Thread: Wagga Wagga (100km west) Large-ish Amount Huon Pine

Hi Woodknot,

You have been set an unenviable task there. I am not a buyer so make these comments in the hope that it helps you achieve your task, not as a bargaining move. I also hope very much that you don't find them offensive, as that would be against my principles and the ethos of these Forums. I also do not pretend to be a valuer so am not going to suggest any $ value.

For a start, the uneven/irregular shapes, cracks and thicknesses very considerably reduce the usefulness of "leftover bits" like these. Most woodworkers end up with a pile of such pieces if they have the space for them. If they don't have space they burn them (yes, even magnificent Huon Pine) or give them away. These forums do not have many (?any) members with that kind of cash to shell out for a lot of mixed dimension stuff a long way away. Many of us are impecunious, often retired, and all want a bargain!

I suggest that you get the owner to tell you how much he wants for each piece and list them, with dimensions and price for individual sale. You may get some takers. If the insistence is as a job lot then you will have to discount very heavily to get takers.

As a comparison for you, a couple of years ago I was able to buy two great, book-matched Huon Pine slabs each 500 wide by 60 thick by 2400 long for $600. That was great timber, and very useable (now a table) but the itty bits your mate has - not so much.

Good luck.

by eye and based on the 5' x 7' tarp, your friend has about 1/4 of a cubic metre of odd bits of Huon, maybe less.
$4,500 to $5,000 for the lot would translate to something like $20,000 a cube, which is perhaps too far on the high side price wise.

I don't see anything there that I would be prepared to pay $250 to $400 a piece for.
perhaps $50 for some of the larger pieces -- but it would depend on the defects, if any.

Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas

Hi Woodknot,


These forums do not have many (?any) members with that kind of cash to shell out for a lot of mixed dimension stuff a long way away. Many of us are impecunious, often retired, and all want a bargain!

.

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.

I am to old and ugly to be offended. Besides, I moderate a web site, so I am immune...It is all duck off a waters back to me

Some other members might be offended though. Especially those that might live near Wagga Wagga and be all cashed up...I believe the site owner, Neil, lives in Geelong a mere day trip from here. I wonder if he knows he lives in an isolated area "a long way away".

Thanks also for the price comparison. Several pieces are about half of your table slabs...So you were happy paying $600 when you are on a pension and impecunious. So my wild guess of $250 to $400 is about right..well maybe the $400 side might be a bit high. But, as you say, it's a bargain price even for an impecunious pensioner

At the risk of going slightly off topic...Did you know that a married couple on age pension (married pension) are in the top 15% of Australia's wealthiest households? Oh, alright, it might be the top 16%...That means that almost 9 out of every 10 people you scream poor mouth to, are thinking - you are doing OK.

Yes, I noticed some attractive cracks and unique shapes. Do you think the "artistic" qualities of those pieces adds value?

Thanks Ian,

Yes, maybe it is a bit high. I am only making a "guess-timate". But it is NOT an asking price. Make an offer !!

I can see the value. I cannot be offended so all offers will be passed on to the owner...In the words of the owner - "I have no idea what it might be worth" - So, my words are 'let's throw it out there and see what happens'.

All offers big and small will be put to the owner.

Rules of this forum say “make me an offer” posts are not acceptable and will be removed.

Hi homey,

Thanks for your input. However, I must say you have me at a loss, which rule exactly do you refer to ?

This one -


3. Price must be included, add ONO (Or Nearest Offer) if price is negotiable. If you are not not sure of a price, add a ballpark figure

• Please note: these items WILL be deleted: Auctions, PM/Email me an Offer and those without a price.

Or this one -

13. GST. All prices quoted in the Market Place to be GST inclusive, no $xxx+GST please. If GST is not included in the original post it cannot be added later at any stage.

Please note: these items WILL be deleted:

• Auctions,
• Non-approved commercial sales (see glossary below),
• Private Message (PM)/Email/phone me an Offer, and
• those without a price.

