Thread: Advice needed - Oregon

Sorry, a bit confused now. Some people say it's a bargain, others a rip-off?

What would you class as "real wood" for $1000?

I'm kind of tempted, because it's right there (I don't need to go searching for it) and no delivery, no hassle etc. But by the same token I don't want to get ripped off.

Also, because I don't know wood, it could be anything ... not the Oregon they say it is.

EDIT: Just rang Big Red Shed for some advice. The guy said if it were him, he'd try to knock them down to $20 / lm and also to check that it is oregon rather than say cypress. Not sure how to tell.

2 years ago I purchased a semi trailer load of "reclaimed" timber from an Adelaide firm, it still had nails in it and was not sorted through, the semi was tightly packed to the gunnells with Oregon, Jarrah and Baltic Pine of different thicknesses and lengths, straight from demolition site to me, the load was higher than the cab and full length of the bed, delivered to my home for $1,000, I hired a fork to get it off which cost me $100 self drive, I spent a day just sorting through it and removed the nails as I used it, I still have some in the shed, I suggest you take a look at timber prices, reclaimed and new, just to get some idea of prices, there are a lot of "used" timber recyclers out there, some good, some bad! shop around!

Sorry, I didn't say it was a rip-off. I personally wouldn't do it but some might. I don't mind it if it was free but I definately won't pay $1000 for it.

Real wood = furniture grade timber. For example Jarrah, Blackwood, Red Cedar, etc. You can get a decent amount with $1000.

I would be very surprised if its Cypress pine.

Thats nearly a cube of timber, so $1000 for new timber would be a steal. Not sure how much damage it has from nails - that would be one factor to consider. Oregon is not a very nice timber to work and you've got a lot of it to get through and that will certainly be building grade oregon, which is fine for building and an outdoor table but that's about it. At those dimensions it is almost certainly oregon. Although you will pay around 5 - 9 times as much (and more) for quality timber from a reputable supplier with better working properties I think that is a better way to go.

Cheers
Michael

Thanks for all the advice. I decided to pass on the opportunity.

Hasn't that bridge been sold already? Big one - quite a few lanes......