NZ Timber, where do you get yours?

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Hwale

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#275978 19-Sep-2020 20:21

I'm having a terrible time trying to find decent timber for basic home DIY like barstools, benches for the garage etc. I've made a few successful projects with untreated D4S timber from Mitre 10 and Bunnings, but decided it's far too expensive. Unfortunately I'm realising that nothing else seems to be suitable. All the timber I can find that isn't D4S is construction timber which in NZ is apparently all treated. Anyway I picked up some pink SG8 Laserframe and after cutting off the pink bits, was quite pleased with what was underneath. I cut some boards for a project and now 2 weeks later, these boards have all warped into unusable contortions of their previous selves. I guess the treatment leaves them wet, they did feel oddly damp when I picked them up.

Is there really no widely available, untreated 2 by 4 pine in NZ? Where does everyone source their timber? Any advice?

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#2568331 19-Sep-2020 20:51

Where are you?

Hwale

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#2568333 19-Sep-2020 20:56

Queenstown Lakes area.

eracode

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#2568342 19-Sep-2020 21:13

It’s a very wide question that you’re asking. The answer depends a lot on what you’re making, where it’s going to be used (inside/outside.. ?), what sort of appearance you are wanting, what sort of dimensions and volumes you need, etc and so on - it’s a ‘length of string’ question. Also what tools do you have for dimensioning timber - benchsaw, planer/thicknesser, power circular saw, etc.

You really need to tell us more and be more specific.

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zenourn

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#2568345 19-Sep-2020 21:22

If you buy direct from a sawmill then you can get exactly what you want at very reasonable prices. The issue is that you have to buy pack sizes (i.e., >1 cubic metres). My Dad works for a sawmill and I've got lots of timber over the years. The kiln-dried D4S doesn't warp at all but yes, anything wet is almost guaranteed to warp.

If you were in Christchurch I could get you a few boards easily.

Hwale

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#2568350 19-Sep-2020 21:43

eracode:

It’s a very wide question that you’re asking. The answer depends a lot on what you’re making, where it’s going to be used (inside/outside.. ?), what sort of appearance you are wanting, what sort of dimensions and volumes you need, etc etc - it’s a ‘length of string’ question. You really need to tell us more and be more specific.

I'm not form NZ originally but generally no matter what country you're in there's a widely available piece of wood that is universally commonly used for hobby / domestic projects that it is simply referred to by a common name and will typically be used in residential wall timber framing. In NZ however all framing timber has to be treated and all the treated framing timber I've seen is damp, presumably from the treatment process...?

The closest thing to what I want is Laserframe SG8 90x45, this is a general purpose kiln dried two-by-four, but being treated it's not great to breathe in the dust and you have to cut a few mm off the sides to get rid of the pink, but pink tinges remain throughout.

On that note, I'd also love to find some hardwood. I really don't know what's available in NZ and from where.

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#2568353 19-Sep-2020 21:51

What do you want to make and what volume of timber are you looking for?

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Hwale

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#2568357 19-Sep-2020 22:11

eracode:

What do you want to make and what volume of timber are you looking for?

Currently making a few stools for the kitchen, I want to build a half decent workbench too. It's just hobby/domestic DIY so I'd like a source of timber I can go to when I need it. Volumes would be in the range of 10 to 20 meters of 2x4, so not much.

neb

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#2568391 20-Sep-2020 03:41

Hwale:
Is there really no widely available, untreated 2 by 4 pine in NZ? Where does everyone source their timber? Any advice?

A rather generic reply unfortunately, see @eracode's reply earlier on, but find a local lumber yard and become best friends with someone who works there. Even if you're not able to buy by the truckload like a standard customer there you can often get leftovers, slightly spoiled pieces that can be machined down to a usable remnant ("the forklift backed into it, you just need to run it through a buzzer to get rid of the marks"), and other odds and ends that are lying around.

Another option is to watch Trademe for estate sales, you have little control over what you get but can luck out and end up with some hoarded kauri or rimu or whatnot among the odds and ends. Any woodworker will have a good stock of stuff stashed away, most of which ends up never getting used and just gets passed on to the next woodworker.

blackjack17

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#2568396 20-Sep-2020 06:56

The pink dye fades after a few weeks/months in the sun

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#2568402 20-Sep-2020 08:30

neb: Any woodworker will have a good stock of stuff stashed away, most of which ends up never getting used and just gets passed on to the next woodworker.

I made the mistake of buying some cheap Kahikatea (white pine). Cheap because it probably was already full of borer. Some timber doesn't make good stash material.

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#2568412 20-Sep-2020 08:36

Hwale:

eracode:

What do you want to make and what volume of timber are you looking for?

Currently making a few stools for the kitchen, I want to build a half decent workbench too. It's just hobby/domestic DIY so I'd like a source of timber I can go to when I need it. Volumes would be in the range of 10 to 20 meters of 2x4, so not much.

Ahhhh, I see your problem, you're after 2 X 4, we only have 4 X 2 in New Zealand. Sorry couldn't resist.🙂

As mentioned, TradeMe or a demolition sale or a demolition yard can be good places to find good sizes of native timber and or untreated timber.

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Jase2985

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#2568423 20-Sep-2020 08:45

Technofreak:

Ahhhh, I see your problem, you're after 2 X 4, we only have 4 X 2 in New Zealand. Sorry couldn't resist.🙂

we dont even have that, we have 90x45

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#2568425 20-Sep-2020 08:53

Jase2985:

Technofreak:

Ahhhh, I see your problem, you're after 2 X 4, we only have 4 X 2 in New Zealand. Sorry couldn't resist.🙂

we dont even have that, we have 90x45

Are you talking about the dressed or undressed size. Same number different actual measurements. It can get a tad confusing at times. 4 X 2 is still a relatively common reference to the nominal 100 X 50.

The "only have" was in relation to the fact in New Zealand we don't use the back to front North American 2 X 4 terminology, in other word we only say 4 X 2. It was just a light hearted joke.

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#2568510 20-Sep-2020 09:01

"4 x 2" don't you mean 100 x 50?

I have bought wood from Health Based Building in Christchurch.

There is also BBS Timbers, but I haven't been to see what they have.

Timber seems to be very expensive in NZ!

eracode

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#2568557 20-Sep-2020 09:29

There’s no simple one answer to the OP’s title question: “Where do you get yours?”. It depends on what I’m looking for.

If I want clear and straight D4S I probably go to Bunnings or M10 indoor dry stack. If I want framing timber, fencing materials, deck timber I go to Placemakers, ITM or Carters, etc or to Bunnings or M10 timberyard area.

If I was making barstools, I doubt I would be bothered buying 100x50 framing timber and cutting it down lengthwise to get the dimension I want - I’d just use nice clear, clean, straight 40x40 D4S. Okay, it may be a bit more expensive but I’d be saving a lot by making my own stools rather than buying them.

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