Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 21
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,820

    Default Where do the pro's go for timber?

    I must be approaching this gig incorrectly.... Each time I go to a timber merchant, or email them, I get one of the following:

    -- seriously gouged
    -- $hit service
    -- no response
    -- some illiterate bogan saying "yeah naahhh mate, kant 'elp ya"
    -- or refer me to some bull$hit other product that has nothing to do with the enquiry

    Where do the pros or serious woodworker go? I simply cannot imagine these blokes putting up with the utter BS that passes for the timber supply industry.

    Is it normal? Have I hit some trifecta? Why can't these blokes ship? I can arrange a courier to ship a Sherman tank, but I can't get these blokes to chuck a cube on a pallet? Why?

    Where can I go to get good service, a decent honest price and ship?

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





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    1,857

    Default

    Hmmm...

    Where are you located? I can put you in touch with two great guys in the Brisbane area who aren't active on the forums. Not sure if they ship.

    Mapleman will ship smaller quantities and he's a pleasure to deal with.

    Dusteater seems to have reasonably priced SheOak "on the reg" and is also a pleasure.

    Carbatec is selling wood now. I've found SOME at a decent price but it's usually gouged.

    It sounds like you've had a bad experience or two. I know the feeling. If I see a Gumtree ad and I make the call and can't stand to be on the phone with the person, I don't care if they've got Birdseye Tiger Golden Fiddleback Ringed Muskwattlegum Burl, they're not getting my business. That being said, I've had some good experiences on Gumtree.

    There are a lot of sellers on eBay. Sometimes you get some deals. They almost all ship.

    tasmaniannativetimbers.com.au Nice guys with good stuff at reasonable prices. They ship.

    And of course there are the timber and working with wood shows. If you live close to one of the major cities then there may be one coming your way.

    Hope that helps?

    Cheers,
    Luke

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    belgrave
    Age
    61
    Posts
    7,934

    Default

    If you are talking consistent volume Britons timber might be the go. Dandenonge.
    Or http://mathewstimber.com.au/
    anne-maria.
    T
    ea Lady

    (White with none)
    Follow my little workshop/gallery on facebook. things of clay and wood.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,820

    Default

    DustEater is excellent. I've bought a lot off him. I've also bought many times from MapleMan, but he won't deliver any more.

    Lately, the last 4 months, I've been using a cube a month. EASILY. I barely unstack it before its out the door. I've had to scab it up from all over the place.... It's rediculous.

    Getting the stuff organised is the hardest thing I do during the day. I could be wrong, but I'd SWEAR they don't want to sell to me. Again, I could be wrong but I get the very distinct feeling they are gouging me AND protecting their other clients. I have zero proof, but buying a few sticks raises no issues, but the *instant* I talk volumes on a monthly basis I see the roller door shut down.

    This is not my imagination. I've written many emails, simply stating I'd take shorts, offered a list of species and included decent volumes on a monthly basis - in cash, no credit... Silence. Absolute silence.

    Perhaps it's because I'm not a big name pro? Am I using the wrong lingo? Is there a secret code-word?

    I absolutely kid you not - getting supplies is singularly the hardest part of growing this business...getting work is so easy it isn't funny, the commissions are absolutely flying in (I'm very seriously considering how to expand).... But timber? May as well be moon rocks.

    (Apologies for the big whinge everyone)

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    1,857

    Default

    Ah, yeah, I had no idea you were talking that kind of scale. I am mostly shopping for stuff on the Hobbyist tier.

    Sounds like you need to move to Tasmanian and buy... a forest.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,756

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Evanism View Post
    Is it normal? Have I hit some trifecta? Why can't these blokes ship? I can arrange a courier to ship a Sherman tank, but I can't get these blokes to chuck a cube on a pallet? Why?
    There is a bit of a difference between a Sherman tank and timber.
    A tank is specified man made object whereas timber is a highly variable natural product the value of which can be somewhat subjective.
    That's why I would never get into shipping timber - the endless arguments that could arise about this and that about the timber would drive me nuts.

    From what I can see the pros develop relationships with specific timber merchants a bit like patients do with GPs. Once a certain level of trust is established they look after each other and both benefit.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Age
    74
    Posts
    1,389

    Default timber shipping

    Contact Mal at Boutique timbers (www.boutiquetimbers.com.au, email: [email protected] or call 65858296).

    He ships.

    But life doesn't go in straight lines.
    In the past 2 years he has suffered from bowel cancer (chemo 8 months) plus a broken hip and replacement (fell in Cambodia).
    There have also been 3 floods this year making work around the timber stacks and mill impossible. Customers have been driving from Sydney to collect.

    Frustrating perhaps to those who want timber delivered but that's life with small suppliers.

    Those issues have made truck driving and delivery to Sydney difficult, however he is back on deck and will can ship to Sydney for on-shipment to wherever.........but.......

    But the Sydney wood show will now take time in preparation, so perhaps you can get there in June and purchase a few cube to take back to Canberra.

    Regards

    Greg

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    10,766

    Default

    A few sticks can be delivered via Aus Post but volume needs trucks that takes a lot of organising. Large companies shouldn't have a problem with this but the smaller suppliers would. Have the volumes you need may also be a problem but they should still reply
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Caroline Springs, VIC
    Posts
    1,645

    Default

    If your after common timbers such that are used as decking and floorboards (merbau, spotted gum, ironbark, jarrah etc etc) you can try your flooring suppliers. They should be able to get a hold of a pack or 2 or 3 of ~142x23 that has been skip dressed pending final machining into a flooring tongue n groove profile. And these guys should deliver, and its not uncommon that they need to hand unload, or tip it off the back of the truck if they have a tipper. The skip dressed is good, even though it is very poorly machined, often with a lot of tearout, but it allows you to choose boards based on colour and figure easily and then dock em down and DAR to your requirements.

