Where to buy cheap wood/timber?

tallulah31

Hi folks

Hoping to embark on this amateur DIY coffee table project this weekend...

Can anyone recommend best place to get cheap timber? B&Q/Wickes maybe?

Below are the sizes I need to get...unfortunately they are in inches so not sure what the equivalent mm is...if anyone could enlighten me I'd be eternally greatful.

2 – 2x4 – 8 feet or stud length
2 – 2x2 – 8 feet
1 – 1x12 – 8 feet long

Thanks

Kiran

Go to a timber merchants, you'll get a better selection and it will be cheaper.

Just for info 100mm is approximately 4". You can work back the rest of your sizes from that.

mr-bob_2

Yeah, go to a timber merchants as Kiran says.

tallulah31

Thanks for the replies

Am I right in thinking the US sizes don't exactly match as the wood shrinks after being cut? Think I read somewhere that the 2x4 is the size prior to drying out/seasoning...after this it shrinks a little...hence the confusion as I can't find any wood 400mm in width (unless I'm looking in the wrong place )

This might be a daft question but can just anyone rock up at a timber merchants or are they trade only?

teneighty

Anyone can buy from a timber merchants but I suggest you do some research first or visit B&Q etc. to see what standard timber sizes are available as from you post I suspect you will get confused by the vast choice available. (no offence)

A very simplistic explanation.....For example 2"x4" (4"x2" in English) is 100mm x 50mm. That is the size it comes from the timber mill and is rough sawn so it looks like a rough old fence post. For you coffee table you want PAR timber which has been run through a machine to smooth off the rough edges so it comes out slightly smaller 95mm x 45mm.

I doubt you will find any 1" x 12" as that size would just warp twist and split, you would have to use engineered timber, smaller pieces glued together in the factory.

Good Luck

tallulah31

teneighty wrote: »

Anyone can buy from a timber merchants but I suggest you do some research first or visit B&Q etc. to see what standard timber sizes are available as from you post I suspect you will get confused by the vast choice available. (no offence)

A very simplistic explanation.....For example 2"x4" (4"x2" in English) is 100mm x 50mm. That is the size it comes from the timber mill and is rough sawn so it looks like a rough old fence post. For you coffee table you want PAR timber which has been run through a machine to smooth off the rough edges so it comes out slightly smaller 95mm x 45mm.

I doubt you will find any 1" x 12" as that size would just warp twist and split, you would have to use engineered timber, smaller pieces glued together in the factory.

Good Luck

Thanks for the help, useful stuff

gibson123

My local sawmill is very helpful, I tell them what I want to do, they tell me what I need to do the job and will even cut to size. It may help that i am female and therefore assumed to be useless at DIY.

murphydog999

You could look on preloved or freecycle or gumtree, there are often people either giving away or selling wood cheaply.

Kiran

a 16" wide board will be special order and expensive. You can buy furniture board which is pre jointed and glued timber. Its easy to work with and starts out flat which save you the work of jointing and smoothing. A timber merchant will be able to help you with that, but if they don't stock it the the DIY sheds will