Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Looking for Cheaper Wood

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Somerset, KY
    Posts
    117

    Default Looking for Cheaper Wood

    Hello, I am wanting to start making some signs similar to the one pictured. Does anyone know where I can bulk order wood like this? I also want to do some signs on stump cutoffs with live edges. Any help is greatly appreciated.smithfamilysign.jpg
    2009 BT48 RBK With 10' Powerstick
    2HP HSD Spindle

    2012 PRS ALPHA 144"X60"
    Republic Blower Hold Down
    4HP HSD Spindle

    VCP 8.014

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    River Fall WI
    Posts
    796

    Default

    Looks like Red Ceder. Time to find a lumber mill.
    We have some great ones around here.
    Kyle Stapleton
    River Falls Renaissance Academy
    Math/Technology Education Teacher


    PRS Alpha 96x60 2.2 hp spindle, Double Air drills, 6" indexer, Fein 5 zone vac table
    Desktop w/spindle
    Potter Pen
    Aspire 8.5, Creo 3.0

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Eastern Virginia
    Posts
    82

    Default

    Yup, red cedar. Easy enough to find if you look around. Problem is everybody and their brother are making those types of signs and pretty much giving them away. Spend a little time looking at Etsy for example. To me it's not worth my time, effort and materials to make something and basically give it away. Sure, a lot of the stuff out there is junk, I've seen some in person that made me cringe and the owners were tickled to death. But the people buying it aren't necessarilly going to spend more for a nicer looking one. They don't know any better. I do. I refuse to make "junk", and refuse to give away my stuff. It's a tough market for that type of thing unless you're doing mass production and don't mind making $5 a sign.

    As for bulk ordering the wood, there are places out there online. Shipping is the killer. Wood is bulky and heavy and you pay for it. Find somplace around you. I drive an hour each way for mine in one direction, 3 hours each way in the other. There are no lumber yards close to me and these two have pretty much everything and anything I could want. I stock up when I go so I only have to make the trip every now and then and alwyas have a good supply of wood to choose from.
    ShopBot Desktop 24x18
    Spindle
    VCarve Pro 8.5xx
    ScottP Super Deluxe Spoilboard

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    4

    Default

    I'm a maker- getting my first SB soon but have been training on them for two years now... Anyway- I'm in St Louis, just bought a lumber mill and may be able to help.
    512-621-0195
    Cooper

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Norman, Ok
    Posts
    3,251

    Default

    Walt is correct with respect of the retail prices on these kinds of routed cedar signs. They are soo cheeeep it's not worth the effort. If you want a hobby that's one thing but for us sign makers it's a looser. Good practice when starting out though.

    I look for the best wood I can get regardless of price. Here's the way I figure it. The cost for wood has little to do with the retail sign prices. It's the rent, utilities, and bills like insurance, auto payments and salary, etc. that determines the final price.

    Joe Crumley
    www.normansignco.com
    Last edited by joe; 02-18-2017 at 12:44 PM. Reason: correction

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    344

    Default

    I agree these can be a very tough sell.
    People who think nothing of spending $60 for a new iphone case or $40 for a half assed screen protector will recoil into instant sticker shock if you want over $25 for a cedar sign - And trying to add pizazz like an epoxy flood fill or even inlay does little to entice them to dig a little deeper.
    They have no concept of what is involved, and while it may be true that material is fairly cheap and labor is relatively low, obviously for most guys it is not worth turning on the machine to make $10-$15.

    That said, maybe you have stumbled upon a niche where they actually do sell for a decent price, or just like making them to get your work out there at near cost. You can get regular cedar from any box store for pretty cheap, quality can vary greatly from week to week. Short of that, as stated, you'll have to find a mill or maybe start using pine.
    Doug

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Somerset, KY
    Posts
    117

    Default

    There is a good local opportunity coming up in the next few years where I should be able to sell these like hotcakes. I am now in contact with a few mills in my area now. I am getting a plan together so I can see if it will be worth it, although I would love to have a complete shop where I could make many different items so it would probably be worth it anyways. Thanks for the great help and words of wisdom everyone!
    2009 BT48 RBK With 10' Powerstick
    2HP HSD Spindle

    2012 PRS ALPHA 144"X60"
    Republic Blower Hold Down
    4HP HSD Spindle

    VCP 8.014

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Norman, Ok
    Posts
    3,251

    Default

    There are some excellent examples of rustic and carved signs on Etsy. Check out "Rustic Carved Signs" over there. I'm amazed at the number of guys making 3D carved signs and V Carved signs that have lots of quality selling for less than $100. Lets say the wood was free. How can these guys make enough money consideering the time it takes?

    At one time I looked at selling to trade shows "Farmers Markets." After talking to several Shopbot guys they all said it was fun and they enjoyed the customer contact but it was lots of work with little profit. But the question remains how do you reach customers. Broadcast advertising, to reach the general public is too expensive. I've posted several times on target marketing. In my area, central Oklahoma, we have lots of good market sectors. One should choose those with lots of money in their pockets and go direct. But first you have to have several good looking samples. I love making them.

    When I get calls wanting a cabin sign, or small signs of any kind, I send them to the internet, telling them I can't make their sign as cheap as they can purchase on line. I wonder if one could but these on-line, mark them up by double, and have a good business?

    Joe
    Last edited by joe; 02-24-2017 at 07:39 AM. Reason: spelling

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •