How to Not Buy Crap Lumber

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ม.ค. 2024
  • Some boards have to be perfect, and some don't. Learn what lumber defects are and
    when to avoid them. Watched the Spec House Series? It starts here:
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ความคิดเห็น • 698

  • @adammurray3560
    @adammurray3560 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +862

    Our local lumber store, (town of 2300 in the middle of Wyoming), won't allow us to go through the bunks. When I was making a custom railing, and needed some super straight, knot free pine 2x6, I asked to go through them. Owner said to me, "I believe a good Craftsman can take any wood and turn it into what they needed to be." I stood up, walked out, and I've never been back. I now drive an hour and a half to a lumber store that truly cares about their customers.

    • @bradmccranie3967
      @bradmccranie3967 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +95

      I don't blame you that isn't right.

    • @chrisdonner2910
      @chrisdonner2910 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

      That's terrible, Bloedorns in Buffalo has been good, especially the manager at that location.

    • @n8_the_carpenter816
      @n8_the_carpenter816 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +45

      If they don't let you pick through the bunk they really don't care about you and the quality of your project. But I also think it has something todo with the fact that there's a lumberyard in a town of 2300 people so there's not a lot of trun over of material I would guess so they don't want to be trying to get rid of the junk for ever and that's how they do it

    • @Hoaxer51
      @Hoaxer51 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

      Well, there goes that sponsorship from Lowes that you were hoping for, probably can forget about Home Depot too. 😢

    • @frmphxaz84
      @frmphxaz84 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +23

      "I believe a good lumber store would understand craftsmen would like all the help they can get in making their work less strenuous." Would have been a great reply here. Even if we're able to take a 10' long warped stick of firewood and make it into something usable maybe, just maybe, we'd like to pull out of the parking lot with material that's ready to go.

  • @VideoNOLA
    @VideoNOLA 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +240

    To sum up: "Avoid the pain, skip the wain. Got a crown? Put it down. Pick it up, inspect for cup. Turn your wrist to look for twist. If there's a knot, you better not. Bark and pitch can be a bitch. Checks and splits are just the pits. Tighter rings for wood that sings. Number 2 will mostly do."

    • @mankybrains
      @mankybrains 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

      I'm no carpenter but I'm saving this and having my kids memorize it.

    • @jchastain789
      @jchastain789 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Hahaha I smell what ur steppin in

    • @user-rk4zm3nb5f
      @user-rk4zm3nb5f 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Knothead poetry.

    • @BenjaminKorth-mf5ec
      @BenjaminKorth-mf5ec หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Put the crown up.

    • @kernoelnerd
      @kernoelnerd หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Is this an instruction of how to drive back home without buying something ;-)?

  • @panamafred1
    @panamafred1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +215

    I'm 75 and it hurts my heart to walk into a big box store's "lumber" department. And it frustrates my workmanship ethics to use any of this junky wood. At ten-years old, I'd ride my bike to the local lumber yard. I still remember that Mr. Eddie would wait on me. He'd ask what I was building and always led me, and taught me along the way, to the right board. And when I asked for a pound of 8d common nails, he would ask, "Are these for your father or for your treehouse?" When I said, "treehouse," I now know that he would send me home with a very heavy pound-plus brown paper bag full of nails. With mentors like Mr. Eddie, it's no wonder that I had a long career as a carpenter. Oh how I yearn for the old days of the lumber business, although some good yards are keeping those days alive.

    • @Orgakoyd
      @Orgakoyd 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +28

      I LOVE stories like this! Sometimes an adult makes such an impression on you as a kid you never forget it. It can be a teacher, a neighbor or anyone but it never leaves you.

    • @livingadamman7994
      @livingadamman7994 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      That was a good world. You'd be up a tree risking life and limb building as you go and nobody around if you fell. You'd ride your bike miles and miles and your parents weren't worried. You learned to be independant from a young age. They made the world today, so kids don't learn this only how to be dependent, and how to think as they are told, not for themselves

    • @panamafred1
      @panamafred1 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It was 70 miles to my grandmothers house. I was maybe four or five. I slept most of the way on the ledge at the back window of our big Chrysler. I didn't die. What a sad world we are living in now. @@livingadamman7994

    • @panamafred1
      @panamafred1 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      @@livingadamman7994 Yes, it made me an independent thinker alright. But now -- I am retired in the country of Panama. Schools here teach one thing -- memorization. No thinking whatsoever.

    • @livingadamman7994
      @livingadamman7994 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      @@panamafred1 It's the same everywhere, and not only that the kids have a blank stare, and no outgoing personality. They cower at anything hard or challenging and give up before the going gets tough.

