Whats the current price for Cherry lumber?

Tom Baugues

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2,790
Location
Lafayette, Indiana
I noticed an ad on my local Craigslist tonight that someone has listed "black cherry hardwood" in 8-11" widths rough cut to 1 1/4" thick. He says the lumber has very little if any sapwood. What is the current going price for cherry? His ad said $2.00 but he is also trying to sell 300 bf of it. I have sent an e-mail asking if he would sell off just a few boards but have not heard back yet.

Ok just heard back from the guy. He said the boards are mostly about 10' long. He said that each board has just under 10 bf per board so each board would be $18-20 each. He also said they were freshly cut. How much will it shrink and how long will it have to sit before I could use it?
He sent me a photo of it.
Is this a good buy?
20130603_102040.jpg
 
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1 to 100bf 100 to 199bf 200 to 500bf
CHERRY American 4.31 3.02 2.59
COFFEE TREE 4.58 3.21 2.75

HICKORY PECAN 3.07 2.15 1.84
MAPLE RED LEAF AMBROSIA 3.62 2.54 2.17
MAPLE AMBROSIA SPALTEDSPECIAL OFFER - while supplies last ***** 4.86 3.40 2.92
MAPLE HARD Natural 3.76 2.63 2.25
MAPLE HARD White 4.24 2.97 2.55
MAPLE Curly/Tiger 7.43 5.20 4.46
* PINE Knotty White 2.45 1.71 1.47
* PINE Knotty Yellow 2.45 1.71 1.47
POPLAR Tulip 2.45 1.71 1.47
RED ELM American 4.58 3.21 2.75
RED OAK Plain Sawn 3.53 2.47 2.12
RED OAK Qtr/Rift 6.36 4.45 3.82
SASSAFRAS
Manager's SPECIAL - while supplies last ***** 3.22
2.52 2.26
1.76 1.93
1.51
Properties Page Coming Soon - Please Check Back Soon. SYCAMORE Qtr/Rift 6.60 4.62 3.96
WALNUT American 6.67 4.67 4.00
WHITE OAK Plain Sawn 3.67 2.57 2.20
WHITE OAK Qtr/Rift 6.60 4.62 3.96

* Denotes Knotty Furniture Grade
 
CHERRY BF: 1+ 100+ 500+ 1000+
1" Select 6- 7' 3.83 2.94 2.71 2.49
1" Sel&Btr 8' 4.15 3.18 2.93 2.70
1" Sel&Btr 9-10' 4.30 3.30 3.04 2.80
1" Sel&Btr 11-12' 4.45 3.42 3.15 2.90
1" Sel&Btr 13-14' 4.62 3.55 3.27 3.01
1" Sel&Btr 15-16' 4.84 3.71 3.42 3.15
1" Sel&Btr Red 1 Face 6.58 5.05 4.65 4.28
1" No.1 Com 2.80 2.15 1.98 1.82
1" No.2 Com 2.04 1.57 1.44 1.33
1-1/4" Sel&Btr 4.92 3.78 3.48 3.21
1-1/2" Sel&Btr 7.10 5.45 5.02 4.62
2" Sel&Btr 5.10 3.91 3.60 3.32
2-1/2" Sel&Btr 7.31 5.61 5.17 4.76
3" Sel&Btr 5.35 4.11 3.78 3.49

From one of my local suppliers...
 
Well, I would say that it's kind of a wash seeing as how it's green. If it were dry I would go for it no question. I can find 4/4 kiln dried cherry for around 3.50-4.25 a board ft, but if you have the room and don't need to use it right away then grab your stickers and empty your wallet. :D

- Hutch

P.S. Also worth noting, the grain of some of the boards in your picture appear to possibly have reversing grain (cut from a curvy tree). Not fun when trying to plane and joint it, not to mention internal stress. It's definitely "select and better" in terms of grade, but if a large number of boards have reversing grain I might recommend holding on to your money.
 
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The last kiln-dried cherry I bought was $2.57 bd ft, with a hundred foot minimum.

Air dried - about 10~12% moisture content - is about $2.25

Fresh cut is about $1.75. You'll need to stack and sticker the fresh cut for a year or more before you can use it.

Bear in mind that cherry grows prolifically here, so it's likely cheaper here than anywhere else in the country. When I lived in California, I paid over $9.00 per bd ft for it.
 
...Bear in mind that cherry grows prolifically here, so it's likely cheaper here than anywhere else in the country. When I lived in California, I paid over $9.00 per bd ft for it.

I agree. I think the last cherry I bought in Los Angeles was around $10/bf. That was for S4S kiln dried. I don't think I ever saw any rough cut stuff, and definitely no fresh cut.
 
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