Inexpensive baltic birch source

[evansd2]

I got 6 full sheets of 1/8" baltic today. (Grade B/B, no patches on either side)

Short version: It works out to $0.97 per full GF-sized sheet.

I needed long pieces, so I cut 12" strips on each side of 5 of the full sheets (keeping one factory edge), 20" off of the 6th, then rendering the rest into full sheets for the GF.

End yield:
10 - 12"x60"
2 - 20" x 60"
50 - 12"x20" full sheets

Total cost: 88$ (including taxes-- the sheets were $13-something each), plus my labor with the circular saw. It works out to $0.97 per full GF-sized sheet. That’s far better than any online/woodcraft/rockler source that I’ve seen.

If I’d decided to just cut it all down to GF size (12x20), it would have yielded 90 sheets.

So yeah, that’s why I always say try to find a local supplier. Now, if only they had a panel saw and could do the cutting for me, it’d be much faster.

[evermorian]

Yesterday, I finally visited a place with a promising name (Woodworker’s Source) that I very occasionally drive past. I was pretty exited to find that they carry all sorts of wonderful hardwoods and plywoods. They also have Baltic birch for 1/3rd of what I paid for my last batch online.

[deirdrebeth]

So what was the source??

[evansd2]

Rugby. They have lots of locations, check to see if there is one near you:

https://rugbyabp.com/

Preeeeviously:

Shopping around for Wood.. Make sure you check local options!

Ah, Toledo is a bit far, I’m in Atlanta. I go to Rugby architectural building products for my BB, it’s like 3 miles from my house at most. They don’t cut for me like my old supplier did, so it’s a bit awkward to get it home, but it’s a pretty quick process to cut it down once I do. Man I miss my old supplier, it was nice to come home with a stack of ready-to-go ply. Rugby is a US national chain, there may be one near lots of you out there: https://rugbyabp.com/

Atlanta Glowforgers, got any material sources to share?

Wood: Atlanta Hardwoods went out of business. Sad news, they were a great source. Good prices on BB ply and MDF at Rugby Architectural Building Supplies. They have multiple thicknesses. Call ahead for availability, they have a will-call window from what I understand. http://www.rugbyabp.com/ Specialty woods and veneers in midtown called Carlton’s: http://www.rarewoodsandveneers.com/ Highland woodworking is a good source: Rockler has multiple locations in the city: http://www.rockle…

Sanding Proofgrade

Not super special. Rugby building products. $14 and change for a 60x60” sheet, which cuts perfectly into 15 12x20’s. Sadly rugby doesn’t cut it down, unlike my previous supplier. Hopefully I can find another supplier because cutting the sheet goods down is a major hassle. More info here: The general idea is to find a local supplier and see if they’ll cut it down for you.

3rd project, 3rd day

Rugby building products in Atlanta (and elsewhere?) has it for like $13 a sheet.

Labeling batches of plywood

Rugby architectural building supplies. I get baltic for about 1.20 a GF-size piece (it's like 15 for a 5x5’ sheet) The 1/8 MDF is even cheaper, like 7 or 8$ for a 4x8’ piece. As for materials, that’s just ply, you should see my hardwood stash It’s a sickness, man. I gotta stop buying hardwoods.

[evermorian]

Oh, hai! Not only do they have a Phoenix location, it’s just a few miles down the road from me (in a direction/area I never drive through to have noticed it). Cool beans.

[jbpa]

There are two of those Rugby locations “near” me; i.e. both a bit over an hour away. I may have to check them out.

[evansd2]

They have 1/8 MDF too, which is even cheaper.

And these guys operate at scale. Like I asked how much 1/8 BB ply they had, they said “in B/B or B/BB grade?”

“Either. Both.”

“Uh just over 800 in the B/BB, similar amount on the B/B”.

So… yeah my six sheets wasn’t even a blip to them and will last me months. 90 sheets of baltic is a lot.

[deirdrebeth]

Pout for me - the closest is ~6.5 hours away…hmmm, maybe the next time I drive to Vegas!

[evansd2]

What’s your nearest city?

[deirdrebeth]

I’m in the South Bay - so LA is technically closest, but I go to LV more often

[mrinken]

Location in Denver close to downtown. Cha Ching!