Plywood goldmine/gloat

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10-17-2017, 6:12 PM
Justin Ludwig

Plywood goldmine/gloat

For those of you that are within a few hours of DeQueen, AR (40 minutes from my shop):

Hamel Plywood buys culled plywood from Columbia and random stock from places where their stock becomes outdated as government contracts change. Don't think of culled plywood as a bad thing either. Some of the defects are so ridiculous I can't imagine it being listed as a cull: but good for me/us.

Every 3/4x4x8 sheet, regardless of veneer is $32/sheet
Stacks of QSWO with Maple A1 backs.
Stacks of Red Oak QS with Maple A1 backs.
Rotary cut RO2S
Pine
Alder
Birch

Every 5/8x4x8 is $25!!!

Every 1/2x4x8 is $12!!!

Every 1/4x4x8 is $8!!!

To give a little perspective. I've been paying $110 for QSWO single sided. $75 for RO Rotary. $10 for 1/4 MDF.

I picked up 13 sheets of 1/2x4x8, prepainted on both sides (feels and looks like melamine) for my shop-side office and paint room walls for $12. Perspective? I outfitted my interior paint room with 7/16 OSB and it took 4 gallons of primer and 4 gallons of enamel - cost me about $400 all together. The sheets for the exterior cost me $187. Only one side had defects in the paint - and for a shop those defects were laughable.

Anywho... w00t!
10-17-2017, 6:31 PM
Jim Andrew

Good for you!
10-17-2017, 7:29 PM
Jim Becker

Wow...I'd jump on that deal in a split second if I were in that area!
10-17-2017, 7:34 PM
John K Jordan

Wow! I occasionally run into a deal but not not like that. Sounds like it might be worth a road trip for someone.

I did find out one of my local dealers sold ply and siding with very minor defects but you had to ask - they didn't advertise. When building the shop I bought a bunch of siding panels with minor corner or edge dents for $5 each - almost free. I was going to trim some a bit anyway.

JKJ
10-17-2017, 8:12 PM
Bill Adamsen

I'd be broke saving money!
10-17-2017, 8:17 PM
Ken Fitzgerald

Just color me JEALOUS!
10-17-2017, 9:29 PM
Justin Ludwig

I've had people telling me about the place for some time, but since my distributor delivers to my front door for $15, I never made the trip. The owner told me he's tried to get the distributor to come check him out, but they don't. Again, good for me - bad for my sales rep.

I'm still reeling. My next trip will involve a trailer, guaranteed.
10-18-2017, 1:17 AM
Victor Robinson

I thought that's what plywood costs in heaven.
10-18-2017, 10:27 PM
Mike Heidrick

Great find.
10-19-2017, 12:58 PM
Joe Shanaphy

I built a extremely heavy duty 30' x 60' workbench using only culled wood from a local orange big-box. Tripled 2 x 6 legs, 2 x 6 top frame and supports, double 3/4' plywood top and shelf ... total cost for wood was around $10.00! They no longer sell culled wood though ... too bad!
10-19-2017, 1:52 PM
Joey Stephenson

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Shanaphy

I built a extremely heavy duty 30' x 60' workbench using only culled wood from a local orange big-box. Tripled 2 x 6 legs, 2 x 6 top frame and supports, double 3/4' plywood top and shelf ... total cost for wood was around $10.00! They no longer sell culled wood though ... too bad!

30' x 60' eh? That is Optimus Prime's workbench!
10-19-2017, 2:28 PM
John K Jordan

plywood workbench?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Shanaphy

I built a extremely heavy duty 30' x 60' workbench using only culled wood from a local orange big-box. Tripled 2 x 6 legs, 2 x 6 top frame and supports, double 3/4' plywood top and shelf ...

Hey, do you have and photos or sketches? I ask since my buddy Joe wants to build a heavy duty workbench and is looking for some ideas.

This is a bit of a "cheap" plywood story too but different. The plywood was free but the circumstances were sad. A mutual friend, my old flying and cave diving buddy, passed away last year and his wife called me to see if I could use some wood she was taking out of the basement. Turns out it was from his model train layout which had taken up half the basement. I loaded up my big trailer with about 15 sheets of 4x8 3/4" plywood plus rectangular frames for each sheet, well made from 2x4s, torsion box style. (Carl never did anything half way!) The wood is pristine except for some screw holes - perfect for work benches and such. We both want to build something useful from this wood as a bit of memorial for our friend.

I figured a sheet of 3/4" on both the top and bottom of a frame would be fairly sturdy but I like the idea of a doubled top. I did that when I build a bench for my little milling machine. Did you glue the sheets together, screws? It would be nice to give Joe some ideas - he's not specifically a woodworker but he can do just about anything.

JKJ