Thread: Cheap Wood for Props

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Just a tip for anyone needing lumber for their display. Tonight I bought all of the lumber I neded for my mine entrance and shaft at Home Depot for $21.62.

(9) 4" x 4" x 8' treated posts
(5) 2" x 4" x 8' treated
(2) 2" x 8" x 8'
(2) 2" x 10" x 8'
(1) 2" x 8" x 10'
(1) 2" x 10" x 10"

Ask them if they will sell you some "cull" lumber from off of the racks. Basically it is wood that has splits, bad corners, knot holes, and might be warped. Nothing that they gave me was actually that bad. The guy was happy to get rid of it and he even helped me load my cart. Not saying this will work everywhere, but in this case it definitely didn't hurt to ask...

I asked my local Lowes if I could have the same thing and they told me they clean up every week and it's first come first serve. Apparently the 'defect' wood doesn't even stay 'round long.

Here there is no shortage of wood with "defects". They cut some of it down and sell it as shorter pieces. He also told me that they load up carts and sell it by the cart load. They let me pick through any pile I wanted so I got exactly what I needed.

Also, I did explain to them what I wanted it for and that I was in need of wood with some "character" .

I worked at a Lowes in Va and we usually sold stuff that I wouldn't consider to bad. Long as the customer asks and the boards or timber had a slight curve or a very bad visible defect the manager would usually knock it down to about 50% off. Scenery timbers went to almost 75% off. Most of the time if you can get a dept. manager or a section manager and ask you can get some wild deals.

This works for paint too. I pick up returned and badly mixed stuff. I can get a gallon for about $5.00 or less. It goes a long way and comes in some freaky colors. lol

not for nothin' but keep a keen eye out for pallets...alot of times these are made from good strong wood and you just have to break it down to use it...plus depending on where you get it it could be a freebie...we see that kind of thing around here alot and most folks will tell ya' to just haul it away cause they don't wanna be bothered gettin' rid of it.