  • @Hey_Its_That_Guy
    @Hey_Its_That_Guy 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +196

    Funny you posted this today. Yesterday, I went to "a big box store" to get some plywood. I was in a hurry and figured I'd save a couple of bucks. I just needed six (6) sheets of CDX (lower quality grade). I pulled ten (10) or so sheets off the pile by myself, looking for an acceptable one, while two employees stood there watching me. Looking through the rest of the stack, I realized they were all delaminated, badly. The entire stack was probably left out and got wet. I drove to a family owned lumber yard and bought what I needed. The guys in the yard had it loaded in my trailer before I could get of my truck and put my gloves on. It was all good stuff. Turned out it was almost $2.00 a sheet cheaper than the big box store. I'll never go back to the big box store for lumber. The little family owned outfit will get all my business from here on out, even if it costs a a few bucks more!

    • @Californians_go_home
      @Californians_go_home 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I find box stores are often priced higher because most people think they are cheaper. It’s a head game.

    • @semilog643
      @semilog643 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

      Our local family-owned chain is consistently cheaper than the big boxes *for equivalent quality*.

    • @-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.-
      @-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.- 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I concur. Getting wood anywhere else is a crapshoot

    • @robert574
      @robert574 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Same thing just happened to me. I was cussing and headed to the door when a couple of the guys I knew pulled me back and yanked some good sheets off of a new stack. If I want pringles, I'll go to the grocery store.

    • @mickmciver5449
      @mickmciver5449 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Janet helten wsu

  • @jdt3888
    @jdt3888 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +85

    A carpenter friend of mine, would simply state "I'm not buying firewood" when the clerk pulled out a crappy piece out of a stack.

    • @dethmaul
      @dethmaul 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A loader at my mom and pop yard got lippy when my dad rejected twisted peices for bottom chords. He said 'do you want it to look pretty, or do its job?'
      The other employees are good though. I saw lippy dick abusing the forklift, too. Disinclined to say anything, lest a small town store label me a troublemaker.

  • @1goblingreen404
    @1goblingreen404 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +39

    This guy is such a gem. Decades of knowledge provided for free in 15 minutes for us to consume and learn from.

  • @ecleveland1
    @ecleveland1 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Just out of high school I got a job with a finish carpenter trimming out houses. I grew up helping my father build cabinets and other woodworking. I don’t think my boss believed I had that much experience and knowledge for carpentry. After I was through with the base boards, doors and windows he asked if I thought I could do the molding for the cabinet doors. I sorted through the boxes of molding and only used the best and made the most use out of the culled pieces. At first he was a little upset that I culled so much of the molding but I told him that’s the way I was taught to never use anything less for cabinets. He said from then on I was the only one that would be allowed to do cabinets and doors for him. Learning to grade wood was a valuable lesson my father taught me.

  • @jonjohnson3027
    @jonjohnson3027 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +38

    On that label near the end, my guess is the “FD” means “full dimension” - that 8x8 is actually 8” by 8”, not planed down to something less and just nominally an 8x8.

    • @TheRealCheckmate
      @TheRealCheckmate หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I still like the old dimensional lumber! A rough cut 2x12 makes a great shelf.

  • @TinManKustoms
    @TinManKustoms 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +131

    We used to have a wonderful mom and pop lumber store. They only sold the best lumber some of the defects like wein, big knots and split/twists where all set aside to be remilled into some other useful products like form stakes, 2x4s and other things. They weren't afraid to reject a load of lumber from their suppliers if it didn't meet their standards. I truly miss them they always let you pick what you wanted and always had fresh coffee and doughnuts available.

    • @jamesbarisitz4794
      @jamesbarisitz4794 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

      Sounds like heaven!

    • @bclamore
      @bclamore 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Amen!​@@jamesbarisitz4794

    • @glennmorgan4197
      @glennmorgan4197 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      And probably gave you a couple of carpenter pencils that you have to buy these days.

    • @Trapper_Creek_2024
      @Trapper_Creek_2024 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Ahhh! The good old days! I’m glad I lived through those days and got to experience the glory.

    • @glennmorgan4197
      @glennmorgan4197 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @karlwithak. I looked at getting a contractors license in California 20 years ago, and the cost of doing business there kept me in the Chicago suburbs.

  • @kreamysoaps
    @kreamysoaps 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +32

    My local home improvement store sells bundles of “seconds” lumber at 75% off. I buy them all the time to make boxes, and benches. That lumber will really test your skills 😅

  • @user-pe1zs2pn4n
    @user-pe1zs2pn4n หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    I am 63 years old and just got into the hobby of woodworking about six or seven years ago. I had not done any since high school. Or Woody has a group that built toys for different children’s organizations. Mostly go to children’s hospitals in the area. With permission, I get the leftover lumber from new houses mostly. Anything to them under 4 feet long is usually junk. We make a lot of little toys from this wood. Some of the things you mentioned in the video I already knew but some I had completely backwards! I thought the sinner of the tree was a good board for a 2 x 4! You really gave me a lot of new stuff to look at now when I buy my own lumber. Thank you so very much for taking the time to make these videos and share your wealth of knowledge!

