, that's the story...) Nice haul! (And nice score!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC1501 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Excellent score! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Those pictures are too funny! You should have taken the tires off and put roller skates on to make it look even more ridiculous! And a spoiler, why not! Awesome haul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I can't believe they let you on the interstate with that.... (I know I wouldn't. I would have pulled you over and confiscated... er... lightened the load slightly to make the trip safer. Yeah, that's the story...) Nice haul! (And nice score!) Yeah I could see Indiana state police pulling you over for that load! Great score, wish I could find a deal like that around here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 People going down the interstate said "look at those idiots hauling that old lumber.....it's not good for anything!"......they had no idea. Now....that's what you can see. There's no telling what you may find when you plane it. You may have a half of a load of figured cherry! That's one of the things I enjoy about wood and especially turning. You never know what's on the inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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