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

[djtecthreat]

The supplier I was getting it from (@ $37/5x5) decided that he was going to charge me $79/sheet after I told him what I do with it. He says "for your uses the extra money is worth it for the quality over pine".

So needless to say, he just lost a customer that was bringing him quite a bit of money. I need. More BB now and I've called around the prices and quality jump around like crazy. Anyone in the area care to share where they're getting 1/2" BB?

Thanks,
JT

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I get mine at a local lumberyard 1/4 mile from my house. Look in the Yellow Pages for custom kitchen cabinet builders, ask them where they get theirs.

[djtecthreat]

Hey Bill,

You're up in Laconia, right? What are the prices like up there?

I called 3 cabinet builders about 6 months ago and they were so snobby and uptight, it was like I was trying to steal a trade secret or something, I got pretty discouraged about calling a fourth, but I suppose I could try again. One offered to sell me sheets through him to the tune of $90/ea, I politely declined.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Hey Bill,

You're up in Laconia, right? What are the prices like up there?

$35 for 5x5 1/2", and no sales tax. Boulia-Gorrell lumber, Fair St Laconia, 603-524-1300.

[Tom Smit]

$60 to go to Laconia and back (used Google maps and Maine fuel prices) based on 10 mpg. Might be worth it if you need a whole load.

[djtecthreat]

Well I need 8 sheets and my friend lives in lowell (about half way) so it may very well be worth my while to take a trip up there.

I'm going to call around somemore and see what I can find, but its nice to know there's a surefire source in NH.

Thanks

[sine143]

Hmm. I used to live up near springfield for a bit... cant remember any good wood places (I was a kid hahaha)

[BassNH]

A NH cabinet builder I know gets his BB at Atlantic Plywood in Woburn, MA (http://www.atlanticplywood.com/). I've not tried them, but he swears by them. It would be about an hour's drive from Worcester, though.

[cboogie1]

I buy mine at Currier Lumber in Amherst, NH for around $30 for 1/2 BB 5x5. They also have 3/8 and 3/4 in stock. They're about a 1/2 hour ride from the Mass border (Fitchburg-Leominster-Pepperell-Rt 2). Locally owned and operated!

[djtecthreat]

Thanks guys!

Those places are nearby, i'll give them a buzz to confirm prices and availability.

[djtecthreat]

I'm going to resurrect this thread and see if anyone has new suppliers. I'm back on the search for a place to get my Baltic Birch in the Worcester, MA area, especially right now that I can't get Arauco.

[Harley]

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

I buy mine at Currier Lumber in Amherst, NH for around $30 for 1/2 BB 5x5. They also have 3/8 and 3/4 in stock.

....especially right now that I can't get Arauco.

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

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

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

Not me, unless it's 1/4 or 3/8 inch, where the extra stiffness of the BB is beneficial. With 1/2 inch the extra weight of BB is substantial.

[djtecthreat]

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

[Bruce Weldy]

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

I'm with you on that. A few extra pounds vs. getting to work with flat, straight plywood - I'm on that like a duck on a junebug. (or, as Harley would say, an aussie on sheep...but I wouldn't say that. )