I'm new to timber framing and am looking for a first project. What do you think of the wood lot in this auction? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=017&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=270060096449&rd=1&rd=1

Spruce is known to be susceptible to twisting. Better get it in the air pretty quickly.

From the pictures but it doesn't look like he boxed the heart on several of the largest timbers and they may not be completely free of heart center either. I think they're going to move on you pretty radically for a beginning project and possibly warp beyond utility.

The current price is good but I honestly wouldn't go much higher without seeing the timbers in person or knowing the sawyer. It's his first foray into sawing for timber framing and I'm sure his buddie selected the best of the timbers for his 'kit'.

Third row from bottom: looks like it's twisting already...
Best bet is to actually go there and see this guy's inventory.
I personally wouldn't buy wood for timberframing on line...firewood, maybe. Like I say, I would want to see the product in person.
*K

Liam,
There is a guy up your way by the name of Jim Rogers that cuts wood for Framing.
Call him and get a package done there...

Thanks everyone for your input.

I decided not to bid on it. I though it might be a good project to come home to after getting some timber framing experience. I think I'm gonna just start with some timber frame sawhorses! Thanks.
-Liam

Liam, I didn't check out the auction, but I am doing some sawing for a guy in West Stockbridge. We supply timbers and lumber for any purpose. This is where I will be getting the wood for my projects. We will do any size order. We typically do white pine as it sells very reliably, but we can probably find you whatever you need. The sawhorses sound like a good project to start with, I will be making a trestle for cutting joinery soon. Let me know if you need timbers.

I just went to the auction, it's good you passed that up. It didn't bring alot, and for good reason. This guy didn't even know what species he was sawing. It would be a real bummer if it was all red pine!

Dave