  • @michaeld2662
    @michaeld2662 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +54

    I’m retired and work part time in the mill work department of a large orange big box store. Everything you say about the lumber selection available is true. You have to hunt to find the good pieces. However, contractors shop there for price alone and ‘good enough’ material. I frequently tell guy sorting through the moulding section ‘If you’re looking for furniture grade, you’re in the wrong store.’

    • @maddierosemusic
      @maddierosemusic 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      Prices of molding in that orange store are higher than at my local lumber yard. I priced 3 5/8" crown for a huge job a few years ago - orange was $1.08 a lin/ft, my lumberyard was $ .54. HALF the price.

    • @incognitotorpedo42
      @incognitotorpedo42 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@maddierosemusic The Depot will sell you molding by the foot, so they lose a lot of material when the piece gets too short. I like my lumber yard, which sadly is not local, but when I buy a piece of molding there, I'm buying a 16 foot length or nothing.

    • @michaeld2662
      @michaeld2662 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      @@karlwithak. Yeah, you sound like some of the inconsiderates that I get to clean up after. I sometimes have to tell folks like you “Sir, we don’t need you to cull our material for us, thank you.” I see guys pull off many sticks of molding they deem unacceptable and just leave it on the floor. Not cool! Someone (me) has to clean that up. Just be considerate is all.

  • @051biohaz
    @051biohaz 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +55

    I work in one of those small lumber yards and I would like to play the video on repeat for all our customers…thanks for the upload and the support..:)

  • @westonford6774
    @westonford6774 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    As someone who works the lumber department at one of those big box stores, I appreciate you acknowledging that most boards have value despite flaws. Lots of people chase premium lumber at bargain-bin prices, and just make it worse for everyone, including the quality lumber yards which would have sold them better stuff with less fuss.

  • @Glynchbrook
    @Glynchbrook 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +42

    “You can’t tell a tree how to grow” as my journeyman used to say when I was an apprentice. Great advice from E.C. as always!

    • @nicholaschryssafis5797
      @nicholaschryssafis5797 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Tell that to my tortured bonsai

    • @Glynchbrook
      @Glynchbrook 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@nicholaschryssafis5797 😂

    • @plenum6448
      @plenum6448 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Then don't prune your apple trees - and good luck with that...

    • @Glynchbrook
      @Glynchbrook หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@plenum6448 you win the pedantic award for taking things literally today. Well done you! 🥇

  • @MikeHarris1984
    @MikeHarris1984 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    When I was a kid, HD used to sell Kiln Dried lumber. Now they sell wet lumber that as soon as you get home, you must lay flat and put weights on the pile to keep from twisting. Otherwise in hours it is a twisted mess.
    Most lumber yards do not cater to individual buyers. Only to large companies with large orders

  • @chrismoody1342
    @chrismoody1342 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    Absolutely; I use a family owned full service lumber yard. So many benefits. I can walk in and head to a contractor counter and make my order to someone who knows what I’m talking about in five minutes or less. I walk out with order ticket and the lumber is pulled and loaded for me. If my order is big enough it will all be delivered to the job still bundled. I’m free to cull any bad lumber and any overs will be picked up and refunded. Generally the lumber is much better grade, much straighter to begin with. I hate the big box stores.

  • @B_Van_Glorious
    @B_Van_Glorious 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +31

    Here ya go Scott, here's a cool tidbit; in the native Chinook WaWa, or trading language, the name for the Cedar is Kalakwahtie, which roughly translates to "tree of life".
    That's how respected the Cedar is and has always been. Only the matriarchs in the community were allowed to peel off bark (which they made clothes and tools from) from the cedars, and they would only peel ~40% off the oldest trees. Some of those trees are still standing to this day.

    • @plumbobmillionaire6246
      @plumbobmillionaire6246 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      The forest by my house is full of cedars with the strips of bark cut off. The tradition is alive and well. It’s super cool

    • @daveb495
      @daveb495 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Interesting! Anything more that you want to share about that? Serious question.

  • @rhekman
    @rhekman 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +40

    One tip I appreciate about selecting box-store lumber for projects you want to look nice and stay straight is to buy 2x8 or 2x12 and rip it yourself into 2x4s and 2x6s.
    You're left with two boards with little or no heart-wood, and the larger parent boards are more likely to have tighter growth rings.

