This is the second installment of tips to save money when buying your lumber.
6. Use proper board storage.
When lumber is stored properly it reduces the risk of warping and splitting. This will let you hold on to the discount lumber purchases for a long time. The proper way to store lumber is on a lumber rack horizontally. Stack the boards carefully on strong horizontal supports that form a flat shelf.
7. Buy rough cut lumber.
If you have a bench top planer and don’t mind planning up the boards this is a great way to save some money. Having access to a 6 inch wide joiner will really help in producing clean, square edges.
What to do with all of the planer shavings? They make great mulch and also compost well in the compost bin.
8. Strike up a friendship with a local cabinet maker.
Consider purchasing their scrapes for a substantial discount. Most professional cabinet makers and millwork shops produce more scrape lumber in a week that a hobbyist would use in a year.
Build a good relationship with them and you might be able to order wood through him at a discount.
9. Get the most from every board.
Work around knots and grain imperfections to maximize the wood usage. If one side of the board has imperfections such as rough cut markings use it in the project where only one side is seen. I have built several drawer carcasses where the back board one side is smooth and pretty and the other has rough cut markings. Since no one is going to see the very back side of the drawer it does not bother me.
10. Consider counterfeiting.
With the right stain it is possible to make less expensive species look like more expensive. Alder or birch makes a great cherry. Ash makes a great substitute for oak. Soft maple looks almost like hard maple. Soft maple is a misnomer. It is a very hard wood.
About six years ago for Christmas I made a dozen cutting board from 3/4 inch thick soft maple. The cutting boards are holding up nicely. I expect them to last another ten plus years.
So here is my 10 ten list of ways to save money when buying lumber.
