Author Topic: lumber scavenging  (Read 1983 times)

uniwelder

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lumber scavenging
« on: June 28, 2021, 05:01:06 PM »
I was very proud of myself for saving about $150 by not buying lumber for my fenced yard.  We moved into a new house recently and have two big dogs, so I wanted to fence the perimeter with 48" wire livestock fencing.  Its a wooded area, so I thought I could go around the existing trees to minimize fence posts, but didn't want the wire to dig into the bark as the trees grow.  Pressure treated 2x4's nailed to the trees would have added an additional $150 to the overall cost of the project.  I scanned craigslist and facebook marketplace looking for people scrapping decking or whatnot, but didn't come across anything. 

There's a guy up the road from me with a small sawmill, so I stopped by and he let me load up with 'slab wood' as he calls it.  This is the first cut of the log that removes the bark and squares up the sides.  He has a whole pile that eventually becomes firewood or is used for raised bed gardening, or when he accumulates too much, is hauled off and dumped into the woods.  After getting it home, I cut them to length, shaved off the bark, and nailed to the trees.  The rest of the fencing project just got completed this past weekend and the dogs are happy to run around.

AMandM

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2021, 09:17:14 AM »
Fantastic!

frugal_c

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2021, 01:06:03 PM »
Good find.

Dicey

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2021, 01:35:02 PM »
I'll bet it looks a lot better. And pressure treated wood is nasty stuff. Probably better for the trees to do it the way you did. Be sure to give that dude some homemade something as a thank you, to ensure future good will.

uniwelder

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2021, 02:31:31 PM »
I'll bet it looks a lot better. And pressure treated wood is nasty stuff. Probably better for the trees to do it the way you did. Be sure to give that dude some homemade something as a thank you, to ensure future good will.

Thanks.  I think I'll be seeing a bit more of him.  He's been letting us walk our dogs through his trails and I offered to help keep the brush clear on the paths.  Also, I might be helping to fix or modify some equipment as the need arises.

Woodshark

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2021, 04:16:01 PM »
I live very near a foo-foo neighborhood where they build 4,000 sq ft homes.  When someone is building or remodeling, I've been known to dumpster dive the site on Sunday mornings. It's amazing the good lumber, plywood, and excess trim they just throw away.

soccerluvof4

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2021, 04:07:47 AM »
I am with you on the lumber. We too have a lot of new developments going up so there is plenty of free wood to be found for projects as well as I gather scraps to start fires in my firepit. Free is always better!

uniwelder

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Re: lumber scavenging
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2021, 07:19:54 AM »
I live very near a foo-foo neighborhood where they build 4,000 sq ft homes.  When someone is building or remodeling, I've been known to dumpster dive the site on Sunday mornings. It's amazing the good lumber, plywood, and excess trim they just throw away.

I am with you on the lumber. We too have a lot of new developments going up so there is plenty of free wood to be found for projects as well as I gather scraps to start fires in my firepit. Free is always better!

Dumpster diving for wood is great.  However, all the construction happening around here are large apartment complexes, so the perimeter is fenced/gated and locked to protect their equipment and supplies.