    • @rd-ch1on
      @rd-ch1on 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      Exactly.
      A local fruit and vegetable store told me not to pick the rotten oranges out of the box and replace with good ones. So I'm supposed to pay for rotten food? I never went back.

    • @The_Pennsylvanian
      @The_Pennsylvanian 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      It's more expensive like that, a 2x12 cost more than two 2x6

    • @logsdongarage
      @logsdongarage 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      Ive tried that before with a straight 2x 12. After i ripped it in half i had two really crowned 2x6s. Didnt even finish the cut before they split from internal forces

    • @rhekman
      @rhekman 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@The_Pennsylvanian It's more about getting better quality wood than saving money. You're already investing more time in handling and ripping larger boards, so if you just need sticks that will hide in stud walls, get the cheapest stuff that is structurally sound.
      Fortunately the cost isn't that far off.
      At my local Menards a 2x4x10 is $5, a 2x8x10 is $8. So cheaper to rip.
      Conversely a 2x6x10 is $7, while a 2x12x10 is $20. That extra $3 a board wouldn't make sense in a large project where a 40% increase in material cost makes a difference. However for a single bench, or deck railing, etc where I want things to look nice and be straight, it can make sense.

    • @rhekman
      @rhekman 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@logsdongarage That sucks. Was the wood really wet?

  • @MrLookatmyhat
    @MrLookatmyhat 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Your old video on this topic was a life saver. I have my boys go through the stacks and pock out the best boards now!

  • @joseph7105
    @joseph7105 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Used to work at home depot and my biggest pet peeve was people coming in and complaining about the lumber. Literally drive 5 minutes down the road and pay 5 cents extra and get better lumber. Why are you wasting your time going through home depot lumber to save a couple bucks?

  • @JW-mx3qg
    @JW-mx3qg 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    You are a brilliant educator and your wisdom will hopefully help so many others in the trades! Well done once again!

  • @Fnu-ex1tc
    @Fnu-ex1tc 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Like all your videos. They contain a wealth of knowledge for someone who is starting out in this hobby. Thank you for your time and effort.

  • @TheTedsterr
    @TheTedsterr 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    As someone who is starting out in DIY this is exactly the sort of video I need. I'll be saving this to refer back to. Thank you!

  • @ishington
    @ishington 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I recently decided to get into woodworking (as a hobby) and these videos are so enjoyable. I’ve watched Essential Craftsman for years but now the carpentry related videos mean even more to me. Thanks!

  • @troop311
    @troop311 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video. I’m searching for lumber at the moment for my shop build and this video has helped me immensely.

  • @SuwanneeHomestead
    @SuwanneeHomestead 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Wonderful instruction, Scott. I got a great education in just a few minutes. Some of it I knew already, but there were several nuggets that make me a better consumer. Thank you.

  • @espltdrcart
    @espltdrcart 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Finally someone who explains how to lookout for good lumber. Not many people know about this. Thank you for posting!

  • @andrewschafer8986
    @andrewschafer8986 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    Scott is a fantastic representative of the entire building industry. Great sales man as well. You can tell he is still passionate about the trades and appreciates what a high quality small business supplier can provide on quality and customer service!! Keep up the great work.

    • @acrazydurian
      @acrazydurian 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      He's a practical man. Hes the sort of dude that would tell you never do this, this is dangerous, but if you have to know, here is how to do it. Hes the sort of man that would not tolerate sub-par work, but at the same time recognise you dont need perfect material to do an outstanding work. Life doesnt always go his way, but its ok.

  • @darkerbinding6933
    @darkerbinding6933 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Its fun listening to an honorable man. Thanks for the info.

  • @amosbackstrom5366
    @amosbackstrom5366 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    Thanks for this, super informative.
    I think it's an especially great point to put the weaker part of the board in compression. I will keep that in mind from now on

  • @mikemichelizzi2023
    @mikemichelizzi2023 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for the tips and your insistence on supporting the local businesses 👍

  • @dwats250
    @dwats250 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    As a saw filer I love watching these videos. Never knew just how complex lumber could be before I started working in sawmills

  • @MrKww900l
    @MrKww900l 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +28

    This book is a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to create various types of garden buildings. The book provides clear and detailed instructions with numerous photos. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxBE-xSmFU7PIaMFUmmhnFxE035s5svtxeAs a novice, I appreciated the book's step-by-step approach to the basics of building. The book also appeals to the more advanced DIY enthusiast with projects ranging from simple to complex. The book is up to date with the latest trends, such as solar panels, green roofs, and sweet chestnut shakes. The book has inspired me to pursue more projects in the future.

