MA / New England Builders, where to find 1/2" Baltic Birch

[mr.lussier]

From what I understand, you own a rental operation and may have some use for some pluwood. Worst case, any lumberyard can get you baltic birch by the pallet. Good news is that there's only 33 sheets in a 1/2 Inch bb pallet. That should cost you under 900$. That's a hell lot of sawdust, but way better than buying 3200 worth of arauco. You could also order 4x8 sheets, and maybe you could be able to resell some locally.

Here in Canada, the largest BB importer/distributor is Thomes inc. I think they're active in all of north america. You could check their website out at www.thomescanada.com.

In the contact section they say you can e-mail them at info@thomescanada.com for information about retail locations. Worth a shot.

Or, did you try to obtain a quote from fedex ground for shipping you a few sheets from laconia ?

[But it Hertz]

Chased down the Lowes scenario, they called me back to inform that the good news is- they can get me all the Arauco I want. The bad news is- If I'm willing to buy 80 sheets (minimum) @ $3200. So...

I really needed these cabs for February, looking like that will not happen.

Shoot, really??

That doesn't make sense. The way I understand it is Blue Linx Corp supply all of Auraco Ply's wood to Lowes. I know for a fact that 80 the sheet limit isn't put there by Blue Linx Corp... it must be your guy in Lowes being a dick about it!!!

I'd dig further! Get your sheets reserved, and then find a Lowes that will play ball!

[Rich4349]

How about Rockler?

http://www.rockler.com/retail/display_r ... m?state=MA

Weren't those other places the guys recommended any good?...or have they gone out of business?

At $US30.00 a sheet or even $US40.00, I'd be getting BB and not Arauco.

Hey Harley,

-Bill's place up in Laconia (Boulia-Gorrell) is too far to be practical for me. So it may very well still be in the $35 range, but when you factor in gas + 4-5 hours of time in my truck, it's out-weighed.

-Atlantic Plywood in Woburn, MA will not sell to the public, you need a wholesale account and minimum order that was well into the 4 digit range.

-I called Currier earlier, they're at $43 a sheet, plus gas, and 2-3 hours in the truck, so I'm looking to see if I can do better a little closer to home.

I'll be assembling a list and calling around tomorrow to see what I can find, but I figured I'd start this thread back up, it might be able to help some Central MA builders.

But I agree, if BB was $30-40 a sheet and closer to home, it would definitely be the way to go. Can't say I don't like getting Arauco in 4x8's though. When you factor that in, you do get a lot more wood for the buck (1/2" used to be around $20-22 for me back when I built my Otops) still not as great as BB.

-J

[Rich4349]

Or West Springfield? http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=559


Both Lowe's and Menard's quit carrying BB here, special order only. And it was 4x8 sheets; good stuff, but not quite cabinet grade. (Not necessary but it sure was easier to work with- no warping, minimal voids, and just a few 'footballs' on one side.) I chose to drive 2 hours (peaceful through the country) instead of 90 mins (hectic into Chicago) for 5x5 BB.

[djtecthreat]

I may just order a pallet of BB if I get down to no other options. I'd rather not because I have no where to store it, but desperate times.. and all that.

I'm going to call Blue Linx today and try and pull the maneuver that Hertz pulled. I went directly to Lowes because they're usually pretty good about stuff and I was actually really surprised that it went this way.

I also tried presenting to them that- the wood used to be a stock item, that sold very well, and it is now available again. So why not just purchase it and put it on the shelf again? It made money, that much I know.


The nearest Rockler to me had nothing good in full sheets the 2 times I visited, all garbage chinese birch (thin veneer). The small sheets were nice, but not big enough, the there was a premium for them being precut. Asked around, staff was yuppy and couldn't help.

I haven't tried Woodcraft in West Springfield. I see they have birch in small sizes on the site. I will call them for prices on full sheets. Thanks for that.

I could get BB in my city anytime I want, the problem: $82/sheet 5x5. I can't bring myself to spend that for plywood.

[djtecthreat]

Update: Bluelinx will only sell the stuff in lifts ($3200/80sheets my price). They will not include a few pieces in a Lowes delivery for me. Hertz, you got the hook up brother.

[But it Hertz]

Update: Bluelinx will only sell the stuff in lifts ($3200/80sheets my price). They will not include a few pieces in a Lowes delivery for me. Hertz, you got the hook up brother.

Looks that way. Wow. I'm so disappointed for you... I was convinced I had unlocked the secret code. Lets hope my next, next order comes through OK!

$3200/80 isn't even that good a price!!!

Perhaps it really is geographically dependent!

One thing to hope for on the horizon though is when the new yard opens up at the end of 2013... hopefully this squeeze will come to an end.

[Bruce Weldy]

Have you considered just calling a couple of cabinet makers in the area to see if they would sell you some baltic birch? You know they have to have it and they aren't paying that kind of price for it.

Anyway, worth a try.