Hi, folks,
I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick. I tried the local
lumberyard, and they acted like I was crazy.

I tried Rockler, and they don't have anything that thickness and
suggested a lumberyard. When I told them I'd already been to the
lumberyard, they suggested going to a door shop.

My feeling is, if I'm at a door shop, I might as well buy a door!

Surely this isn't an uncommon size. Any advice on where to buy? I'm in
Los Angeles.

Thanks!

ds

wrote in message
oups.com...

I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick

Surely this isn't an uncommon size. Any advice on where to buy? I'm in
Los Angeles.

At the risk of suggesting the obvious, why don't you buy white oak in the
next larger thickness available (probably 5/4) and reduce it to 1-1/8 with a
thickness planer?

--
Morris

On 18 Jun 2005 15:49:25 -0700, wrote:

I tried Rockler, and they don't have anything that thickness and
suggested a lumberyard. When I told them I'd already been to the
lumberyard, they suggested going to a door shop.

....which tells you what they know.

Go out into the countryside if necessary, and find a sawmill. Buy the
rough lumber and plane it down yourself. They will give [sell] you
what you need in wood.

Or, find a planing mill and ask for the wood of the size you want
finished to size. Make sure you have a list of materials and the
means to transport it, to save a trip. 1. You get what you want, and
2. it gets you out of the house for a while.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, folks,
I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick. I tried the local
lumberyard, and they acted like I was crazy.

I tried Rockler, and they don't have anything that thickness and
suggested a lumberyard. When I told them I'd already been to the
lumberyard, they suggested going to a door shop.

My feeling is, if I'm at a door shop, I might as well buy a door!

Surely this isn't an uncommon size. Any advice on where to buy? I'm in
Los Angeles.


There are standard sizes for hardwood. Find a hardwood supply, not a
lumberyard.
I would use 1 1/4 inch material (called 5/4) and finish the pieces to the
required size.
Pretty dry in LA so you might want to actually measure the 5/4 to see for
yourself.

Thank you for the quick replies!

I am pretty knew at this stuff--I don't yet own a planer, so I like the
idea of finding a mill. I also did not know the jargon ("5/4")--this
will hopefully help me not sound like an idiot when I start making
calls. Thanks!

ds

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, folks,
I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick. I tried the local
lumberyard, and they acted like I was crazy.

You can get any size you want, but not at a lumberyard. The typical
lumberyard supplies builders with construction grade materials, boards so
Joe Homeowner can put in a shelf or make a flower box. In that context, 1
1/8" is unusual.

Real wood comes from real wood dealers. Look under "hardwoods" in the phone
book. I'm guessing this is all new to you and you don't have the equipment
to joint and plane wood to a final size. Some of the dealers will do that
for you. In your case, you'd select some 5/4 stock (5/4 = 1 1/4") and they
will take it to size.

On 18 Jun 2005 17:33:43 -0700, wrote:

Thank you for the quick replies!

I am pretty knew at this stuff--I don't yet own a planer, so I like the
idea of finding a mill. I also did not know the jargon ("5/4")--this
will hopefully help me not sound like an idiot when I start making
calls. Thanks!

When you throw your new found knowledge around, be sure you pronounce
it "five quarter" (although it really means "five quarters"), not
"five-fourths" which it appears like it ought to be. That way you
won't get sent to the door store again.

--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

wrote:
Thank you for the quick replies!

I am pretty knew at this stuff--I don't yet own a planer, so I like the
idea of finding a mill. I also did not know the jargon ("5/4")--this
will hopefully help me not sound like an idiot when I start making
calls. Thanks!


Some hardwood lumber dealers have planers and will plane it for you
for a fee. It kinda sucks, you pay them full price for the wood and
then you pay them extra to sell you less... But that's just like
what you'd get if you planed it yourself.

BTW, white oak is less prone to rot and mildew stains than red.

