Buying reclaimed wood for shelves

TobyGilliam534

Hi all

Bit of a DIY noob here..

I want to get some shelves up - ideally quite long ones (2m length) and I've been advised getting reclaimed wood is a good idea as new wood can warp more easily. I also like the idea for a number of other reasons - it's a good idea to recycle where possible I believe, and I feel it'll look better in the room.

I've had a quick look around at places in London and I'm getting quoted between 50 - 100 quid per piece (for 2m), however I'm guessing these are quite finished (sanded, varnished and so on). I've never done either of these things myself but I'm willing to learn, and would prefer to do as much as possible myself (I realise I'll need to get a sander of some kind).

How much should pieces of timber like this cost? Are these costs reasonable (they seem like a lot to me) and does anyone have any recs for places to buy reclaimed wood in London / the SE?

Thanks all!

DirectDebacle

Check out Gumtree, Freecycle, reclamation yards, local recycling centre, skips etc. Consider something like this as an option.

Price will vary on length, width, thickness, whether hardwood or softwood and condition. I agree your quoted prices seem high.

If timber is really rough then a belt sander is good for initial preparation and follow up with a finishing sander.

AlexMac

Reclaimed wood sounds a nice idea, but if you buy properly seasoned timber from a real, old fashioned supplier, it won't warp or distort much, especially if you scew it to the supporting brackets and have sufficient support along its length. Have a look at one such supplier in my area of SE London- price lists at http://www.catfordtimber.co.uk/price_lists.htm

Assuming you want book-sized widths of 8" or 9" planks, 'planed softwood' will cost around a tenner per linear metre and hardwood will cost anything from two or three times that up to £60 per metre for very fine hardwoods.

I've used pine from them in the past and they even sawed the bits to length so I could knock together a classic ladder-style bookcase- like a DIY flatpack; about 2 m high and it never warped. And even if you don't wax, stain or lacquer it, in a couple of years the wood will age down and look quite mellow; my unit is now relegated to the garden, and still hasn't warped, even in the rain, and looks as old as the Mary Rose!

TobyGilliam534

Thanks both for your super helpful responses.

@AlexMac - that looks like a really good place and not too far from me so I'll definitely check them out.

I guess I was quite keen on getting reclaimed wood as it's better to recycle where possible, but I think this would be a great backup option - the range of woods those guys do is great.

@DirectDebacle: The old scaffolding idea is really interesting (and extremely cheap!), do you think they'd need treating in any way or if we're ok with the rough look could we just use them as they are with a bit of a sand as you say? I think we'd probably want to sand them and stain them a bit darker. Also do you think there would be no chance of them warping (I'm guessing not as they would have been used outside a lot?)

Thanks again for suggestions!

A

splodger_seedswapper

i use old scaffold boards for shelving - they have a great look, are really sturdy and very cheap

they don't / won't warp - you can sand them back to get a clean finish - or just sand the roughest bits - giving a shabby chic / recycled look

mine have nail hole marks along them - which i polished with wax - to get a more distressed look - that's how i like them anyway

DirectDebacle

Depends how rough and ready you are prepared to go. Used scaffold boards may well have deep stains (and gouges) in them that sanding may never get out and may well interfere with any stain you wish to apply.The alternative finish would be paint. There may well be some warping but whatever that is should have ceased. Watch out for broken nails/screws which may be difficult to spot. What I am saying is you need to inspect and carefully select 2nd hand boards.

You could always buy new boards which are still relatively cheap and will require less prep. Either way you will have some seriously heavy duty shelves.

Dukesy

OH is a carpenter and we use lots and lots of scaffold boards - both around our home and for the furniture OH makes for a local shop. Brilliant stuff - dirt cheap from a local scaffold company's yard (we pay around 50p per metre), sturdy and with a lot of character. We sand it down fairly lightly and wax it, leaving the marks that have been left behind by people welding on them and so on. Gives a great look