lumber dimensions

[randydrivesabus]

i went to both Lowes and HD today looking for some 1x lumber to build deeps with. i expected 1x10's to be 9 1/2's but they turned out to be barely over 9. so i guess the only choice is to use 1x12's. it seems like you can buy precut hive bodies for about the same as it costs for just the lumber to build one unless you can find the lumber on sale somewhere. i haven't had much luck with sawmills around here.
so when did 1x10's become 1x9's?

[Brian D. Bray]

Sounds like another arguement to do all mediums.

[Robo]

Or use a finger joint.   I do that with my scraps.

[Michael Bush]

>1x10's become 1x9's?

They shrunk to 9 1/4" since the 70's at least.  You need 9 5/8".  That's a big part of how the supply places can beat your cost of making them.  They own the sawmill and cut the boards the right width to start with.

Yes, much less waste making mediums from one by eights than deeps from one by twelves.  For nucs with bottoms attached or long hives with bottoms attached you can use the one by eights without ripping them at all and just put the bottom on.  :)

[randydrivesabus]

did anyone else see the article in the july '07 Bee Culture by Peter Sieling in which he recommends 9 3/8 to 9 1/2 deeps?
if i wanted to go all mediums how would I split out of a deep? I am trying real hard not to buy any more packages.

[TwT]

I  buy 1x12's also for deeps, the scrap I use to make bottom board rails, entrance reducers, flanges around tops, ect. and what ever I could use it for!!

[randydrivesabus]

i went to a different lowes today and found some low grade 1x12's for a more reasonable price. after picking through the pile i found enough to make my day. and some deeps. it should end up costing about $8 each. no...my time isn't worth anything.

[Robo]

no...my time isn't worth anything.

 :)

But the satisfaction of building your own equipment is ;)

[Jeffzhear]

i went to a different lowes today and found some low grade 1x12's for a more reasonable price. after picking through the pile i found enough to make my day. and some deeps. it should end up costing about $8 each. no...my time isn't worth anything.

I crawl through the lower ($8) grade of 1x12's at lowes bi-weekly and the quality pretty bad....I have been lucky on occasion and found a few boards that were ok...

[randydrivesabus]

when i picked through the boards i accepted those with loose knots or other faults near the edges since i was going to rip off the edges anyway. it has turned out well and i've been able to use those ripped edges when building the SBB and the inner cover.

[T-Bone 369]

I realize this sounds counterintuitive but the big box yards like Lowes and HD often do not have the best prices on lumber.  They have a great selection and prices on other things but for lumber we very seldom buy for work at the BB's.  I guess the thinking is that the weekend DIY guys want to make one stop and be done - so they can charge "premium" price for their lumber.  Go figure.

[taipantoo]

I work at a Lowes and we cull the lumber just before a new shipment.
At our store you will find a blue cart outside the contractor's entrance with a fixed price for the whole cart.
Granted, you may have to buy something you don't need, (store it if you have room - it will come in handy) but you will never get a better price on the lumber you do need provided it is there.

Don't be afraid to ask a manger for a discount on some poor quality wood.
10% is pretty average for split, warped, or loose/missing knots.

Now if they'd only cull some of that cedar.

[randydrivesabus]

thanks for the tips tai. i will look to see if my lowes has it. there's 2 lowes that are pretty much the same distance from me and only one of them had those cheaper 1x12's.

[Greg Peck]

Check with local saw mills. Most sell paint grade lumber that is kiln dried and they will plane it and rip to to width for a very small fee. I deal with the Amish saw mills here in Pa and have found it to be cheaper then the lumber yard.