On 18 Nov 2004 23:47:19 -0500, Jim wrote:

If you have a saw mill anywhere near you a jointer and planer can pay for
themselves pretty quickly as rough sawn wood is much cheaper.

Even if there is no mill close by, a jointer flattens and straightens
wood. A planer makes ANY thickness of stock easily available. Hand
planes can also do this, with a much steeper learning curve.

Flat, straight stock of varying thicknesses is handy in a wood shop.

I save $0.05 bd/ft from my hardwood dealer buying it rough. However,
I get to choose which side to keep, and I mill it when I need it. S4S
dosen't always stay straight, and boards can get scraped, dinged, and
nicked in transport and storage.

Barry