--

FF

On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 19:37:26 -0400, Guess who
wrote:

On 18 Jun 2005 15:49:25 -0700, wrote:

I tried Rockler, and they don't have anything that thickness and
suggested a lumberyard. When I told them I'd already been to the
lumberyard, they suggested going to a door shop.

...which tells you what they know.


... and also makes you wonder where they think the door shop gets its
lumber.




+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Hey, I appreciate your good humor, but I was actually wondering!
Five-fourth? Five-quarters? Five over four? Thanks for the tip.

Maybe you should do a "Listen and Learn Woodworker Talk" audio book.

ds

wrote in news:1119159502.212702.309290
@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Hey, I appreciate your good humor, but I was actually wondering!
Five-fourth? Five-quarters? Five over four? Thanks for the tip.

Maybe you should do a "Listen and Learn Woodworker Talk" audio book.

ds



Well, in many areas, the adult education folks or the community colleges
run beginner to intermediate level classes. These focus on safe use of
tools, fundamental processes, and sources of supply. And generally having
a good time with like minded people of all shapes, colors and sizes.
Usually cheap to reasonably priced, and you get access to all kinds of
machines, projects and instructors. One of the best values in wooddorking.

I know there are some excellent programs in the LA basin, and in San Diego.
See if you can find a tabloid style bi-monthly magazine called "Woodworker
West" at the local bookstore. It would be a good starting place.

Patriarch

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...

I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick

Surely this isn't an uncommon size. Any advice on where to buy? I'm in
Los Angeles.

At the risk of suggesting the obvious, why don't you buy white oak in the
next larger thickness available (probably 5/4) and reduce it to 1-1/8 with
a
thickness planer?


Oddly enough, this is the nominal planed size for 5/4 lumber.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, folks,
I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick. I tried the local
lumberyard, and they acted like I was crazy.

I tried Rockler, and they don't have anything that thickness and
suggested a lumberyard. When I told them I'd already been to the
lumberyard, they suggested going to a door shop.

My feeling is, if I'm at a door shop, I might as well buy a door!

Surely this isn't an uncommon size. Any advice on where to buy? I'm in
Los Angeles.

Thanks!

ds

5/4 may be a little thicker, but there's no harm in making the door a little
thicker.

"ATP*" wrote:

5/4 may be a little thicker, but there's no harm in making the door a little
thicker.

Unless he's building a pocket door :-)

George wrote:

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...

I want to build a screen door, following the plan in a recent Workbench
magazine, which calls for white oak 1 1/8 thick

Surely this isn't an uncommon size. Any advice on where to buy? I'm in
Los Angeles.

At the risk of suggesting the obvious, why don't you buy white oak in the
next larger thickness available (probably 5/4) and reduce it to 1-1/8 with
a
thickness planer?


Oddly enough, this is the nominal planed size for 5/4 lumber.

Yep, that's the advent of the nominal 1-1/8" window/interior door
thickness...

Mark & Juanita wrote:

On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 19:37:26 -0400, Guess who
wrote:

On 18 Jun 2005 15:49:25 -0700, wrote:

I tried Rockler, and they don't have anything that thickness and
suggested a lumberyard. When I told them I'd already been to the
lumberyard, they suggested going to a door shop.

...which tells you what they know.


... and also makes you wonder where they think the door shop gets its
lumber.

I think many of these retailers have very little, if any, experience w/
architectural millwork.

Try Austin Hardwoods in Santa Ana

Thanks, guys.

Found a place in Canoga Park--not too far from
me--http://www.integritywoodproducts.com/ . They have the sizes and
types of wood I'm after. I just needed the term "hardwood" to get to
what I was after.

I reallyl appreciate all the help. This is one of those dumb things
that until you know a little bit to begin with, you can't really even
ask smart questions. I feel a couple steps ahead now.

ds

PS: It's not a pocket door, it's just a swinging screen door. So I'm
guessing an extra 1/8 inch thickness won't matter, if I can't get it
planed at the store.