Or maybe this one -

Any user who feels that a post or Private Message message is objectionable or spam is encouraged to contact us immediately by clicking on the Report Post icon found at the bottom of all posts an messages.

[sic]



If you really feel that bad about it, please report me to Admin. I am sorry if you feel that my "ballpark figure" is not within your reach or approval. It is just a "ballpark figure" and Dave is very open to offers...Don't worry, you don't have to PM..email..phone..or even send a carrier pigeon..you can just make your offer right here in this thread You know, making an offer here in the Thread is allowed *wink* *wink*

But a $price OBO, might be acceptable.

Focus on the wood.
The post is valid and complies with the "Has a price with ONO"

DavidG Moderator.

Thank you DavidG

Back to the volume...I am not sure how Ian arrives at 1/4 cube...I get closer to 3/4.

As pictured it is 5 x 13 foot (not counting the bin full shown in the last 3 photos). That is 65 square feet by the thickness of say at a rough guess 4 inches. So about 21 cubic feet. Plus the rounds and the bin, probably about 25 to 27 cubic feet all up...which is about .75 cubic meters. Less the air space between the pieces of say what 10%..15%...20% ?? A lot closer to 3/4 of a cube than 1/4.

I am happy with my rough guestimate, ballpark starting figure. It is only a suggested start point, so make an offer.

Dave and his wife are planning on a trip to Bendigo in the near future. Delivery between Wagga and Bendigo can be done.

Firstly, an admission
I missed counting the pieces not on the tarp.
However, I'm making a much bigger allowance than you re air space -- my estimate is 30 to 40% -- and I'm wholly assigning almost all of the small stuff to a "firewood" pile.

still at 5' x 13' I'm getting 6 square metres less a third, so say 4 sq.m by say 100 mm -- or less than 1/2 cu.m.

While not in the market for any Huon pine, I primarily work with flat wood, and if in the market would be looking for material to build a box or two.
In that light none of the pieces I can see would be worth more than about $40 to me -- as wastage to recover material for a box will be pretty high.

If I was a turner, some of the rounds might be suitable for pepper grinders, or goblets, but again I wouldn't want to pay more than $15 to $20 a blank, otherwise the finished product would be too expensive.


Take the above as you will.

Firewood ?? Now there is an idea...you could shave it down and sell it as smoking chips. Good profit to be made there...If I was not a house sitter and had the room, I would do it myself.

OK. Noted. You are not in the market.

But if you were in the market, you would be interested at $15 to $40 per piece. So average $22.50 round that to $20 at 90 pieces = $1,800. Since I rounded the $22.50 I may as well round the $1,800 and say $2,000 even.

Dave is out today but when he gets home this arvo I will let him know, that you are not in the market but if you were, $2,000 for the lot.

At that price, if you chipped and sold it for smoking, you would make a good $20,000 or more profit.

With respect, and just in case anyone reads the post about smoking chips and thinks its a good idea...
Huon is not a smoking wood, and general consensus is that you don't use softwoods for smoking. Even so, if you have half a cube that is less than 500kg. Good smoking wood already chipped or chunked is about $8/kg at Bunnngs, cheaper in bulk.
If Huon was a decent smoking wood you might break even on it at $2K after labour, packaging and selling it. It isn't. There is certainly no magic $20k profit here.
Cheers, Robbie.

Thanks Robbie,

Are you making an offer of $8 per kg at 500kg ??

If you don't like smoking chips...You could sell it as sawdust...

It is being sold in Tasmania in little bags of 50 grams for something like $10 a pop. NOTE I say being "sold" not offered for sale but actually being "sold" at $10 per 50 grams. That would make this "firewood" pile of off cuts worth a cool $100,000 !!

Anyway, for the rest of the people watching this thread that might actually be interested...I have told Dave about the $2,000 for the lot thingy...He says SELL...So, OK, he is happy at offers around $2,000.

And so endeth the lesson in how knot to do it.