  • @Sawtooth70
    @Sawtooth70 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This message is so important. Thank you for making this video. Really, thank you for all of your videos, this is truly a genuine channel. Good will abounds here.

  • @WoodchuckCanuck
    @WoodchuckCanuck 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +34

    13:20 The hemlock here in eastern Canada is completely different. Splits very easily and when it's dry, you only got to say the word split and it will split apart on its own. As for moldings, not this stuff. Too many small splitters remain on the wood surface to be worthy of anything other than beams, fencing or board and batten. At 14:22 the FD probably means Full Dimension. And yes, please support your local businesses.

    • @grannydeen1586
      @grannydeen1586 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      We have the same hemlock in New York. As it dries it splits but it's still pretty strong. You want to be wearing leather gloves handling the dry lumber. It's nothing but slivers. It was commonly used for home building back in the 19th and early 20th centuries and for lathe. In my area hemlock was logged to near extinction in the 1800's for the tanning industry.

    • @WoodchuckCanuck
      @WoodchuckCanuck 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@grannydeen1586Very true about wearing gloves. Those small slivers are the devil. Still some big hemlock here. I have two truck loads in the yard to saw up this spring, average 10 to 27 inches in diameter, 12-14ft long.

    • @grannydeen1586
      @grannydeen1586 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@WoodchuckCanuck
      That's nice stuff. You could sell every stick of it here. I have a few nice sized hemlocks and white pines on my property. My neighbor has a beautiful stand of old, straight white pines but it's so steep, it's difficult even walking to it.

    • @WoodchuckCanuck
      @WoodchuckCanuck 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@grannydeen1586 The more difficult the terrain, the larger the trees. A lot of people notice them in the yard, but I bought them myself and lucky to get them. Not about to let them go :)

  • @danreger8924
    @danreger8924 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Great to learn about lumber in the PNW. Here in the southeast we just have yellow pine lol. Besides oaks, hickory, and popular in most lumber yards. Cedar is expensive and I have to drive a long way to get it to trim cabins with.
    Thanks for sharing!

  • @BluegrassFiddler812
    @BluegrassFiddler812 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Your videos are incredibly well done! You have a voice for radio, they’re well produced, and full of great information for those of us who are wanting to learn. I don’t work in construction; I’m a paramedic, musician, and horse person, but I really enjoy getting to build things at home and your videos give me that much more inspiration to try new things. Thank you!

  • @danielflanagan9673
    @danielflanagan9673 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Just want to say thank you from a newly appointed head sawyer at my lumber yard. I try and take my profession as serious as possible and your knowledge through the years has helped me tremendously. If I need to know how to make it through the day comfortably to research on wood grain characteristics I come to you.

  • @mikewatson4644
    @mikewatson4644 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    Years ago we had 7 lumber yards in town. They couldn't all make a living. Some started to go out of business. Then the first big box store came and more couldn't make a living. Now we have 2 big box stores and 3 lumber yards. 1 lumber yard makes most of their money selling kitchen cabinets and cutting counter tops (yes they still sell some lumber). 1 lumber yard sometimes purchases their stock of lumber from one of the big box stores. They build houses, so they are competing with the local contractors. The 3rd lumber yard got it's start when we had 6 yards (they were the 7th). They sold surplus items and lower quality lumber for lower prices. They have upped the quality/price over the years but aren't generally considered to be top quality.
    So where do I go? My choices are 3 lumber yards that don't really sell top quality lumber or the 2 big box stores. 1 of the box stores lets you pick through the lumber, has the employees remove the poor grade lumber from the pile and recycles it on a regular basis. That is my pick for the best lumber. Oh, they have a good price too. And they employee more people than the 3 lumber yards put together. And have benefits and bonuses for their employees. And contibute to local charities.
    Thanks for the video. It's interesting to read through the comments. Not everywhere is the same

  • @stoneyj1a1
    @stoneyj1a1 23 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    After 20 years of woodworking i learned a few new things about lumber. Thanks again.

  • @tonyrooke
    @tonyrooke 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Really good informative video. Thanks for sharing a lifetime of knowledge.

  • @captainnathan1164
    @captainnathan1164 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wonderful video as always, I bought some tools on Black Friday and have been trying to learn basic carpentry. I've been making some basic shelves for a storage unit and trying to get straight legs has been interesting. I appreciate all of your videos though, great information.

  • @finders-keepers1518
    @finders-keepers1518 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Your channel is one of my favorite on you tube and the reason why is you have a way of showing people who may not be in the trades just how much knowledge and skill it takes to be a craftsman and a pro in your field. Much respect from SW PA

    • @enmitygauged44
      @enmitygauged44 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Ditto. And also from SW PA.

