-1
Back in '08, a client wanted a solid maple face frame but their budget was tight, so I had to pick between using cheaper poplar or cutting the maple myself from rough lumber.
I went with the rough lumber, spent a whole weekend milling it down in my garage shop, and the final look was worth the extra sweat. Looking at my old invoice for $1,200, I wonder if anyone still goes through that hassle for a face frame or just buys the pre-milled stuff now.
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
the_simon1mo ago
Yeah, the custom widths thing is the whole point for me too. Pre-milled is fine for basic cabinets, but try finding 4-inch maple for a big built-in. You either pay a crazy premium for a special order or you spend an afternoon in the shop. That milling time is basically just part of the job if you're not building boxes from a catalog.
7
morgan.rose1mo ago
Remember that poplar is a hardwood too, just cheaper. I still mill my own face frames from rough stock when the project needs it, but only for custom widths you can't get off the shelf. The pre-milled stuff is great for standard sizes, saving a ton of time on most jobs.
1
taylorshah1mo ago
True about poplar being a cheap hardwood. But its color variation is the real catch. You get that green and purple streak sometimes. If you're painting, perfect. But if a client ever wants a clear coat or stain later, you're stuck explaining why it looks blotchy. Pre-milled stuff is consistent, which matters more than people admit.
4