Are these wood prices out of line?

[Allen Bookout]

I need to find a place to buy good wood. I live about twenty miles north of Fort Myers Florida and Alva Hardwoods east of Fort Myers is about the only supplier around here that I know of. I would think that there would be some suppliers in the Tampa area but if these prices are reasonable I would just as soon have some place close. Tampa would not be out of the question if someone knows of a good place around there. I guess that mail order might be another option.

I would appreicate your input reguarding these prices per board foot. Rough sawn.

Thanks, Allen

Ash $4.00
Basswood $4.00; 12/4 $5.00; 16/4 $6.00
Bloodwood $15.00
Bocote $32.00
Bolivian Rosewood $25.00
Bubinga, Figured Rosewood $24.00
Butternut $7.00; 16/4 $12.00
Canarywood $15.00
Aromatic Cedar/Hickory $6.00
Spanish Cedar $6.80
Curly Cherry $10.00
Cherry, PA Red $7.00
Chestnut $18.00
Cocobolo $30.00
Concalo Alves $15.00
Ebony/Pink Ivory $150.00
Elm $5.00
Iroko S3S $11.00
Figured Lacewood $15.00
Lignum Vitae (up to 7" thick)/Honduran Rosewood $36.00
Locust/Antique Pine $5.00
Mahogany (genuine) pattern grade $11.00
Honduran Mahogany Crotches $20.00
Makore, figured $16.00
Birdseye Maple $12.00
Curly Maple $12.00
hard Maple $6.00
soft Maple $5.00
Red Oak $4.00
Curly Red Oak $8.00
White Oak $5.00
Osage Orange/Redheart $10.00
Padauk $8.00
Paela/Tank Cypress $12.00
Pine/Cypress $3.50
Pine/Knotty 1x12 $1.49
Poplar $3.00
Purple Heart $7.00
Sassafras/Sycamore $5.00
Teak, F.E.Q. $20.00
Black Walnut $7.00
Wenge $18.00
Zebrawood $18.00
Ziricote/Indian Laurel $30.00

[Don Baer]

I can do better for example I am paying $3.20 for white oak if thats an indicator.

[Jamie Buxton]

Those prices don't seem wildly out of line to me. The important thing is that you have a local supplier who has a large variety of species -- that's more than many people can say. Go ahead, buy what you need, and get busy making beautiful stuff!

[Dan Oliphant]

Allen,
As you know, the prices vary quite a bit as you go across the country. So I believe your question should be "how are these prices compared to other suppliers in your general area" That general area is what you make it.
For Southern California, some of your pricing is quite high and some others are about right.
I believe the folks in the southern and eastern states may say the pricing is real high.

[Jack Norfleet]

They seem typical of Florida prices. Since almost none of those species grow, are harvested, or sawn in Florida, they are all imported from out of state and thus more expensive. I am planning a trip to Chipumunk Hardwoods on the east coast. They have a website with their prices that you can compare.

[Scott Thornton]

The prices you listed seem a little high to me. The common woods, Cherry, Oak, Poplar, Maple, Walnut etc are quite a bit (10 - 30 %) more than what I pay. The sawmill I buy from also surface planes everything if you want to 13/16.

However, with that said, the list that you provided is quite extensive, there are a lot of woods listed there and with that kind of selection at one place, you can probably expect to pay a little more.

You can also compare prices on www.internetlumber.com

I never realized Ebony wood was so expensive!

[Don Baer]

I also checked the price of eony and I paid $72/ bd ft vs $150 that you were quoted. Since then I have found it for $48/bd.ft.

[Mark Singer]

It is on the very high end of the spectrum... I have done better even with the new crazy prices

[Allen Bookout]

Well, they seemed high to me but I have not bought any "good stuff" since I have lived in Florida. I still have a good bit of Honduran Mahogany left but man does not live with mahogany alone so I guess that I will shop around a bit even though Jack, over in Orlando, said that they were about right for Florida. It is too bad that we all do not live much closer together and we could open a non profit hardwood lumber yard for all memebers.

Allen

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

I bought some 8/4 Hard Maple yesterday to make a jig and it was 5.50/bdft.

That's all I have purchased in quite a while, so it's the only one I know.

Bruce

[rick fulton]

example southern california prices -
http://www.frosthardwood.com/images/...priceguide.pdf

[Mark Singer]

I just got 200 bf of teak for $15/BF MOSTLY 6/4.....i HATE TEAK!

[Allen Bookout]

I just got 200 bf of teak for $15/BF MOSTLY 6/4.....i HATE TEAK!

I'm with you Mark. They can keep their teak.

[Deirdre Saoirse Moen]

In San Francisco, land of high rents, I can get most of those woods for less, but most of them are within 10% of the usual prices I pay. Let's just say I wouldn't be buying the pricier exotics there unless I really liked the piece and it was very, very small.

[Tony Falotico]

Allen, They seem average for your local, but still kinda high. Getting quality lumber in FL is very difficult at best. I get most of mine from a place in Bountstown (just west of Tallahassee), great selection and very nice folks. I pass through there about 2 - 3 times a year and stock up. Kinda long trip for you, but if your up that way........

Let me know if you want a name & address.