  • @timstark3312
    @timstark3312 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for this info! Its helpful to be made aware of how much I don't know about wood selection and oodworking.

  • @mickey533
    @mickey533 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Great information. My son and I recently built a 10' high wall. Couldn't find straight boards. We ended up finding LSL 2x4's. Expensive yes. That wall is perfecto!

  • @214rwoz
    @214rwoz 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for all your time and effort.

  • @johnjones7829
    @johnjones7829 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thank you sir. The information you have given me was very informative. I learned a lot about lumber selection from you in this video.
    As you say, some things are intuitive, Others are learned by experience or by instruction by experts like you.
    JJ

  • @mychaelleesly
    @mychaelleesly 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Nice explanations. Brought me back to the 1960s and 1970s when my grandfather (master carpenter) explained these sorts of things to his very young grandson. Here in SoCal we still have Jones Lumber which I grew up close to. My grandfather's company did almost all of their business there. And in the valley we had Northridge Lumber (now under the Ganahl flag). Both of these treasures had the train tracks run straight into their yards. Ganahl Lumber has many locations in Orange County -- they are the go to spot for the OC. And in San Diego it is Dixieline Lumber and J&W Lumber. Cheers.

  • @imaginitivity7853
    @imaginitivity7853 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I feel this. Love the secret forest pic. I get some looks, when I've basically got the entire stock on the shop floor, trying to find even one that isn't a banana or full of knots. On the other hand, you can often get discounts on the board stock as they routinely damage the edges through poor handling. But there must be a huge amount of waste due to these outlets

  • @trawlertravels6376
    @trawlertravels6376 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    Great video Scott, sometimes taking the "junk" isn't bad. Like you said backing, blocking. etc. If you have to tske it and can ys it ask for a discount. Local yard or big box. Odds are they will give it to you.
    Keep up the goid work
    Jeff

  • @jimanderson4495
    @jimanderson4495 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks Scott. I live one mile from HD in PA & drive 30 minutes to get to a full service yard that will cut sheets of plywood and load it my car. Their price is maybe 10% above HD. I don’t have to search for someone to help and they are helpful. During Covid, they did not layoff a single person. Hats off to Neice Lumber in Lambertville, NJ.

  • @drsnooz8112
    @drsnooz8112 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience.

  • @mikect05
    @mikect05 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What a quality video!
    I wasn't sure about clicking.
    Glad I do.
    Please support local lumber yards because when they're gone we will lose so much!!

  • @dodgersfnshepard8673
    @dodgersfnshepard8673 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you! 15mins of pure in depth information on a new topic. Just started woodworking and only knew to find wood at big box. Knowing nothing even I could tell how crappie the wood is there

  • @swampwhiteoak1
    @swampwhiteoak1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    That cedar is beautiful! Once had a bunk of SPF 12’ delivered and needed all 12 footers. They were all mistakenly cut at 11’-10”. Oops! The lumber yard had a new bunk out in an hour. Good service is valuable.

  • @OrangeeTang
    @OrangeeTang 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Always a learning experience, thanks.

  • @sixpotshot
    @sixpotshot 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for bringing yet another amazing piece of insight about this trade ✨ ✨ ✨

  • @jraybye
    @jraybye 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I'm with you on cedar. Here in S. Indiana we have an abundance of Eastern red cedar. Fast growing, sustainable, rot resistant and oh, the wonderful smell!

  • @roccoconte2960
    @roccoconte2960 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Couldn't agree more about the big box store lumber , I go to my local lumber yard always. You have a much better and bigger selection on the west coast than we do on the east coast.

  • @user-sk9er8zf1b
    @user-sk9er8zf1b 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Hey thanks for the info. Some things I didn’t know but I’ll look for next time I’m in the market for wood. Thanks for the video. 👍👍

  • @countrycraftsman5110
    @countrycraftsman5110 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for the drone shot of the forest here in Oregon. Far to many people think we are a land of stumps.

  • @jdubya54
    @jdubya54 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great info as usual. Happy new year

  • @G.I.JeffsWorkbench
    @G.I.JeffsWorkbench 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for the in-depth education. Now I know the terminology for what I’m looking for.

  • @codylaxton3287
    @codylaxton3287 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This is brilliant. Thank you!

  • @FTFO_Media
    @FTFO_Media 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for your time and wisdom good Sir!

  • @bcole6502
    @bcole6502 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    enjoyed the truly authentic knowledge sharing. Fantastic recap! Very educated

  • @gtbkts
    @gtbkts 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for the awesome content and all the amazing videos!!

  • @tc9148
    @tc9148 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great tutorial on lumber.

  • @eladlutz
    @eladlutz 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    So very true, support those who do their best because they know you do your best!

