IL, WI, Where to get SYP: (Southern Yellow Pine)

[tkarlmann]

I think I might get the dougfir and let it dry in my shop. In the meantime, I was thinking I could make one from regular (northern white?) pine sold everywhere here, and just add something like hardboard, plywood, etc to the top. Also, refining my design in the process. Do you anticipate any problems doing that?

[iceman61]

We have SYP out the wazoo here. What I need, that we don't have, is some hardwood maple.

[LarryG]

As has been noted, availability of SYP varies by region. There is a trade association that provides a dealer locator.

[SARGE..g-47]

Originally Posted by tkarlmann

I think I might get the dougfir and let it dry in my shop. In the meantime, I was thinking I could make one from regular (northern white?) pine sold everywhere here, and just add something like hardboard, plywood, etc to the top. Also, refining my design in the process. Do you anticipate any problems doing that?

No... and I would personally think you might never have to upgrade it. The NWP is softer than SYP but.. if you are going to cap it what difference does it make? I don't know a lot about NWP but.. if the wood is stable once kiln dried I would even consider not capping it.

I have built 24 work-benchs over 38 years and getting ready to do one for an acquaintance that just retired from Delta Air Lines to refurbish my wood rack. Unless you are a pure Neader using exclusively hand planes to flatten stock.. the importance of a flat top is not necessarily that important IMO. I personally think building an extremely sturdy base that will resist rack is more important!

Even though I use Doug fir for a base.. I would not hesitate to build a base from SYP.. poplar.. NWP.. soft maple.. or any other soft-wood as once laminated the through tenons and bridle joints I use are going to make it rock solid. That is the key to a good work-bench and not so much emphasis on the top as "any" wood is going to move eventually and must be flattened.

So... there is an advantage to using SYP for me.... I don't baby tops and scar one up badly in a year with chopping on DT's.. chiseling.. etc. I can build a new SYP top if I get tired of looking at all the battle scars in two days and for under $30. But.. the same could be said for capping a top with ply as unless you glue it down it can be replaced with a new piece and an hour's work or less.

So.. my suggestion is to do what WW'er's have done for a long time... use what is local as it will work for you if you keep in mind it is what it is on the bottom line.... simply a work-bench made to work for you and not juried piece of furniture for a galley...

Good luck...

[tkarlmann]

Originally Posted by LarryG

As has been noted, availability of SYP varies by region. There is a trade association that provides a dealer locator.

SYP exists in IL:

Caution: Some of these may be wholesalers, so they might tolerate WWers. I spoke with one supplier and they want $12.28 for a 8' 2x10 -- and I cannot do much picking either. If I wanted to buy 80 of these, then my price goes to $6.14ea.

TX, FL and TN guys: How do these prices compare with your locations?

The guy said that the material they have has knots, and that typically, the knots are larger than NWP, and the boards may have more twist than NWP, but the wood is harder than NWP.

[tkarlmann]

[QUOTE=SARGE..g-47;435809]So.. my suggestion is to ... use what is local as it will work for you if you keep in mind it is what it is on the bottom line.... simply a work-bench made to work for you.
QUOTE]

I think this will be my approach.

[LarryG]

Originally Posted by tkarlmann

TX, FL and TN guys: How do these prices compare with your locations?

That would appear to be their largest caliber gun they're sticking in your face. Just checked local prices on the Lowe's web site:

2 x 10 x 8' = $6.42
2 x 10 x 10' = 8.54
2 x 10 x 12' = 9.47
2 x 12 x 12' = 12.69

Home Depot will be within pennies of those prices. Add 8.5% sales tax for the true out-the-door cost but, even so, those are Qty: 1 prices. And I get to cherry-pick my own.

[natausch]

Well, we can all hope that the voicemail I left for this wood lottery earlier today was the first and I get the stack... err houseful?!?!?

Heck, I'd parcel out a few hundred BF of maple just to appease the Craigslist gods.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/mat/1449394456.html

That or the local guy sitting on a mountain of rough maple, walnut and cherry at $1.50 a bf gets time to pull some of it out of his barn loft in the next decade. Then again, I'd be a fool to do anything but ebay 20 year old air dried 6/4 walnut at 2'x18' per slab.

[tkarlmann]

Originally Posted by LarryG

That would appear to be their largest caliber gun they're sticking in your face. Just checked local prices on the Lowe's web site:

2 x 10 x 8' = $6.42
2 x 10 x 10' = 8.54
2 x 10 x 12' = 9.47
2 x 12 x 12' = 12.69

Home Depot will be within pennies of those prices. Add 8.5% sales tax for the true out-the-door cost but, even so, those are Qty: 1 prices. And I get to cherry-pick my own.

Does anyone know how far I need to drive to get to /somewhere/ that has SYP -- like a Lowe's of HD -- where I can pick my own?

[tkarlmann]

Originally Posted by natausch

Well, we can all hope that the voicemail I left for this wood lottery earlier today was the first and I get the stack... err houseful?!?!?

Heck, I'd parcel out a few hundred BF of maple just to appease the Craigslist gods.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/mat/1449394456.html

That or the local guy sitting on a mountain of rough maple, walnut and cherry at $1.50 a bf gets time to pull some of it out of his barn loft in the next decade. Then again, I'd be a fool to do anything but ebay 20 year old air dried 6/4 walnut at 2'x18' per slab.

Can you translate that into something we can understand?