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23rd March 2014, 09:55 AM #1well aged but not old
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 722
Some nice Camphor Laurel at the right price
Last year I started hunting about for some nice camphor laurel to make a new kitchen and bathroom, including searching about on the forum. I was surprised at just how hard it was to get some of this at a price I considered reasonable, especially given that the timber is a declared weed. Anyway I was able, after some searching to obtain about cubic metre of the stuff (between 0.9 and 1.1 by my estimate) yesterday for $600. Nice wide boards and some narrower ones but perfect for making kitchen doors, facings and drawers. I was quoted up to $4000 a cube. I have seen dressed slabs for more than $200. I have no idea of the cost structures involved that determine these prices and for all I know they are perfectly reasonable. But I am more than pleased with the price I paid and so was the chap I got it from.
I will still need to get some 800 mm wide slabs for the counter tops, but I am told that these are also on the way.
I only stacked them quickly late yesterday and today I will stick them out properly in my shed.
The smaller ones on the right will finish up as small natural edged coffee tables.
timber one.jpgtimber two.jpgMy age is still less than my number of posts
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23rd March 2014, 10:10 AM #2Senior Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Canberra
- Posts
- 318
Great score! Are they dry?
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23rd March 2014, 10:33 AM #3well aged but not old
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 722
The thicker slabs are 47 mm and they were cut about 12 months ago. The 25 mm were cut a bit more recently. I have not put a moisture metre on them yet but I suspect they want a few more months in the shed to be properly dried. I could get way with using them but I have so many other projects on the go that waiting will not hurt. I am thinking about Christmas, while I am on holidays will be kitchen making time. Considering the next best price was $1600 a cube I do not mind very much. Some of the boards have plain grain but most are wild menagerie of colour and form. I have used a lot of camphor in the past, especially when I was teaching. What I loved about it was the smell and the ease of working it. But even long ago and buying large quantities I could not get it for $600 a cube.
My age is still less than my number of posts
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24th March 2014, 04:26 PM #4Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2011
- Location
- Brisbane
- Age
- 43
- Posts
- 97
Going to mention your
dealersuppliertimber merchant? I've nearly had a fit the last couple of timber quotes I've received.
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24th March 2014, 04:30 PM #5well aged but not old
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 722
I will ask him if he minds me doing so. I was amazed at what sorts of prices people wanted for a timber that comes from a declared weed. But I suppose the milling equipment and so on are expensive. Keep an eye on the forum. I will post his number if he will give me permission.
My age is still less than my number of posts
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24th March 2014, 07:11 PM #6
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24th March 2014, 07:45 PM #7well aged but not old
- Join Date
- Sep 2004
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 722
Must be a good bit of cost. I have no idea of the costs involved. Perhaps it does cost a lot of money to saw a log into slabs. And people are entitled to make money for the time, skill, effort and machinery that goes into it. But some of the prices I see for camphor seem very high. It is a weed and it is easy to cut. But as I say I know nothing about it really.
My age is still less than my number of posts
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24th March 2014, 08:39 PM #8
It's a weed, it's not allowed to be cultivated, it's destroyed as soon as it's spotted and not allowed to mature so of course its rare and expensive. Like marijuana compared to good tobacco.
RegardsHugh
Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.
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31st March 2014, 10:34 PM #9
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31st March 2014, 10:47 PM #10... and this too shall pass away ...
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Brisbane (Chermside)
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 2,042
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1st April 2014, 12:11 AM #11well aged but not old
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- Sep 2004
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 722
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1st April 2014, 09:27 PM #12GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
- Location
- the sawdust factory, FNQ
- Posts
- 1,014
The problem with camphor is that everyone in the supply chain wants to get paid. People want to get paid for their logs (weed or not), the guy who cuts it wants wages, the snigging and haulage contractors all like to make a quid, the electricity and fuel companies get annoyed when you don't pay their bills, the sawmill staff like their wages on a Friday, you got to keep the bank manager off your back, and the kids all like to eat as well.
I'd say that considering F14 structural grade (not appearance) 6x2's now retail at $1500 a cube, that you got one hell of a bargain. Nothing wrong with that either - good luck to you!!! $1600 a cube dead green or $2400 seasoned wouldn't be unreasonable for any cabinet/joinery timber anymore.
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2nd April 2014, 05:51 PM #13... and this too shall pass away ...
- Join Date
- May 2012
- Location
- Brisbane (Chermside)
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 2,042
I don't mind paying a reasonable price, so long as I get what I want.
I buy Vic Ash from Lazarides occasionally. It is expensive for ash, but it is dried beautifully, is all quarter cut and the boards are almost as straight as a die. There is virtually no waste in it. Their cedar is almost as good. Recently bought some cedar from another supplier. It had thunder shakes ... there was wicked internal collapse in some boards, and a few would have made great propellers. Cheap ... but worth the price. Won't use that supplier again. Paying a few bucks more for top quality timber is fine by me, and that includes camphor laurel ... weed or not.
Cheerio!
John
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30th July 2014, 01:09 PM #14Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Location
- Brisbane
- Posts
- 91
I'd be interested in his number if he is still selling, apparently our countertops need replacing....
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31st July 2014, 07:21 PM #15GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Imbil
- Posts
- 815
Hi Guy's
You would be surprised to see what you get for a standing tree (very little) be it Camphor or Rosewood , the reason being the amount of work that goes into recovering timber from the tree is considerable and the amount of useable timber that can be recovered can be very little because of shakes and internal void's. I have helped with the milling of many trees and believe me the amount of work involved is large and hard this is reflected in the cost. So weed or not the work and effort is the same.
Regards Rod.