Junk Lumber

   / Junk Lumber #1  

LD1

Epic Contributor
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Messages
22,653
Location
Central Ohio
Tractor
Kubota MX5100
Got my delivery of lumber yesterday and wanted to get started building today. I think thats going on hold now.

Here are some pictures of the 2x6's I got. Just terrible quality.

IMG_20150530_095410897.jpgIMG_20150530_095432783.jpgIMG_20150530_095510496.jpgIMG_20150530_095709370.jpg

Out of about 200 2x6's I got, I bet I'd be lucky to find 20 that didnt have a rounded or bark edge. And probably 50% of them have less than 1/2 the width on the stud face. Dont do any favors trying to nail sheething on, especially if It happens to be a stud where there is a seam and 2 sheets need nailed to it.

I called the place back where I got them from, they were not as helpful as I would have liked. They offered to pick them back up and offer a full refund, but I still need lumber. They said all their framing lumber is going to be like that, and they will have a manager call me on monday to see if they can work something out and possibly hand pick some better boards for me.

Look at the pictures. What would you guys do? am I over-reacting? I dont want to be fighting crap lumber this whole project. When I buy a 2x6, is it too much to ask to get an actual 2x6? instead of lumber that you could hardly make a good 2x4 out of?
 
   / Junk Lumber #2  
I just went to a place that is noted for good lumber and got 150 2x6s or so. They were a little better than your pile but instead of fooling around and hauling them back I just used them in the walls. As long as they aren't twisted I used them. Before I would send them back I would physically check another lumber yards 2x6s. They might all be the same. If they are quite a bit better, maybe the price will reflect that. Then you have a choice to make; subpar or cheaper. Days of getting a nice cheap 4 cornered 2x6 seem to be diminishing.
 
   / Junk Lumber #3  
Wow, that is bad looking wood. I have not looked at lumber in a few years but that stuff is bad. I would go look at Lowes, HD, etc, to compare the quality.

When we built 10 years ago, hard to believe it was a decade ago, the builder bought the lumber from a local builder supply company. Our builder was tight with money and in a good way. The 2x6's he bought certainly did not have the bark on them like in your photos. With wood like that I would be concerned with cupping and warping. I guess you could use that wood for joists and rafters where you could orient the 2x6 so that the good side was facing the floor, drywall or roof sheathing. Not sure how you could use that in a wall.

Later,
Dan
 
   / Junk Lumber #4  
That's some pretty rough looking stuff. Couldn't you put the boards aside that don't meet your expectations and exchange them for better on Monday? That way you could get started.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
 
   / Junk Lumber
  • Thread Starter
#5  
That's some pretty rough looking stuff. Couldn't you put the boards aside that don't meet your expectations and exchange them for better on Monday? That way you could get started.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

I am gonna dig through and get built what I can. But I think I would be setting aside well over half the boards for exchange
 
   / Junk Lumber #6  
That all looks like low grade number 2 boards. Did you pay for the good stuff or just whatever was cheapest? I've found that of the different suppliers I have available, I'm getting the nicest boards from Lowes right now. This seems to change every couple of years, so it's always a good idea to go see what everyone has and what they are charging. For whatever reason, they seem to rotate suppliers or go up and down with what their standards are for what they will sell. The box stores only carry one grade of lumber unless you are special ordering it, but the lumber yards have the good and the bad, you have to tell them what you want and then be willing to pay for it.

Eddie
 
   / Junk Lumber #7  
I am gonna dig through and get built what I can. But I think I would be setting aside well over half the boards for exchange

And I'm sure by the time you've spent all the extra energy sorting, your going to be in a pretty bad mood come Monday. :)

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
 
   / Junk Lumber
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Its all supposed to be #2 and better.

I normally get stuff from Menards if I am picking it up. I think their worst stuff is better than this crap. Still not gonna say where its from just yet. Will wait and see how things turn out monday
 
   / Junk Lumber #9  
I have learned this lesson the hard way many times. Seems like most of the time I try to save money I end up wasting money/time. Save on lumber but waste time on the phone, sorting, etc... which when you add it up up would have been cheaper and less stress to just buy #1 grade in the first place.
 
   / Junk Lumber #10  
I bulk ordered pre finished oak baseboard for the second floor of my house last year. It was evident that the people who filled the order weren't looking at it, just shrink wrapped it and put it on the dock for me to pick up. This year, I'll do the first floor baseboard and will go and pick out each board.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet
 
 
Top