Thanks Thanks:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    925

    Default Some nice Camphor Laurel at the right price

    Last year I started hunting about for some nice camphor laurel to make a new kitchen and bathroom, including searching about on the forum. I was surprised at just how hard it was to get some of this at a price I considered reasonable, especially given that the timber is a declared weed. Anyway I was able, after some searching to obtain about cubic metre of the stuff (between 0.9 and 1.1 by my estimate) yesterday for $600. Nice wide boards and some narrower ones but perfect for making kitchen doors, facings and drawers. I was quoted up to $4000 a cube. I have seen dressed slabs for more than $200. I have no idea of the cost structures involved that determine these prices and for all I know they are perfectly reasonable. But I am more than pleased with the price I paid and so was the chap I got it from.

    I will still need to get some 800 mm wide slabs for the counter tops, but I am told that these are also on the way.

    I only stacked them quickly late yesterday and today I will stick them out properly in my shed.

    The smaller ones on the right will finish up as small natural edged coffee tables.

    timber one.jpgtimber two.jpg
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    420

    Default

    Great score! Are they dry?

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    925

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ilya View Post
    Great score! Are they dry?
    The thicker slabs are 47 mm and they were cut about 12 months ago. The 25 mm were cut a bit more recently. I have not put a moisture metre on them yet but I suspect they want a few more months in the shed to be properly dried. I could get way with using them but I have so many other projects on the go that waiting will not hurt. I am thinking about Christmas, while I am on holidays will be kitchen making time. Considering the next best price was $1600 a cube I do not mind very much. Some of the boards have plain grain but most are wild menagerie of colour and form. I have used a lot of camphor in the past, especially when I was teaching. What I loved about it was the smell and the ease of working it. But even long ago and buying large quantities I could not get it for $600 a cube.
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    43
    Posts
    98

    Default

    Going to mention your dealer supplier timber merchant? I've nearly had a fit the last couple of timber quotes I've received.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    925

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by chemfish View Post
    Going to mention your dealer supplier timber merchant? I've nearly had a fit the last couple of timber quotes I've received.
    I will ask him if he minds me doing so. I was amazed at what sorts of prices people wanted for a timber that comes from a declared weed. But I suppose the milling equipment and so on are expensive. Keep an eye on the forum. I will post his number if he will give me permission.
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
    Age
    48
    Posts
    2,825

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by chook View Post
    I will ask him if he minds me doing so. I was amazed at what sorts of prices people wanted for a timber that comes from a declared weed. But I suppose the milling equipment and so on are expensive. Keep an eye on the forum. I will post his number if he will give me permission.
    There's still a cost in turning a weed into a product.
    It's only a mistake if you don't learn from it.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    925

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by corbs View Post
    There's still a cost in turning a weed into a product.
    Must be a good bit of cost. I have no idea of the costs involved. Perhaps it does cost a lot of money to saw a log into slabs. And people are entitled to make money for the time, skill, effort and machinery that goes into it. But some of the prices I see for camphor seem very high. It is a weed and it is easy to cut. But as I say I know nothing about it really.
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    ACT
    Age
    84
    Posts
    2,579

    Default

    It's a weed, it's not allowed to be cultivated, it's destroyed as soon as it's spotted and not allowed to mature so of course its rare and expensive. Like marijuana compared to good tobacco.

    Regards
    Hugh

    Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,766

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by A Duke View Post
    It's a weed, it's not allowed to be cultivated, it's destroyed as soon as it's spotted and not allowed to mature so of course its rare and expensive. Like marijuana compared to good tobacco.

    Regards
    Have you seen the price of tobacco recently? LOL.
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Brisbane (Chermside)
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,076

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by chook View Post
    I will ask him if he minds me doing so. I was amazed at what sorts of prices people wanted for a timber that comes from a declared weed. But I suppose the milling equipment and so on are expensive. Keep an eye on the forum. I will post his number if he will give me permission.
    Chook,

    I'll keep an eye open for that number. I would like to buy some camphor as well because I just ran out.

    Cheerio!

    John

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    925

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by John Samuel View Post
    Chook,

    I'll keep an eye open for that number. I would like to buy some camphor as well because I just ran out.

    Cheerio!

    John
    Sorry. I forgot. I will follow it up tomorrow.
    My age is still less than my number of posts

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    the sawdust factory, FNQ
    Posts
    1,051

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by chook View Post
    Must be a good bit of cost. I have no idea of the costs involved. Perhaps it does cost a lot of money to saw a log into slabs. And people are entitled to make money for the time, skill, effort and machinery that goes into it. But some of the prices I see for camphor seem very high. It is a weed and it is easy to cut. But as I say I know nothing about it really.
    The problem with camphor is that everyone in the supply chain wants to get paid. People want to get paid for their logs (weed or not), the guy who cuts it wants wages, the snigging and haulage contractors all like to make a quid, the electricity and fuel companies get annoyed when you don't pay their bills, the sawmill staff like their wages on a Friday, you got to keep the bank manager off your back, and the kids all like to eat as well.

    I'd say that considering F14 structural grade (not appearance) 6x2's now retail at $1500 a cube, that you got one hell of a bargain. Nothing wrong with that either - good luck to you!!! $1600 a cube dead green or $2400 seasoned wouldn't be unreasonable for any cabinet/joinery timber anymore.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Brisbane (Chermside)
    Age
    71
    Posts
    2,076

    Default

    I don't mind paying a reasonable price, so long as I get what I want.

    I buy Vic Ash from Lazarides occasionally. It is expensive for ash, but it is dried beautifully, is all quarter cut and the boards are almost as straight as a die. There is virtually no waste in it. Their cedar is almost as good. Recently bought some cedar from another supplier. It had thunder shakes ... there was wicked internal collapse in some boards, and a few would have made great propellers. Cheap ... but worth the price. Won't use that supplier again. Paying a few bucks more for top quality timber is fine by me, and that includes camphor laurel ... weed or not.

    Cheerio!

    John

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    93

    Default

    I'd be interested in his number if he is still selling, apparently our countertops need replacing....

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Imbil
    Posts
    1,167

    Default

    Hi Guy's
    You would be surprised to see what you get for a standing tree (very little) be it Camphor or Rosewood , the reason being the amount of work that goes into recovering timber from the tree is considerable and the amount of useable timber that can be recovered can be very little because of shakes and internal void's. I have helped with the milling of many trees and believe me the amount of work involved is large and hard this is reflected in the cost. So weed or not the work and effort is the same.
    Regards Rod.

Similar Threads

  1. Some nice camphor crotches
    By wood hacker in forum SMALL TIMBER MILLING
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 3rd August 2013, 07:41 PM
  2. Camphor Laurel
    By MAPLEMAN in forum SMALL TIMBER MILLING
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 14th March 2013, 11:40 PM
  3. Camphor Laurel
    By stuart.73 in forum SMALL TIMBER MILLING
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 14th December 2012, 10:58 AM
  4. Nice Price
    By ravlord13 in forum CLOCKS
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 3rd January 2008, 08:23 PM
  5. Camphor Laurel
    By The Hornet in forum TIMBER
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 15th July 2006, 06:39 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •