Advice The Home Improvement/Automation Thread

[Domon]

I have to buy dimensional lumber at Home Depot tomorrow.

God help me.

well, firstoff, dont do that. Go to lowes or jf johnson or 86 lumber.

I had a very out of place experience with my last dimensional lumber buy from lowes. I placed the order online, and let them pick it (always a poor choice). 8 2x10x16s, 16 2x3x8s, few other random boards. Interior grade, no pressure treated.

I was flat out amazed when every single board was completely true, knot free and just overall great quality. Best dimensional lumber ive ever seen at a box store.

 

[Valve1138]

Drove cross town to Lowe’s.

They have one kind of top choice lumber that’s straight. 2x4x8’s. The rest is typical shitty stuff.

Bought extras.

 

[Jehannum]

well, firstoff, dont do that. Go to lowes or jf johnson or 86 lumber.

I had a very out of place experience with my last dimensional lumber buy from lowes. I placed the order online, and let them pick it (always a poor choice). 8 2x10x16s, 16 2x3x8s, few other random boards. Interior grade, no pressure treated.

I was flat out amazed when every single board was completely true, knot free and just overall great quality. Best dimensional lumber ive ever seen at a box store.

I buy from a local place called Hunter-Bower lumber. I can call the order in, pay for it over the phone, and then they'll deliver it that afternoon for free, and it's always straight, knot free, and dry.

Granted, they cost a little more than lowes, but not much (like 10%), and I don't have to burn my gas getting to and from, or figure out how to load 2x4x8 or 2x4x12 into my little piddly NON-PROFESSIONAL-GRADE automobile.

 

[fly]

well, firstoff, dont do that. Go to lowes or jf johnson or 86 lumber.

I had a very out of place experience with my last dimensional lumber buy from lowes. I placed the order online, and let them pick it (always a poor choice). 8 2x10x16s, 16 2x3x8s, few other random boards. Interior grade, no pressure treated.

I was flat out amazed when every single board was completely true, knot free and just overall great quality. Best dimensional lumber ive ever seen at a box store.

I've always been terrified to do that. Maybe I'll try it next time. I suppose if they're pulling from the back stock, maybe only the shitty stuff actually ends up on the floor.

 

[wetwillie]

I've always been terrified to do that. Maybe I'll try it next time. I suppose if they're pulling from the back stock, maybe only the shitty stuff actually ends up on the floor.

Shit on the floor may or may not have been picked through by several peep before you - luck of the draw. And you have the fellow customers who range from the guys who just grab off the top of the pile(thanks guys, clear out that trash!), to the ones who glare at you like "WTF, you think you are just leaving the crap boards for someone else!?" Yes.

Happiness is being the first man on a pallet of virgin wood.

 

[fly]

Shit on the floor may or may not have been picked through by several peep before you - luck of the draw. And you have the fellow customers who range from the guys who just grab off the top of the pile(thanks guys, clear out that trash!), to the ones who glare at you like "WTF, you think you are just leaving the crap boards for someone else!?" Yes.

Happiness is being the first man on a pallet of virgin wood.

Exactly. Which is why Im saying that @Domon's guy was probably not pulling from floor stock and therefore got better shit.

 

[Domon]

I've always been terrified to do that. Maybe I'll try it next time. I suppose if they're pulling from the back stock, maybe only the shitty stuff actually ends up on the floor.

entirely depends on the employee. Typical employee is gonna pull whatevers on top cause they dont give a shit, doesnt matter if its the shape of a damn rainbow. I think i just got a good employee that one time. Every otehr time ive had to swap almost every board

 

[Domon]

Shit on the floor may or may not have been picked through by several peep before you - luck of the draw. And you have the fellow customers who range from the guys who just grab off the top of the pile(thanks guys, clear out that trash!), to the ones who glare at you like "WTF, you think you are just leaving the crap boards for someone else!?" Yes.

Happiness is being the first man on a pallet of virgin wood.

employees probably hate me for it, but if there like 20 boards or less left and theyre all crap, ill cut open the new palletized rack and pull from it.

 

[Amstel]

employees probably hate me for it, but if there like 20 boards or less left and theyre all crap, ill cut open the new palletized rack and pull from it.

Probably?

it's like a ritual dance.

employee: why did you open that?
me: Well, the last of that palette is picked over because it's not all that great.
employee: We're not supposed to open a new palette/box/etc until that is gone tho.
me: it looks pretty gone to me tho.
employee: well, [and my favorite faux customer service line of all time. . . . drum roll please. . . ] just this one time, as a courtesy, then. . .

 

[Valve1138]

It's nice working with straight lumber.

I repurposed my old production console for the worktop. I've got a 5' plug mold strip for the front 2x4 on the left bench.

 

[Jehannum]

It's nice working with straight lumber.

Homophobe.

 

[Valve1138]

Homophobe.

I screwed it in good.

 

[Domon]

Probably?

it's like a ritual dance.

employee: why did you open that?
me: Well, the last of that palette is picked over because it's not all that great.
employee: We're not supposed to open a new palette/box/etc until that is gone tho.
me: it looks pretty gone to me tho.
employee: well, [and my favorite faux customer service line of all time. . . . drum roll please. . . ] just this one time, as a courtesy, then. . .

oh, i dont ask. I just cut it open myself.

 

[Amstel]

oh, i dont ask. I just cut it open myself.

ditto! For me, that usually summons an employee who wants to dance.

 

[Domon]

ditto! For me, that usually summons an employee who wants to dance.

ha. So thats how you summon an employee to help in less than 40 minutes.

 

[Valve1138]

We asked an HD employee once to open a new pallet of wood once, seemed annoyed we asked.

Only reason we did was because someone had taken the strapping shears and we couldn't find them.

I should carry my Leatherman, but it disappeared two years ago.

 

[Valve1138]

Got a second coat of black chalkboard paint up on the plywood.

I’ll be able to do electrical, A/V, networking, and shelves tomorrow.

 

[fly]

Got a second coat of black chalkboard paint up on the plywood.

I’ll be able to do electrical, A/V, networking, and shelves tomorrow.

And fix the wires?

 

[Valve1138]

And fix the wires?

Yep.

And I think by fix, coil them up and stuff them between the joists. Only four of those are in use. It's the original coax for the house.

 

[Valve1138]

Anyone know if I can take that old Version Demarc down without going to federal pound me in the ass prison?

The phone wires are still hooked up to it, and then it to the ONT, but we don't have a house phone and I can't see use getting one.

I'd like to wrap up that old phone wire too.