Lee Loader

Having moved to a new place with space in the garage for a dedicated loading and casting bench, I went to the lumber yard to purchase materials.

Holy Cow!!! $55 for a sheet of 3/4" plywood, $6 for an 8' 2x4. No masonite for a top cover to be found. I'm told prices have come down???

A sheet of 3/4" is $70 here. For $55 you get 1/2".

Glad I bought a saw mill . I can't do plywood but 1×12 is pretty easy .
I sawed up a log yesterday . 9+' I struggled with the 1st 2 cuts some but after that it was pretty easy going . I got 4 2×16 slabs 1@ 1.5 by 12 and 2 1×12 out of an oak log the guy practically paid me to haul off . I figure the slabs for bench tops are probably about $60 each @ 2×12 . Being closer to 16" finished , squared and planned probably closer to $90 .

I may just get some rough sawn poplar, birch or oak and bring it to my friend's shop when he gets back from warmer climes. Joint/plane and glue up my slab top. Might even mortise and tenon the leg/stretcher joints. I'll price out the cost of materials. I'm sure that I'll have sticker shock there as well. Last time that I bought rough sawn kiln dried lumber I paid $1.25 / bd, ft.

I'm envious, he and his wife are retired teachers and goes to S. Carolina for 6 weeks this time of year. Gets to stay with their daughter and SIL. Plays with the grand kids.

GasGuzzler wrote:A sheet of 3/4" is $70 here. For $55 you get 1/2".

Guess that I shouldn't complain then, should I???

Tell me that I'm lucky (fortunate) to have found SPP for $80/k too, please.

Tim Stapp wrote:

GasGuzzler wrote:A sheet of 3/4" is $70 here. For $55 you get 1/2".

Guess that I shouldn't complain then, should I???

Tell me that I'm lucky (fortunate) to have found SPP for $80/k too, please.

That's about the going price, finding them is the lucky part. With shipping and hazmat I paid a little over that for LRP back before Christmas.

Make smoke