Lumber Supply

KentWhitten

Ah I'm cross posting on the Woodworkers forums too.

I need some help finding where or who I can contact to obtain cabinet materials, lumber and plywood in general. I have usually gone to the local finish lumber supplier, but obviously I'm paying as much a premium for this as most walk-ins do.

I need to get to someone like GP or LP, a large warehouse who supplies truckloads. I don't know if this is a good thing or bad, but I'm going to need about 6000 sheets of plywood, and most of it will be the generic type you see in the Home Depot. I have a few kitchens to build to say the least.

I'm not even sure what the plywood is really. It has a plywood core and veneer of something on the outsides. Inside looks like maple, but obviously, it's something like melamine with a printed pattern on it. Outside looks like stained oak, dark brown, but I have my doubts that it is real also.

Then if anyone has a suggestion to a place that supplies doors. I don't want to get into that. Too much for me to handle. Casework is fine, doors, not. I can find hardware, knobs, slides, etc. fine. Just the wood is bothering me and I feel I'm going to have to be extra careful pricing this because 2 months down the road these prices won't be the same.

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Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

woodmagman

If you go to your local supplier with an order for 20k in material I am sure he can find it in his heart to discount. If not, then never give this company buisness again, even if it is just a one time sale, they would be wise to give a nice break......

In_Mexifornia

Finish plywood comes in a million different wood species and different cores. If you only need a one sided veneer plywood you can get that also. Imported plywoods with more, thinner plys are cheaper than domestic cores with thicker cores. The import cores may be cheaper but they have to be used soon after you buy them because they tend to warp or bend, while the domestic cores stay stable. I buy Okume to use as a substrate, but if I let it sit around a month it practically turns into a taco. There's also mdf core which is much heavier and makes a ton of dust when you cut it. Personally, I avoid it.
Melamine comes in a bunch of different colors and with different grains printed on it.
The only types of finish plywood they sell at Home Cheapo are birch and oak, birch being the cheaper of the two. I never buy that stuff there though cause I can get it for less at a local plywood supply where only contractors buy and they give discounts depending your purchasing level.
As for suppliers in your area I can't help because i'm on the other side of the United States. Maybe try the Blue Book...http://www.thebluebook.com/

send_it_all

You ever use Austin Hardwoods, Mexifornia?......Anyway, regarding the cab. doors, have you contacted Deco-rative specialties? They are located here in Ca., but they are a huge company and if you have an order that big I'm sure they will ship to you. In fact, Austin Hardwoods, located in Santa Ana, Ca., will give contractor and bulk discounts, but I dont know where they stand as far as competitive pricing. Also I don't know if they would ship to Maine and I doubt it would be cost-effective.

In_Mexifornia

I use Goldenwest Plywood most often. sometimes I use Sommerville Plywood and sometimes Anderson Plywood. Most of the work I do is in LA County and all those places are nearby. I've also used Peterman lumber when I used to live out there years ago. I'm actually moving to Corona next month so I'll probably will be looking for a supply place out there. Maybe I'll check the place in Santa Ana and possibly save some money. Thanks. For cabinet doors I use Corona Millworks and have used Drees in the past.