Brendon_t Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 So being in southern California, there is a lot around but very few options for hardwood not ridiculously marked up. My last walnut project, I paid about $8.50/bf for 8/4 lumber about an hour and a half drive away. I did some Google searching and found a Sawyer in my city and had a long chat with him today on the phone. He started that he has 8/4 air dried walnut up to 6 foot long he would take $5/bf for. I'm trying to build a stock up so that I don't have to go buy wood for every project. This sounds like a pretty good deal to me, a novice. Anything I should look out for or know about air dried from a mill vs kiln from a big yard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Check the moisture content. It's a good price but, if you have to let it sit for a year or 2 drying, it may not be such a good deal to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Get a moisture meter learn how to use it, take it with you. Air dried can take a couple of years or more for 8/4 stock. I would also take a small block plane and a flashlight. Air dried walnut has better color than typical klin dried walnut ( most mills steam walnut to try to darken the sapwood during the kiln drying process) Usually a good idea to joint and plane air dried wood over sized then sticker it up for a few days to acclimate and see if it moves on you. Then you have some room to joint out any twist or warp that may happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 " Bugs ! I hate bugs ! " Name the movie. Yea you got to keep an eye out for bugs but air dried walnut has so much better color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 "I hate bugs" - MIB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raefco Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 All hail K no all hail J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 This all sounds like good advice. He has a few pictures up on his website where the walnut almost looks purple. I've never seen it in that state before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 This all sounds like good advice. He has a few pictures up on his website where the walnut almost looks purple. I've never seen it in that state before. Yep.. That's what you get in good walnut.. You'll see colors you didn't think possible in walnut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Air dried then regular kiln dried looks just as good. Seems a bit more stable as well. " The Mummy " when the greedy little fat guy is in the crypt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 "Well, well....big bad bug got a bit of a soft spot uh?..........don't start nothin', won't be nothin'....." classic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenMasco Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 As an aside, I also live in Southern California. I found this guy in Palm Springs. Says he has thousands of bf of many species. I spoke to him on the phone but have never met him or bought from him (yet) he said he sells 4/4 walnut and cherry from $4 to $6 a bf. I think he is a good and affordable source and plan on going out for a few hundred bf sometime soon his name and number Dan 323-350-2267 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroDave Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 " Bugs ! I hate bugs ! " Name the movie. Yea you got to keep an eye out for bugs but air dried walnut has so much better color. Starship Troopers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Starship Troopers The only good bug is a dead bug! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Bonhoff lumber has 4/4 at $6.71 and 6/4 at $7.11 I just drove to visit a local hobby sawyer and ended up leaving with 35 board feet of walnut including some very cool crotch wood for 100 dollars. His 4/4 is actually 6/4 and 6/4 was about 1/64 shy of 8/4. I just wish he had more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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