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eganders

13/10/2007 12:01 PM

What do you take to test lumber at lumber yard

I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
yard to test wood that I am interested in.

I wondered what others have found useful.

I have

a moisture meter
tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
plane.
Spray bottle of water?

Other ideas???


This topic has 11 replies

Sk

Steve knight

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

14/10/2007 9:28 PM

if you by tropical woods then a moisture meter is important. cocobolo
and ebony and any oily wood it is best to check and make sure. it
tends to pass through so quick it can be 5 to 10% too high in
moisture.

DJ

"Dave Jackson"

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

14/10/2007 12:00 PM

I usually just take my good eye and a tape. --dave

"dpb" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> eganders wrote:
>> I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
>> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>>
>> I wondered what others have found useful.
>>
>> I have
>>
>> a moisture meter
>> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
>> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
>> plane.
>> Spray bottle of water?
>>
>> Other ideas???
>
> If you're buying for specifics, a small block plane and flashlight...
>
> I rarely buy by the board but in 300-400 bd-ft, so my excursions basically
> are -- call, place order (300-ft #1C 4/4 qs wh oak); go, load; grit teeth,
> pay; return home, unload/stack; let sit.
>
> --
>
>

G@

"GarageWoodworks" <.@.>

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

13/10/2007 3:08 PM



"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>
> I wondered what others have found useful.
>
> I have
>
> a moisture meter
> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
> plane.
> Spray bottle of water?
>
> Other ideas???
>

All I bring is a tape measure and CHALK. I like to chalk out my cuts so I
don't end up shorting myself or buying too much.
I don't measure moisture. Never had any problems with moisture probably
because I only buy lumber from lumberyards that kiln dry.

--
www.garagewoodworks.com

Cc

"Charley"

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

13/10/2007 3:43 PM


"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>
> I wondered what others have found useful.
>
> I have
>
> a moisture meter
> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
> plane.
> Spray bottle of water?
>
> Other ideas???

I take a pad & pencil, a 12' tape measure, a small calculator, and a small
moisture meter. Sometimes I take a 12" straight edge for checking flatness
of wide boards, but I usually just use the edge of the tape measure for
this. When buying rough sawn lumber I usually also try to take a pocket
sized Surform file to spot clean some small areas so I can see the grain,
but if I'm really looking for pleasing grain structure I will usually buy
S3S lumber, as it's easier to see the grain that way and I can select 1
board at a time from the pile. My source for rough sawn isn't much
interested in selling less than 200 or 300 BF at a time so I usually only
buy from him if I need a large amount at one time, but his prices are low
enough and his quality good enough that I have never felt like I have gotten
a bad deal.

I don't think any dealer would much appreciate anyone spraying water on
their kiln dried lumber. With experience, this shouldn't be necessary
anyway.

Charley

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

13/10/2007 6:18 PM


"Leon" wrote


> I can tell by lookin if it is lumber, No Test Equipment Required. ;~)

Yeah ... those fiber cement boards just don't feel right! :)

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/30/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Ll

"Lee"

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

13/10/2007 7:31 PM

Agree with garage. If you want to check grain forget the water. They may not
like it. I use odorless mineral spirits.Which they also might not
like.Depends.I have never had much of a problem with wood grain or
color....of course I'm lucky and have an excellent supplier.
"GarageWoodworks" <.@.> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
>> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>>
>> I wondered what others have found useful.
>>
>> I have
>>
>> a moisture meter
>> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
>> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
>> plane.
>> Spray bottle of water?
>>
>> Other ideas???
>>
>
> All I bring is a tape measure and CHALK. I like to chalk out my cuts so I
> don't end up shorting myself or buying too much.
> I don't measure moisture. Never had any problems with moisture probably
> because I only buy lumber from lumberyards that kiln dry.
>
> --
> www.garagewoodworks.com
>

FD

"Frank Drackman"

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

15/10/2007 2:27 PM


"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>
> I wondered what others have found useful.
>
> I have
>
> a moisture meter
> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
> plane.
> Spray bottle of water?
>
> Other ideas???
>

My first suggestion is to ask for the location's policies before planing or
spraying liquid on any lumber.

Al

"Artemus" <[email protected]>

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

13/10/2007 1:18 PM

A cut list.
Art

"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>
> I wondered what others have found useful.
>
> I have
>
> a moisture meter
> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
> plane.
> Spray bottle of water?
>
> Other ideas???
>

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

14/10/2007 12:54 PM

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:01:44 -0700, eganders <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>I wondered what others have found useful.

I bring:

- 16 ft. tape (lives in the truck)
- Apron plane (only on special occasion)
- Leather gloves (lives in the truck) (I buy rough)
- Money (Makes carting the wood away easier)

I've never seen the need to test the moisture at my suppliers. A 16
foot tape can be run all the way out, so rough cuts can be marked
without moving the tape. I don't normally cut at the supplier, unless
it's raining and I need to get long material inside my enclosed
trailer.

---------------------------------------------
** http://www.bburke.com/woodworking.html **
---------------------------------------------

dn

dpb

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

14/10/2007 8:47 AM

eganders wrote:
> I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>
> I wondered what others have found useful.
>
> I have
>
> a moisture meter
> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
> plane.
> Spray bottle of water?
>
> Other ideas???

If you're buying for specifics, a small block plane and flashlight...

I rarely buy by the board but in 300-400 bd-ft, so my excursions
basically are -- call, place order (300-ft #1C 4/4 qs wh oak); go, load;
grit teeth, pay; return home, unload/stack; let sit.

--

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to eganders on 13/10/2007 12:01 PM

13/10/2007 4:06 PM


"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I thought I would put together a kit of things to take to the lumber
> yard to test wood that I am interested in.
>
> I wondered what others have found useful.
>
> I have
>
> a moisture meter
> tape measure (probably should have at least a 12 ft tape, but the one
> I have in the kit now is just 6 ft.
> plane.
> Spray bottle of water?
>
> Other ideas???
>

I can tell by lookin if it is lumber, No Test Equipment Required. ;~)


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