  • @aaronallenlmt
    @aaronallenlmt 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Greatly enjoying your content. Keep up the good work!

  • @mohammedtariq9048
    @mohammedtariq9048 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for this really valuable information. You have experience in dealing and selecting lumber... I hope you will write a guidebook for choosing wood... Thanks again.

  • @merrick51
    @merrick51 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great rundown. Thanks!

  • @brettvaughn1058
    @brettvaughn1058 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Excellent video. My dad owned a small wholesale plywood/lumber business in the SE USA when I was growing up. Worked for him every summer. He would order wood from the NW. USA and wait 9 months for it to arrive. Timing the pricing and need for re-supply was critical. We unloaded 80,000 feet of shelving from RR cars by hand. Saw some nice wood and some really bad wood. I pity the day when you and other content providers like you are not helping us any more. Thank you.

  • @michaelg.stranestrane1465
    @michaelg.stranestrane1465 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Good Video! I actually learned from it. Kinda knew some of that. But now I feel more informed. Thanks

  • @jfabiani
    @jfabiani 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for your educational information. Much appreciated.

  • @DanielinLaTuna
    @DanielinLaTuna 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    On the other hand, if you live in a “green” town like Portland Oregon, where the local ordinances require demolition recycling, you’re in luck. For the price of Big Box lumber, you get excellent quality lumber. Some would say premium, because you’re buying well seasoned, dried over seventy indoor year, old growth, tight grain, full dimension lumber.
    Stuff I can only dream about here in lower California.

  • @markp6062
    @markp6062 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    THanks for the info! As to the FD, I believe it stands for Full Dimension, meaning a 2X4 is actually 2" X 4", not 1 1/2 X 3 1/2.

    • @joshgay2385
      @joshgay2385 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      This is the answer.

  • @user-cb9cd1rp5n
    @user-cb9cd1rp5n 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I learn so much in this channel tanks for sharing you knowledge. God bless you 🙏 I gist to live in southerlin 25 year ago. It’s allots of wood 🪵 there and all Oregon.

  • @patrickcowan8701
    @patrickcowan8701 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Tip. If you need goods framing studs get the precuts as they're always better than the lift lumber.

  • @davemusial5621
    @davemusial5621 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for the information. some I knew some I did not!

  • @choimdachoim9491
    @choimdachoim9491 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    When I built my house in California I sourced all wood from a 2-location lumber company and had to stack all the studs with spacers out of the weather for a month because they were dripping wet and twice as heavy as a normal stud. My 2 X 10 joists for the second floor varied a 1/2" in width plus had severe crowning...caused me tons of trouble. Just because a company is small doesn't mean they are better. I'm glad you explained about looking at the end-grain; that's a question I've had for many years as to which cut will deform the least.

    • @choimdachoim9491
      @choimdachoim9491 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @karlwithak.I bought supplies at 10 different Home Depots in the Los Angeles area for 28 years and I watched the lumber quality diminish drastically. I left for Louisiana 12 years ago and shop at 2 H. Deps. and one Lowes with the same problem.

    • @dethmaul
      @dethmaul 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      My mom and pop shop actually has kinda bad lumber. I went to home depot and that stack of 2x6 studs looked like a movie prop. 100% perfect boards stacked perfectly. White, straight, hardly knots, DAMN it was a pleasure plucking them up lol

  • @vegetarianhunterable
    @vegetarianhunterable 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    When you're good enough to create the annals and archives! Love this channel.

  • @DuffyHomoHabilis
    @DuffyHomoHabilis 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    If you buy really wide lumber with the center of the tree in the middle, you can rip that out and have 2 nice pieces of quartersawn. Might be a cheap way to get quartersawn if you need it.

  • @user-iy1vo2jf2q
    @user-iy1vo2jf2q 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Kild dried is also lighter and you can carry more. It like he said is your best bet, Ive seen stacks of lumber in the rain at Depot, uncovered going to shat. And yes it takes 20 boards on the top of the stack to find one straight one in the middle.

  • @jameshargan2786
    @jameshargan2786 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video! Lots of useful information - thank you!

  • @MartinMMeiss-mj6li
    @MartinMMeiss-mj6li 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Wonderful video, informative and entertaining.
    You say of the wane: "That's where the forest started..." Nice.
    Yes, the big-box stores don't stock the best lumber, but on the plus side, they let you hunt around as much as you want to find the better pieces. Non-chain lumber yards that cater to contractors usually disallow that; one must take run of the mill. I have even had a guy at one of these yards sense that I wasn't a pro and he "helped" load my vehicle by piling on all their junk lumber, which I just as quickly loaded off.
    Here in the East we don't lump our eastern hemlock in with white wood. As far as I know it isn't cut much anymore, but it's reddish or brownish rather than white. It is strong and quite rot resistant, and I like it (my house is framed with it). However, it is very splintery. If handling it before planing, you'd better be wearing gloves.
    BTW, I like that you recommend supporting the independent lumber yards.

