Disclaimer: I am not receiving any form of compensation for this article. I wish I was, but I am not receiving anything, not even a cookie. I have personally shopped at each business mentioned and will probably shop there again. I purchased everything with my own money and the opinions expressed are mine and mine alone. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please feel free to contact me. If you are new to lumber jargon, I explain these terms and fun lumber facts at the end of this article. Everything I discuss here I learned from a number of people, in person, online and in books.
Welcome to the third and final part of The Best Place to Buy Lumber is … So far, I told you about stores that focus on construction grade lumber and plywood. Then I told you about stores that focus on woodworking. Also, if you read Part Two you now know the difference between a carpenter and woodworker. In this final installment I am going talk about buying lumber direct from the sawmill and why it might or might not be a good option.
In Part Two I told you about the challenge I faced when buying pecan lumber that would meet my customer’s needs. The boards had to be at least 10 inches wide, minimal flaws and between four quarters and five quarters thick (1 inch and 1 ¼ inches). The boards had to have good color and interesting grain patterns. When I started to have to go through multiple bundles of lumber (each bundle was about 5 feet wide, 4 feet high and 10 – 15 feet long) just to find five or six boards that would be usable I knew it was time to find another source for my lumber.
I went online in search of sawmills that carried pecan in Texas. I found one in Bastrop Texas (about 120 miles from my home), one near Waco Texas (about 170 miles from my home) and one about 60 miles away. I visited the websites for all three to learn more about them. The third sawmill (the closest one) had a statement that caused me to cross them off my list right away. The comment was “if you have to ask the price you can’t afford it.” Not the best sales tactic. After some phone calls I decided it was time for a road trip to the first two sawmills.
The one in Bastrop had incredible slabs! Most were two to four inches thick, between three and six feet wide and up to twelve feet long. Great for conference tables, bad for cutting boards. One reason was that these slabs cost anywhere from $600 to over $3000. Way too expensive for what I wanted to use the lumber for. Another reason was it would almost be crime to cut the slabs into cutting boards. I was able to buy some pecan and mesquite boards that were about two inch thick, 15 inches wide and about four feet long. So, the trip was not a bust.
Here are two examples of the size of logs the sawmill in Bastrop processed into slabs. The first photo is of logs that are about six feet in diameter, the second log is about three to four feet in diameter. What makes the second so interesting and valuable (meaning worth more than my truck) is that the tree has a lot of burls which are highly valued.
I then traveled to the sawmill near Waco Texas and there I was able to buy a number of pecan boards that were well suited for my use. They were almost two inches thick and the grain pattern was great. These boards would not have been very good for a table because they had multiple bows over the length. However, I was able to minimize the bowing by cutting the cutting boards out first and then flattening the smaller pieces. Also, the cost per board foot was cheaper than what I have paid in Houston.
Here are some of the boards I purchased at the sawmill near Waco they all are between six and seven feet long. The bottom board is over twenty inches wide. The middle board is a small slab that I am still deciding on what to do with it.
So, what the advantages of buying from a sawmill? To start assuming they have the species you want the boards may be cheaper. Another advantage is that if you need specific dimensions you may be able to do what I have done, get the sawmill to cut the boards the way you want from the part of the tree you want. I have done that twice and it worked very well. I did have to wait about two weeks for the sawmill to dry the lumber before I could use it. Another advantage is that you can buy boards from the same tree and have matching boards.
One disadvantage of buying at a sawmill is that they can only offer what they can harvest from the surrounding area. So, the sawmill in Bastrop Texas only carries pecan and mesquite. The sawmill near Waco offers pecan, mesquite and sometimes live oak. The drive to a sawmill may be a disadvantage if you only need a few boards. You have to weigh the cost of the trip against the quality and quantity of the boards. For me the sawmill near Waco is a better option than the sawmill near Bastrop based on my current needs. However, if I have a need for a large slab then that would change.
So, what is the final verdict? Where should you buy your lumber? If your project is building something like a building, shed or picnic table a store like Lowe’s or Home Depot is a good choice. The same is true if you need a common hardwood like oak or poplar. If you need a wider selection of lumber or plywood without voids or flaws, then a lumber specialty store like Houston Hardwoods is a good option. Just remember that if the lumber is rough cut you will have to plane and joint the boards or pay someone to do it for you. The lumber specialty stores also offer a wider selection in length, width and thickness. If you need custom dimensions a sawmill may be your best option. Sometimes, they will also allow you to buy wider and thicker boards. You should consider the time and cost of driving there. If you are lucky you will several sawmills near you. At the end of the day depending on your needs all of these options are good ones; you just need to decide what works best for you.
I hope you enjoyed this and that I was able to help you get the most value and selection when you shop for your supplies. I welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.
Thank you for your time
Donald Wilton