    As far as price gouging goes...it all depends on what you expect to pay, and whether those expectations are reasonable. I often get quoted in excess of 5k/cubic meter of 150x25 in spotted gum/ironbark, and once i start inquiring about thicker timbers such as 150x38 or 150x50 I wont be surprised to find some muppet looking to charge in excess of 8k/cube...I personally pay around the 3.6k/cube for the 142x23 skip select spotted gum. I'd be interested in hearing what other people pay (without naming companies) because often it does feel like the salesman is picking a number out of his head

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Warragul Vic
    Posts
    1,093

    Default

    As a small scale suppier, just re-entering the business, it's interesting to read these many comments.
    Of course like you all I have also been a small-scale buyer over manyyears so I can empathise with you all.

    Packaging and sending for me remains a time consuming nightmare, especially for overseas orders. One order I sent to Spain by Express Post International took a week to get there and now its stuck in Barcelona awaiting paperwork for release. Poor bugger thought he would get it in a week. 3 weeks and still nothing. $100 of wood and $100 to send it.. 1 hrs to get it ready with paperwork and email exchanges. !

    I love it when customer comes in, knowing what he wants, collects and pays me on the spot ... I dont have a safe showroom or shop facilities to show them about or let them pull the stock and stacks apart looking for "something special". So I usually do the selecting for them and still give them a choice in the end. I have never sold a cube max was always about 0.1 - 0.2 cu m and that was 10 yrs ago to US collectors and crafters. Yep, shipping still remains a big obstacle for me.

    Euge

  12. #11
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,820

    Default

    I've always tried to make it dead easy: get a free pallet, stack the wood tightly (no stickers), cover over in cardboard from the recycler (chuck a few bits on), strap it down and I'll arrange a courier to collect it. Zero extra needed.

    If they are helpful, take it to a depot for me. The will unload it with their forklift for free.

    I know its a pain packing for customers, I do it for about 30 to 40 minutes a day... tables, chairs, etc... but Id have thought strapping timber to a pallet is as easy as it gets. Admittedly, you'll need to have a good steel-strap wrench and crimper, but these must be tools of the trade - Ive read articles here about people milling and using them to keep it all together.

    Euge, I'm not talking about you above BTW.... its the commercial guys. I'm still keen for your stuff.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Coffs Harbour
    Posts
    226

    Default

    Unless there is some magic in the drying of timber, those figures sound rediculous.
    I just bought a cube of rough sawn green hardwood for a few projects and it cost me $450.
    Direct from a medium sized sawmill and it wasn't crap either. 150 x 50 and 100 x 50
    I guess it comes down to where you live.
    Crickey, around here you get pallets made from tallowood, grey gum or some other respectable timbers, quite often with amazing fiddleback.
    Down at one of the local dumping grounds I know of there are about 10 decent logs of red mahogany, just laying in the dirt.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    act
    Posts
    880

    Default

    Evan, Give 'Moons Mobile Mill' (Barry Moon) a call 0428569181.
    He's in Cootamundra, about hour and a half from Canberra.
    Very Reasonbly priced and a wide variety of timber.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Camden, NSW
    Age
    74
    Posts
    3,576

    Default

    Greg above is being a bit modest. He and Mal run a fabulous AND FLEXIBLE timber yard giving good old fashioned service and supply an unbelievable range of what I would call 'exotic' Australian timbers. Greg often runs loads down to Sydney and many of us pick up from Mals carport in Northern Sydney. The annual auction is becoming a tradition which keeps me, as a hobbyist, in timber for a year!
    It sounds though that you need more commercial quantities of less 'exotic' timbers?
    if so, I've had great service and a good range of timbers from Matthews Timber in St Mary's. I have seen them loading commercial quantities to be freighted all over. A combination of the 2 should give you a reliable supply but I wouldn't mind betting that your fine art pieces will be made from Boutique timbers......a little bit of the mystical timber spirit travels with every piece from that magical place!
    fletty
    a rock is an obsolete tool ......... until you don’t have a hammer!

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Rochester, vic
    Posts
    310

    Default

    Hi all, hope you have been well.

    I have been off the forum for a while, processing my way through 1500 tonnes of logs and timber. The back paddock looks like an ocean of wood, a nice sight.

    Anyway, getting freight into Canberra can be a nightmare from northern Victoria. Any local companies that run trucks to Sydney don't want to head down to Canberra to drop off one pallet, so then the freight is forced to go 250km south to Melbourne before heading north again, and the cost can get out of hand. If anyone knows an easier way from central Victoria into Canberra, let me know.

    On the other hand, I have a shed full of timber that you, mr evanism, might be interested in that I have built up since the late 90's, maybe 2-300 cubic metres of dry sawn timber, furniture and musical instrument grade from both Tassie and local species. Let me know if your interested in a look. I don't have a website, a facebook page, a twitter thing, etc., so can be hard to catch when at work in the mines also, but 0417845224 will do the trick most times(that's if the electrical tape holds the battery on the back of my old flip phone!), but I do have some lovely timbers that I supply to a small selection of trusted furniture and instrument makers in various states. I might be able to help you out.

    Cheers

    James.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10th April 2012, 08:42 AM

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
  •