BajaNomad

importing 2x4x8 wood

chatolj - 2-13-2015 at 07:14 PM

is it cheaper to buy in the USA and pay import tax or swing by the home depote in Enseada on the way south? any idea on the import %rate on building grade 2x4 s
thanks for ay ideas

woody with a view - 2-13-2015 at 07:26 PM

there is a LARGE lumber yard in maneadero. i hear home depot is lame...

vgabndo - 2-13-2015 at 08:10 PM

I recently did some price comparisons o a bunch of different things at Home Depot in Ensenada and in Lemon Grove. Ensenada is a solid 20% more expensive, and you can import $300. worth of materials without paying duty. If you needed a significant amount it would probably make sense to do some careful checking on the place that Woody mentioned. I just bought some 2x4x8's in Viscaino for 77.50 each. Picked through 20 to get 4 good ones. A guy can get a decent 6' CMU down here for 7.50. Bugs don't eat them.:light:

Justbozo - 2-13-2015 at 08:10 PM

Most all lumber that I have bought from local lumberyards is far better than anything in the states.

The lumber they harvest is like what we had 50 plus years ago.

When was the last time you saw 20' 1"X12"s at Home Depot? Then rip them into furring strips for free!

I brought down 1/2" Wolmanized plywood, just had to have it. I had it stored in my pole barn in the states for at least 4 months. When it hit the dry air of ("The" for those who need it) Baja. it curled up like the dead sea scrolls!

I say, don't bother.

You like Baja?
Help Baja like you.
Buy local in Baja!


fandango - 2-13-2015 at 08:36 PM

lumber and building materials will be charged 17% tax when declared at the border according to an agent at el chap.

it is not duty free even if you declare less than $300.00.

Terry28 - 2-14-2015 at 10:01 AM

last week I purchased 3 4x8 20ft glue laminated beams for my deck from the hardware/lumber store across from Las Gasviotas, cost was about $75 apiece....I was very happy with the quality...the Rosarito home depot had very inferior lumber....

Gulliver - 2-14-2015 at 10:12 AM

All of the lumber I have found in Mulege would not be useful for a gerbil cage. Like balsa with big knots. Doesn't even burn that well.

To add aggravation, I cannot get waterproof wood glue. The damaged windows I removed after Odile were put together with silicon sealant.

I buy local whenever I can but there are problems. Plywood is difficult. The stuff from china is not water proof. Throw it in water for a few days and you have a stack of loose plys. The chilean ply is sometimes waterproof.

Pretty bad when the OSB used for window flood protection stands up better than the window frames.

And who was thinking of what when they glued the glass into the frames with silicon? Break a pane and throw away the frame. Retarded.

I am less upset by the hardware stores. I just regard my visits there as a chance to bond with the people. The distribution system seems to be based on a few stray dogs that wander up and down Rt. 1.

Of course anything that smacks of post medieval technology I have brought down by friends. A part for my motorcycle. An integrated circuit to repair my ham radio.

I love the weather. I love the weather. I love the weather. . . .

monoloco - 2-14-2015 at 10:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Gulliver  
All of the lumber I have found in Mulege would not be useful for a gerbil cage. Like balsa with big knots. Doesn't even burn that well.

To add aggravation, I cannot get waterproof wood glue. The damaged windows I removed after Odile were put together with silicon sealant.

I buy local whenever I can but there are problems. Plywood is difficult. The stuff from china is not water proof. Throw it in water for a few days and you have a stack of loose plys. The chilean ply is sometimes waterproof.

Pretty bad when the OSB used for window flood protection stands up better than the window frames.

And who was thinking of what when they glued the glass into the frames with silicon? Break a pane and throw away the frame. Retarded.

I am less upset by the hardware stores. I just regard my visits there as a chance to bond with the people. The distribution system seems to be based on a few stray dogs that wander up and down Rt. 1.

Of course anything that smacks of post medieval technology I have brought down by friends. A part for my motorcycle. An integrated circuit to repair my ham radio.

I love the weather. I love the weather. I love the weather. . . .
Do yourself a favor and get aluminum windows, wood windows in Baja are a maintenance nightmare and they usually leak.If you must have exterior wood, it's well worth the extra expense to use Andiroba (cedro macho), sapele, mahogany, parota, teka, or another weather and bug resistant wood. I don't know about Mulege, but you can get many species of good lumber in La Paz and Los Cabos, the lumber yards also sell Tightbond III and you can get West System epoxy at the marine stores.

[Edited on 2-14-2015 by monoloco]

baconjr - 2-17-2015 at 09:02 PM

I just retired from a job in which I wrote Phyto sanitary certificates for exporting wood to Mexico. They are pretty exacting about the grade of lumber, treatment and temperature. Home Depot wood on either side is pretty poor.

Gulliver - 2-17-2015 at 09:19 PM

I can tell you from recent first hand purchases that none of the wood available within a hundred miles of me is from North of the border.

Of course, I did see a 2 x 2 in Home Depot last Sumner that had bark on all four corners. How do they do that???

Bad drives out good. In money or wood.

Martyman - 2-18-2015 at 12:03 PM

Make a false floor with the lumber in the bottom of your vehicle. Always worked for us.
(Don't tell the goodie two-shoes though)

vgabndo - 2-18-2015 at 12:52 PM

Marty...I once made a "camper shell" 4 feet tall on my 3/4 ton PU bed utility trailer for a trip to San Nicolas. The multi-thickness walls, windows, 13 rafters, and stacked corrugated roofing made an 8 x 7 storage shed when disassembled. Yes, that top-heavy SOB was terrifying on the twisty parts of the road! Not a whimper at customs though. :lol: