On Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:48:10 -0500, grappletech
wrote:

A lumberyard that sells used building materials would be cool.

I recently bought a 3over3 6 panel door from these folks for $40.
http://www.historic-albany.org/warehous.html

If you're lucky there might be one near you-
http://www.salvageweb.com/busdir/listing_states.asp

It might
thrive in a busy area. Used wood, salvaged wood beams from old barns,
used structural metal, used bricks, old claw foot bathtubs, antique
cabinetry, hardwood flooring, yard water fountains, etc..

The problem with lumber is that it is so cheap compared to the labor
of getting it off the old building. I have a friend in upstate
NY who dismantles and 'moves' old barns and houses. It isn't
cheap-- it's just great stuff that you can't buy at any price anywhere
else.

I see a lot of
good building materials thrown away in dumpsters. I pull it out and bring
it home. Most of the stuff I give away to friends. Someone will say they
need a few sheets of plywood, and I give them the ones I have scavenged.


There used to be a cabinet shop near my house. Their junk pile was
the coolest assortment of shorts of cabinet grade plywoods, particle
board and great hardwood lumber. There was up to 12quarter
Brazilian Cherry, assorted mahogany, oak & whatever was the
hardwood-du-jour of the wealthy clientele that year. I still have 2
42inch pieces of 8quarter by 17 brazilian cherry that I'm going to
make some end tables with someday-- It seemed like a waste, but I
talked to the owner one day & he explained how expensive it was to pay
someone a good wage to try to use shorts-- or to be able to store them
for possible use later. All the better for us scavengers.

Jim