Annoyed

[Smakman]

     I recently bought some 2 X 6 lumber from a local miller.  I have been buying lumber from this fellow for years and had always been happy, but this last time, he tells me that he has to charge more if I want the full 2" by 6" size.  I was a bit puzzled, but I told him to go ahead and cut it however he normally cuts it at the original price he quoted me.  I paid in advance and went back after hours to pick up and load it myself.  Once I got it to my building site I noticed that some of it seemed pretty thin so I measured it.  Some of it was as little as 1 1/4" thick!  Needless to say, I was pretty aggrivated.  Before long I think I will have my own mill so it won't be an issue, but I've already decided I'll be buying elsewhere from now on if I need to.  I don't know, maybe he was just giving me the message that he was too busy to mess around with my measley orders anymore.

[Bibbyman]

That does sound a bit too far out of size.. 

We normally saw our 2x6s 1-5/8 thick x 6" wide.  Most are happy with that thickness as it's heavier than store bought and they can still get a 16d nail to hold pretty good.

If they want full 2",  we charge a nickel more.  I've had no complaints from these customers as they want them for dozer decks or dump truck sideboards and are just pleased to get them.

We do saw some right on 1-1/2" for those customers that are replacing trailer deck boards and have to have that thickness.  We charge the same price as 1-5/8".

[Kirk_Allen]

Maybe it was an oversite on the sawyer who sold you the wood.  Take some of it back to him with a tape measure and show him whats up.  Most good business owners want to know if there is a problem.  Dont be shy on letting him know the issue you have.  Chances are he would make it right.  If not, then your decision to go elsewere is supported. 

As far as prices going up, I think lots of folks in this business have raised there prices some.  The cost of fuel alone eats up the small profit margine thats there, however you should at least get the industry standard measurements when ordering your wood. 

I will bet that this was a honest mistake that was overlooked.   

[Brad_S.]

Smakman,
It sounds as if this guy is suffering what many of us are suffering, increased fuel and log costs may be sqeezing him and he is looking for ways to maintain a profit, but has chosen a false econmy to do so. As a sawyer and businessman I feel his pain, but since you were a happy customer in the past, you would be doing him a HUGE service by calling him up and telling him you're unhappy and why.
My two cents.

Edit: Kirk beat me to the punch!

[Ron Wenrich]

I cut everything full unless someone wants it otherwise.  Here the customer says otherwise, but 1 1/4" seems too thin.  Mills have to have some quality control.  You can feel the board is too thin when you stack it.

How was it the 6" way?  Was that off as well?  If its only off on the 2" way, then the sawyer is trying to squeeze more out of the log than is there.  You have to know how to build a stack on a log.

If its off both ways, then its sloppy sawing or the mill is out of adjustment.

[Rockn H]

Smakman, maybe you should talk with the sawyer and ask him to swapout or buy back the lumber that is under 1 1/2".  Myself and other sawyers I know will buy back lumber if we make a bad cut and let it slip through.  Doesn't happen very often and should not be many bf.
I pretty much cut all my SYP dimensional, that is 2x6 is cut 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 unless the customer wants it full.  I charge the same.  When I first started sawing with the band mill I had a customer that wanted "a full 2x4".  That's what I cut.  He was not happy, said  "that ain't a 2x4". ;D  Well I made him happy and cut another couple hundred bf 1 1/2 x 3 1/2. :  After that I started asking better questions. ;D  Everybody that I cut framing lumber and siding for, wants it cut that way.

[Cedarman]

A 2x4 is anything from a 2 1/8 by 4 1/8 to 1 1/2 x 3 1/2.  At least that is what my customers say and they get what they want.
When we get a request for 2x4, the next words out of my mouth are just exactly what size 2x4 do you have in mind?  We nail the size down to plus or minus a 1/16 and that is what we saw. I price according to the volume of wood sold.
Communication, communication, communication.  You must know exactly what the cusomer expects to be able to provide what the customer expects.

[MULE_MAN]

Cederman

You sound like me talking , That's always the first thing out of my mouth, When someone ask for
a 2x4  , What size to you really want  ??? a 2x4 or 1 5/8  x 3 5/8   ;)