The price of lumber: Went in search of a piece of Fiddle Back maple, finally found a place in St.Louis that had what I was looking for, a bit bigger than I needed but what the Heck.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Went in search of a piece of Fiddle Back maple, finally found a place in St.Louis that had what I was looking for, a bit bigger than I needed but what the Heck. Road trip 52 miles one way, great drive wonderful day, I ask about 2.5X2.5 inches,the young lady said all they had was 3X3 inches. Arrived just in time as the guy was leaving for lunch, he showed me what they had the grain looked acceptable. Now the kicker I had to buy 6' of the stuff. $62.45 later I was on my way home. I need maybe 12" for my project. Oh well plenty of extra for do overs lol.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

We have a local company that makes staircases and bespoke furniture .....the owners' son was complaining that they have a wood pile (Scrap) that they actually have to pay someone to take...Might look around at 'similar' companies in your area - rather than 'stockists'. Either that, or build another shed to house your 'left-overs. LOL

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I'm lucky we have 4 quality hardwood lumber suppliers close to home, they all stock curly maple and other nice furniture and tonewoods. Lotsa tropical and other exotics too.
Can't seem to find any walnut or cherry burl though.

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Manglesphoto wrote:

Went in search of a piece of Fiddle Back maple, fi... (show quote)

That's about par for the course, either buy 6' or pay a $62.45 surcharge to have 12in cut from a 6' lump. You might try a luthier supply house in furure. 12 x 3 x 3 sounds like a fiddle or mandolin neck. This guitar back and side set, from StewMac was $45. I had to goose the contrast to bring out the figure.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

G Brown wrote:

We have a local company that makes staircases and bespoke furniture .....the owners' son was complaining that they have a wood pile (Scrap) that they actually have to pay someone to take...Might look around at 'similar' companies in your area - rather than 'stockists'. Either that, or build another shed to house your 'left-overs. LOL

This will is a one shot deal, so this will be the only left over.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Texcaster wrote:

That's about par for the course, either buy 6' or pay a $62.45 surcharge to have 12in cut from a 6' lump. You might try a luthier supply house in furure. 12 x 3 x 3 sounds like a fiddle or mandolin neck. This guitar back and side set, from StewMac was $45. I had to goose the contrast to bring out the figure.

This company is a supplier to Luthier supply houses.

ken hubert Loc: Missouri

Texcaster wrote:

That's about par for the course, either buy 6' or pay a $62.45 surcharge to have 12in cut from a 6' lump. You might try a luthier supply house in furure. 12 x 3 x 3 sounds like a fiddle or mandolin neck. This guitar back and side set, from StewMac was $45. I had to goose the contrast to bring out the figure.

You should show a closeup of it. It looks very good.

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

ken hubert wrote:

You should show a closeup of it. It looks very good.

Without polish it's always hard to see the figure. Slightly better pic of my 25 year old Roth. Fiddles are red or brown, I prefer brown but there it is, it's a good fiddle. If I ever build the guitar I want a honey burst. A picky maggie.

ken hubert Loc: Missouri

Looks very good!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Manglesphoto wrote:

Went in search of a piece of Fiddle Back maple, fi... (show quote)

Yes, lumber has gotten expensive, especially the special stuff. Remember when 2x4s measured 2"x4"? Now they're even cheating with plywood. It's still 4'x8', but 3/4" isn't 3/4" anymore.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes, lumber has gotten expensive, especially the special stuff. Remember when 2x4s measured 2"x4"? Now they're even cheating with plywood. It's still 4'x8', but 3/4" isn't 3/4" anymore.

What really gets me is when I sold my farm in 1992 I had 100s of board feet of fiddle back, birds eye maple and Honduras mahogany stored in a shed and no place to store it in the city.Sizes ranged from 1.5" to 3" thick, 6" to 16" wide and 44" to 72" long. and it had cost me nothing.
Yes I do remember real 2X4s
I found out the hard way a few yrs ago about the 3/4"plywood after cutting dados lol, then having to locate router bit and redo the side pieces for some shelves.
Even the "cabinet"grade plywood is crap now, the last I bought had all kinds of voids in the laminates.

billmck Loc: Central KY

I started working with my dad, a carpenter, in the summers when I was old enough to work, and I don't remember any full size 2X4 lumber, because by that time, everything was kiln dried. That would have been in the mid-50s. Here's some history on the topic:

http://www.woodcentral.com/woodworking/forum/archives.pl/bid/1107/md/read/id/322291/sbj/when-and-why-did-a-2x4-become-a-1-1-2-x-3-1-2/

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Manglesphoto wrote:

What really gets me is when I sold my farm in 1992... (show quote)

As I am sure you know, the only way to avoid voids in plywood is to order Marine grade plywood. And if you thought 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plywood is expensive, a 2'x4' 1/2" goes for about $60.

fhadfield

Hey texcaster, if you know how to play that fiddle, why don't you do an audio for us.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

boberic wrote:

As I am sure you know, the only way to avoid voids in plywood is to order Marine grade plywood. And if you thought 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plywood is expensive, a 2'x4' 1/2" goes for about $60.

Cabinet grade used to free of voids as few as 15 yrs ago.
I remember buying 2X4's with a finished size of 1 3/4 X 2 3/4in the late 60's and into the early 70's