Cedar timber in Essex?

[pipewrench36]

Does anybody know where I can get Western Red Cedar, 22mm X 270mm in Essex. I have the plans, I have the tools, I don't have the wood. One timber merchant had it, but I would have to remortgage my house to pay for it.

 

[oliver90owner]

2 x about 135-140mm?

RAB

 

[pipewrench36]

2 x about 135-140mm?

RAB

Yes, I had thought of doing this with a biscuit joint, but was hoping to avoid it.

 

[rae]

If have found that it is cheaper to buy your Cedar pre-cut from T H O R N E S if you are considering buying in small quantities. I reserve by DIY skills for cheapo ply.

 

[fredbloggs]

Hello

what length? do you want it cut to size ie for brood box sides or in longer lengths to cut yourself?

You are beyond the scope of most "common " planers/thicknessers (max 250mm) so are relient on:

1. an Ebay "find" - ie somebody who does not know what they are selling or does not put a decent reserve on the timber.
2. finding a local pro wood machinest who does not know /charge the earth for his product? Local means pickup no carriage charges.

do i sense a sticky topic?

Also, don't forget that whilst looking at machinery limitations, there are not many crosscuts that can handle 270mm in one hit?

Pause for more thought!

Regards

FB

 

[VEG]

Rip saw will cut whatever length you want though.

 

[fredbloggs]

Yes but not many DIY's have a ripsaw setup capable of making true right angle "cross cuts". hence my point about the limitation of most "chinglise" DIY store crosscut saws.

Regards

FB

 

[VEG]

Handsaws are cheap.

 

[pipewrench36]

Thanks for all the input folks. Much food for thought. I have looked on e-bay and found nothing. I can get a Commercial brood out of a 2m length and thats about as long as I could get in my car, but would need several pieces at that length. I have a good crosscut saw that can deal with the width.

 

[fredbloggs]

Pipe - this is the old adage of supply/demand. Ebay bargains only come with persistance . It seems you want "now" which requires wonga.

Just a thought but two metres is a dodgy size to make 4 sides from unless well prepared. Suggest you invest in an ebay bargain roofrack first

Regards

FB

 

[pipewrench36]

Thanks FB
this project is getting decidedly expensive. Perhaps T*****s aren't so pricey after all.

 

[hedgerow pete]

i understand your idea and problems. why not try a sideways look at the problem.

the smaller sixed timber will be cheaper than the foot wide planks of course, so that lowers the costs.

if you are looking at th***** to buy what wrong with sticking some messages out to the many other great hive builders on this forum. i am pretty sure that someone who is capable of doing fantastic wood work is capable of walking to the post office as well.

i am also pretty sure that say you get a price for a cut out hive box it should be cheaper to get the un machined wood sent instead

 

[rae]

The real hive builders will be better placed to reply, but here's my take on it.

If you're building lots of hives, your workflow is set up for your machinery. You get timber in a certain dimension (either milling it yourself or buying it in), your planer is set up, and your lengths are all perfect for the kerf of your blades.

So someone asks for a bit of timber that doesn't fit your workflow. It is a pain to set up for it, then it is too big to fit in your normal packaging methods so you have to do something special. All this costs - indeed it costs as much as just machining the stuff to spec in the first place. When I build plywood hives, all of the time is in the setup - the cutting is pretty trivial.

I will make Cedar hives when I can get hold of a Cedar tree and mill one up myself....

 

[fredbloggs]

I will make Cedar hives when I can get hold of a Cedar tree and mill one up myself....


I cannot remotely contemplate the response from Mrs Bloggs when UPS turn up outside the house with a cedar tree and I say "Hello Dear - guess what"? I've only just finished sewing them back on from last time SWMBA got fed up with my fads.

For us mere mortals here are some tips on turning up bargains on fleebay.

Don't assume:
that the seller can spell "Cedar" - just give "ceder" a try to seewhatImean?
Don't assume that they have included your chosen wood "type" in the heading of the lot they are selling - this might be "various stock for sale" in which case your search for Cedar/oak/beech won't get a hit?
On searching methods - the following provides many an hour of light relief from Coronation Street and works for me:
Tune into the "wood timber" section of DIY materials. Leave the search box blank. Set priority to be "distance - nearest first ". You will then trawl through all the items in this category - more important - you won't miss any! Stop when you either Fall asleep/get Beekeeping forum withdrawal syndrome or reach the distance maximum you want to travel. This is as important as betting at auction with a preset limit. If you find your utopian tree (and yes people do sell them on here) you will cry like a baby when you realise that it is the other end of the country

Repeat at 24/48 hour intervals but certainly within 6 days for this to work. Change the sort priority to "time -newly listed". Trawl again (less this time) until you reach a post that you recognised from the previous search. this means you have caught all the additions to your initial trawl.

This might take a little time but you will unearth bargains that a simple search box search will not.

Simples



FB

 

[pipewrench36]

Pipe - this is the old adage of supply/demand. Ebay bargains only come with persistance . It seems you want "now" which requires wonga.

Just a thought but two metres is a dodgy size to make 4 sides from unless well prepared. Suggest you invest in an ebay bargain roofrack first

Regards

FB

Not a bad idea FB. I can however, sense that this is going to end up with my bank account heamoraging. Suddenly T*****s doesn't sem so expensive.

 

[jezd]

If have found that it is cheaper to buy your Cedar pre-cut from T H O R N E S if you are considering buying in small quantities. I reserve by DIY skills for cheapo ply.

do you mean just flat packed?

 

[Hivemaker.]

So someone asks for a bit of timber that doesn't fit your workflow. It is a pain to set up for it, then it is too big to fit in your normal packaging methods so you have to do something special. All this costs - indeed it costs as much as just machining the stuff to spec in the first place.

I agree it does.