Blackheart Sassafras Price per Cube

[Asrainox]

Hi all,

I've got an opportunity to pick up a moderate amount of Blackheart Sassafras though I'm not too sure of the appropriateness of the price asked, as they've asked a total sum on the supply, not by meter/board or etc. I've summed the dimensions and determined the price per cube that is being asked for the split pack, and I'm just checking up on what everyone thinks is a reasonable figure per cube for this timber. The boards are moderately figured, rough sawn, and air dried.

I know that I will likely find out this info by simply ringing about, but I'm looking for a bit of a state-by-state guess at an average figure. I'm in Melb, if it makes a difference!! Thanks for opinions!

[old pete]

Hi Asra. No one could quote prices on the detail of information you have provided. If the sassy is of good quality and markings with minimal twist and bow in either direction and straight and in respectable lengths say 60% greater than 1800 mm in length and say 50% 25mm thickness and 50% 38mm thickness then you would be looking in the order of $4000 per cube. There's a lot of sassy around that should command a price of about $90 per tonne ie semi dry firewood price. If you need short lengths and narrow widths for your application then you can probably use the firewood option if you don't mind the machining time involved.

I went to a timber auction a few weeks ago where good quality KD sassy squares in long lengths at 75mm sq and 100 mm sq were being snapped up at $60 to $80 a lineal meter. Those prices equate to about 70% of the wholesale price of finished high quality pepper mills before you even start. Did not compute for me. I bought a stack of black wood and myrtle 75 mm squares of the highest quality and great color for about $10 per lineal meter. Thems's the breaks. Great price on one species; madness on the other. The art is in knowing when to walk. The fact that someone is paying that sort of inflated price for sassy simply means that they aren't operating in a commercial environment.

If you buy bulk sassy then you will have to keep it shedded or it will deteriorate quite rapidly.

I'd also check the MC%. It would need to be between 20 and 25% for me to show any interest otherwise you are going to have to keep it in stick until it gets down to that MC% and you can get it kiln dried.


Cheers Old Pete

QUOTE=Asrainox;1440601]Hi all,

I've got an opportunity to pick up a moderate amount of Blackheart Sassafras though I'm not too sure of the appropriateness of the price asked, as they've asked a total sum on the supply, not by meter/board or etc. I've summed the dimensions and determined the price per cube that is being asked for the split pack, and I'm just checking up on what everyone thinks is a reasonable figure per cube for this timber. The boards are moderately figured, rough sawn, and air dried.

I know that I will likely find out this info by simply ringing about, but I'm looking for a bit of a state-by-state guess at an average figure. I'm in Melb, if it makes a difference!! Thanks for opinions![/QUOTE]

[Asrainox]

Thanks so much Old Pete. I know I really didn't give enough information in my first post to make a judgement, but at this point I simply didn't have it. I was pointed to a possible sale and asking price by a mate who suggested it might be worth a look, but given your estimate there I think it's pretty likely the chap is overvalueing the stock by a decent amount.

Thanks for the feedback and your time,

Cheers,
D