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Unbelievable lumber prices

Marson | Posted in General Discussion on May 20, 2008 02:24am

Man, things must be slow nationwide. I needed a chunk of clean 2×4. Stopped at Menards (because it’s quick), and I got an 8′ 2×4, doug fir, with 3 little pin knots in the whole thing. Cost? $1.95. I think the building materials industry is hurting.

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Replies

  1. TomT226 | May 20, 2008 02:29am | #1

    Try lookin' at 4/4 Oak, Maple, and even rough Cedar.  I feel bad using the Oak drops to BBQ...

     

  2. Piffin | May 20, 2008 02:38am | #2

    I think it must be the only commodity in the world that has a falling price.

     

     

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    1. emaxxman00 | May 20, 2008 04:48am | #5

      China is fueling the demand and price inreases.  Wood is dropping because China only makes things out of lead.

       

    2. oldusty | May 20, 2008 04:57pm | #11

         All ,

               Here in Oregon we are seeing the materials bounce but don't bid too low in anticipation of continuing lower prices , what I think will happen is as the demand has slowed so will the inventories as has  production slowed or stopped . The materials will be in short supply and the prices will climb once again , they have to .

          Since less  logging has occurred in recent years in the PNW especially the Cedar , Pine and others even Alder from BC have gone up in price down in quality and not much available.'

                     dusty

      1. Piffin | May 20, 2008 05:22pm | #12

        Yes, commodities all make that kind of cycle as supply and demand wax and wane. 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. User avater
          Sailfish | May 20, 2008 06:22pm | #13

          I certainly am not seeing plywood going down.

          That stuff is crazy right now.

           

          Seems you can get oak sheething not much more than pine (relatively speaking). What gives??/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

          "If you come to a fork in the road, take it"

          1. jesse | May 20, 2008 06:27pm | #14

            I got some 2x10x12 last week....$8.50I made them check to make sure they weren't undercharging me.

          2. Piffin | May 20, 2008 09:02pm | #18

            Oak is just a veneer over ply core.But I get oak or birch for similar prices, but they are both twice what construction grade ply is.Maybe cause you guys uyse so much ply in hurricane season? 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  3. PASSIN | May 20, 2008 02:43am | #3

    had a friend tell me that a local mill here is loading full units of 2x material and sending it to the chipper.

    Apparently its worth more as chips even after having it milled.

    I also heard that they are bringing in alot more mobile chippers to the logging landings and chipping them on site.

  4. MSA1 | May 20, 2008 02:46am | #4

    Wow, probably a good time to buy my Wainscoting wood for my own house.

    About a month ago I was in Depot and 1/2" (i think) OSB was $6.

  5. fingersandtoes | May 20, 2008 06:16am | #6

    Here on the Island we've lost 2000 wood related jobs and had several large mills close since our dollar climbed and your economy tanked. Luckily we can still sell you our weed, so we'll be ok.

    1. davidmeiland | May 20, 2008 06:42am | #7

      Yeah, just bring the weed by kayak under cover of dark over to this island.

      1. fingersandtoes | May 20, 2008 07:50am | #9

        I worked with a guy called Rodan (named after the monster in Godzilla, not the painter) who got caught going your way in an overlaiden kayak. I think you are still paying for his food and lodging. Grow your own.

        1. davidmeiland | May 20, 2008 04:16pm | #10

          Thanks, I don't need any. We have a habit of paying for a LOT of food and lodging for someone like that over here, since it's such a serious crime!

  6. bobbys | May 20, 2008 06:56am | #8

    here by me in OR the loggers are hurting, There not getting much money for the logs.

  7. CAGIV | May 20, 2008 06:32pm | #15

    Everything has been fairly stable with a slight decline except Cedar which remains high.

    Team Logo

  8. frenchy | May 20, 2008 08:34pm | #16

    Marson,

      Sawmills in general are either not sawing or only sawing to order. Standing wood prices haven't reacted to falling wood prices (pun intended)  and thus land owners aren't having wood logged off.

     Around here in our hardwood forests the prices need to drop by well over 30% from currant levels before it becomes worthwhile to log.  Since farm prices are doing so well a lot of farmers are just leaving the trees grow. 

  9. User avater
    IMERC | May 20, 2008 09:01pm | #17

    that 2by gets a brass plaque and goes over the fireplace...

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  10. User avater
    NickNukeEm | May 20, 2008 09:35pm | #19

    I just spent in excess of $300 for 33 bd ft of 4/4 s2s cherry.  Had to cull the lot to get some decent boards.  No price break in hardwood.

    "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."  Invictus, by Henley.

    1. Marson | May 21, 2008 01:08am | #20

      Yeah, plywood prices are still up there, though OSB is rock bottom. We have a lot of OSB plants in our area, and they are hurting big time. Some are closed with their yards jammed with logs. I heard they were shipping them out--maybe they can make biofuel out of it!What really struck me about the doug fir 2x4 is not just the price, but the quality. Wasn't so long ago that we paid twice that for a twisted chunk of spf.

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