looking for "less than premium" lumber.

[pyotr filipivich]

Weird question.

I'm looking to throw up a shack. A temporary building, not intended to last more than a couple years.

Yet every lumber yard I've found advertises "premium quality" lumber. Where can one go for "Good enough" lumber for those projects which just have to be "done"? Somewhere above the stuff used by "B.A.R.F. Construction" ('cost a whole lot less, looks just a good.), though.

Or am I stuck with having to contact a mill somewhere for the grade 4 boards (every board guaranteed to have a knot, bark, cup, bow, or for not more money a combination of two or more.)?

{Company I worked at used that stuff for shipping commercial countertops. The counter tops were first rate, the 'crates' - not so much B-) }

[Scott Lurndal]

ebay. curbside. craigslist junkyard habitat for humanity ReStore.

[knuttle]

Depending on what size of shed you are talking about it may be better to buy a cheap shed from somewhere like Lowes or Home Depot. It will probably last as long as you want it and may cost less considering cost of materials, labor, and the time required to find it.

You may also chece Craiglist, to the like. I have seen some sheds being given away, so the only cost would be moving it to your locations. Depending on the size it could be doable.

[Just Wondering]

Could you recycle wood pallets? A lot of places give them away.

[Clare Snyder]

I framed mine with hardwood pallet lumber - 8 foot sheet metal pallets

[pyotr filipivich]

knuttle <keith [e-mail] on Fri, 26 Mar 2021 17:30:57

-0400 typed >> Weird question.

I've looked at those. Also, what I have in mind is not so much "shed" as "add-on extension" or "lean to" about four by eight foot. I want to "enclose a porch" for the shed which serves as my Study. But first, I need to make that 'porch'. I have much of the materials, but I'm sure I will need some more.

what can I say, I'm cheap, and already planning on reusing part of a Costco carport as a garden 'shed' and possibly a 'gazebo'.

Had not considered Craigslist, but that raises the problem of not having a trailer. If it isn't one thing, it is another. "And any plan where you lose your hat ..?" "... is a bad plan."

Yep. OTOH, I keep in mind that something is "doable" depending on what you have and etc. I once converted the former neighbor's front porch into my rear deck. "Doable" because I had a truck, two come-a-longs and fifty feet of aircraft cable. Not to mention some

4x4s, a number of cement footings / blocks and no city inspectors to worry about.

[DerbyDad03]

What's your definition of "cheap"? Are these cheap? Don't forget that most of these shed kits do not include flooring or shingles, so the price shown isn't the final cost. In addition, if they haven't changed things, they don't include enough framing material to build a proper structure. For example, they don't include sill plates.

I got lucky. About 10 years ago I went to HD planning to pick up enough plywood and 2x4's to build a small lean-to, something just big enough to get a few rarely used items out of the single car garage.

As soon as I walked in I saw a hand-written cardboard sign with the words "Manager's Special: Open Box Shed Kit - $250" scrawled on it.

I located a manager and she showed me an 8 x 8 shed kit like this, with all the pieces strapped to a pallet.

I bought it on the spot. I also found a pallet loaded with open packages of shingles being sold at a deep discount. Paid for enough to roof the shed and loaded up the trailer. Since the open-box kit was so cheap, I bought the extra framing material to build it properly. Even with the flooring, roofing and extra framing material, I still paid way less than half of the current shed kit-only price.

The shed still looks great after all these years.

Or a used shipping container. They are all the rage for storage, shops and even stores these days.

[hubops]

... seldom see those 8 footers at-the-curb ... Regular pallets are often set out for free. - a troup of pallet scavengers will usually beat-you-to-the-punch .. John T.

[Michael Trew]

My father has a huge "burning man" style bonfire every year... he goes to Home Depot or wherever, and asks the manager for a discount on damaged lumber. I'm not sure what discount they work out, but he gets anything warped, bowed, cracked, split, or major knots at a good discount... half off, maybe? YMMV, but it can't hurt to ask the manager at your local lumber yard or big box/home improvement store.

[Bill]

My local Menards or Home Depot has a "scrap box" where they sell pieces really cheap. I don't recall seeing anything longer than 3 feet there, but I don't frequent it. Great for kids though!

[knuttle]

Our local Home Depot does not have that. While the will cut to your measurements, they expect you take all of the pieces from what you bought.

However when we lived in Indianapolis Menards did, It was great for that small project where you needed a couple of feet of 2X to complete. I wish all stored had them.

Did I say I miss Menards? If not I wish they would expand into the south east.

[Michael Trew]

Ours doesn't have that, but he was able to bargain full 8, 10, and 12" damaged board down. I do miss going to Menards; it was a little over an hour drive to the nearest one, but I spent thousands there when remodeling my house, and with that 11% mail in rebate, I got enough back to go buy a brand new water heater, at no cost to me!

[Leon]

Pallets in general are not a great source for wood. Unless brand new there is no telling what they have been subject to. Dragged along floors with, who knows what, toxic debris and containers spilling on them. I have seen a lot of very nasty pallets.

[Leon]

Considering what construction lumber is going for these days, it is all less than premium. Today's 2x4 that goes for $8 is the same quality as last years $3 2x4.

[Sonny]

Your best bet might be to dumpster dive the local construction sites. Ask the foreman, on the job, for permission first, as all sites don't allow dumpster diving.

[krw]

OTOH, I've had some that are sparkling new. Stationary tools come on them. It takes a lot of bandsaws to build a shed, though.

[pyotr filipivich]

Michael Trew [e-mail] on Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:23:32 -0400 typed in rec.woodworking the following:

HD has their cart of damaged "seconds" - 70% off. Sometimes I have found all the boards I need for less than one "good" one.

[pyotr filipivich]

Not since the manufacturers started putting their wood / pallets behind locked gates.

Besides, scraps I got. Where do I go for "less than pristine, fair-growth, gluten free 2x4" etc?

[pyotr filipivich]

Clare Snyder [e-mail]> on Fri, 26 Mar 2021 20:04:32 -0400 typed in rec.woodworking the following:

I still have a couple of those from work.

The problem is that I no longer work there, and the dumpster is now behind a gate and a fence.

Dumpster diving ain' what it used to be.

[pyotr filipivich]

Tain't the cost so much as I don't need pristine, organically grown, faire trade, each tree individually selected and harvested by druids in a sustainable manner, hand selected by virgins "perfect" lumber. I just want "board, 2"x4"x96", one each" etc. Something grade three or below. I tend to go check Home Depots "mark down cart" - 70% off. Yes, that's a major defect. OTOH, there is 7 feet of board without the defect, and I can cut the two pieces I want out of it. "It will do."