  • @tomstevensiii1681
    @tomstevensiii1681 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Outstanding! Well said!

  • @jameslovering9158
    @jameslovering9158 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Always good honest information 👍

  • @hiitsstillme
    @hiitsstillme 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great advice, we learned something today! 👍

  • @tips4truckers252
    @tips4truckers252 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Scott, I love the videos. I just make small things out of 2x4s in my backyard for my friends. But what you taught me I'll pass on down. Nice seeing your friends eating off a table knowing you made that.

  • @user-ti2xw1xo9e
    @user-ti2xw1xo9e 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We used to have two lumberyards with high quality products and people unfortunately we now only have a big orange box store. I could not find any useable 2x4 there, I only needed 15 and finally found them in my friends back yard. He was remodeling and had some straight hard tight grain 60+ years old boards leftover. I’m glad I building a new house. Thanks for the advice

  • @chrislambert9435
    @chrislambert9435 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thankyou for this Lesson. . . Chris . . . Norwich, England

  • @SuperSkandale
    @SuperSkandale 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    As always, learning a lot from this fine gent.

  • @dallenloder9901
    @dallenloder9901 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thank you for creating and posting this. I've been a general contractor for 35 years and a woodworker all of my life. I really like your realistic approach to picking out lumber and the fact that you can use boards that are less than "perfect". I don't want to leave my local lumber yard stuck with all of the less than perfect boards, they have to make a living as well.

    • @Gruin
      @Gruin 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Great Video
      Great Explination
      Thanks
      Fully agree, less than Perfect Can be Distributed Throught the job.
      If You Pay Attention, When You Cut the Piece
      Needed You Will begin to Understand and Plan where the left over Piece will Fit.
      In Time the Imperfect Piece will Get Fully Used, believe that.
      Don't become a Perfectionist, it's not Needed, you Will understand pretty Quickly.
      Attention to Details of all of Your Craft, Especially Waste.
      One Cut on plywood for Gable End Sheething, difference Fits on
      Opposite side Gable End. Peace ~♡~

  • @jamesortolano3983
    @jamesortolano3983 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great point ,big box crap will run mom & pop stores out every time .
    We had 3 ,now were only left with 1. I dont do as much purchasing as i used to , wish younger people understood your point .
    Thanks so much for the information

  • @Steve-hj6xv
    @Steve-hj6xv 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks again for more great content!😊

  • @My12521252
    @My12521252 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    FD Full Dimension
    Thanks for another great video

  • @HomeImProveMentHow
    @HomeImProveMentHow 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Excellent information thank you for sharing God bless you.

  • @WilCra
    @WilCra 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Just a note (no arguments required) of info: When these lifts of lumber arrive at any yard, they are all pre-wrapped and banded together, so the store has no idea they got a bundle of so-so wood until they take it down to the ground level for sale and open it up. Then, as customers come in and want to spend 45 minutes "sorting" through a stack of lumber (which means they start chucking the lumber on the ground or piling it up behind the racks) all the while other customers are very impatiently waiting for service because all these yards seem to short-staff their yard people to save money (yard people cost money whereas sales people make money and thus yard peope are lower in status and are often expendable and replaceable as cheap bottom feeder labour). So now you have a yard full of angry customer's, no staff to serve them because of the 45 minute "sorters" and the manager and front staff all raging on you for not helping their customers they just called out. Add in, the fact that when the "sorters" leave the yard staff now has to level the piles because they get "sorted" by customers so the counter can count the piles each week for missing inventory. Now add in the fact that when the "sorters" get through making a complete mess of your wood piles looking for perfection from SPF 2 wood, they leave nothing but junk for the next customer (which is not the "sorters" problem but does create a problem for the next guy in line). So the next guy in line wants you to pull down a fresh lift so he can do his own "sorter" thing but the yard staff have been instructed not to bring own a fresh lift until the old lift has been sold up to 75% of volume. Then the absolute jink gets banded together to make cull piles for reduced sale. This is why many/most of the box-store lumber is run the way it is and why there is a difference between specialty stores vs box-stores. This is why many stores have a "no sorting" policy or why they only allow you to personally pick up to 20% of your wood. This leaves customers with the onky choice of buying what they are given and returning or exchanging the crap pieces the next day or shopping at speciality stores. Like i said, no arguments needed here, this is how al kf these stores work and ranting about it here wont change that. This was strictly for information purposes so now you know why things work the way they do.