What do you take to test lumber at lumber yard

[eganders]

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???

[GarageWoodworks]

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.

[Lee]

[Charley]

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

[Artemus]

A cut list. Art

[Leon]

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

[Swingman]

"Leon" wrote

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

[B A R R Y]

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.

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[dpb]

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.

[Dave Jackson]

[Steve knight]

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.

[Frank Drackman]

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