I'm looking to buy new supplies of maple, cherry, and red/white oak for a product I'm working on. I used to have a supplier but got tired of their service, so now I'm on the hunt for new options in the San Antonio/Austin area. I've found online prices around $9 per board foot, but with shipping costs skyrocketing to an extra $4 per foot, it's getting pricey. Last time I bought, the price was about $6 per board foot. What prices are others seeing, and do you have any recommendations for suppliers in Texas?
2 Answers
I can't speak for prices in your exact area, but around here, online prices are often outdated. There's a notable price gap between air-dried and kiln-dried wood, but I’m assuming you're looking primarily for kiln-dried. Last time I switched from white oak to maple due to ridiculous white oak prices, and even maple didn't seem super cheap either.
If you're open to a bit of travel, check out WoodFlippers in the Houston area. They've got some great prices on larger quantities (50 bf or more) and are currently running a sale. Even though I mainly buy smaller amounts, the service has been really good. You can take a look at their site: www.woodflippers.com.
That site looks promising! I might just plan a trip there soon.
Thanks for the tip! Houston is a bit out of the way for me, but the prices might be worth it if shipping is too high locally.
Yeah, the prices I've found are all over the place, mostly around $10-$12, which feels crazy right now. Just a few years ago, $5-$6 was the norm for those woods.