A growing stack of fragrant cherry lumber leaned against the back wall of the lumber warehouse. Recently arrived from a local forester, the wood was freshly cut and already exhibited some of the rich red characteristics that would only deepen with age. This exquisite cherry wood was the nicest ever stocked in the warehouse, and would be eagerly welcomed by craftsmen who would work to uncover its charms.
Instructions
Sell Your Cherry Lumber
1. Measure the lumber. According to woodworking service company White Mountain Design, cherry is a highly desirable hardwood widely used in cabinetmaking projects and furniture pieces. All wood should be kiln or air dried to reduce moisture content prior to use.
The measurement standard for hardwood lumber is the board foot; this standard is the same regardless of the lumber's thickness. Lumber directly sawn from the log is called rough lumber, and has not yet been planed or smoothed. Planing may be accomplished when the lumber is purchased for use.
Here is the calculation to determine the number of board feet for rough lumber:
Measure the dimensions: thickness in inches; width in inches; and length in feet.
Calculate the total board feet: thickness x width x length, and divide by 12.
2. Contact local cabinetmakers. Cherry is a popular wood for upscale kitchen cabinet and home storage systems. Cabinet construction companies should have cutting and planing equipment, which will enable them to accept rough cut lumber. Because the company often transports finished cabinets, they will also have a vehicle available for lumber pickup.
3. Contact custom furniture builders. Fine craftsmen utilize cherry for custom chairs, tables and other furniture pieces. As some pieces require matching of grains and textures, the craftsmen may want to "pick and choose" their boards from the available stock.
4. Call builders and finish carpenters. In addition to cabinet systems, cherry is used for trim and finish carpentry in upscale homes and businesses. Although local builders will likely subcontract the finish carpentry work, they are a good initial contact point.
5. Notify woodworking and woodturning clubs. Woodworkers sometimes prefer unfinished or asymmetrically shaped lumber, as it allows for more creative options than finished wood. Visit local clubs to display a lumber sample and take orders, and offer attractive pricing for bulk purchases. Woodworking and woodturning clubs can be located through the Club Directory in Fine Woodworking Magazine.
6. Post the lumber online. Lumber ad prices are very reasonable. To reach a woodworking-focused audience, post an ad on the WoodWeb online lumber exchange. WoodWeb is a woodworking industry website that gathers a respectable daily traffic level. From June through November of 2009, the WoodWeb website averaged 14,000 United States visitors per day.
