Trupan or Light MDF Supplier around Atlanta area?

[mrgadget]

Called several places today and only found some light MDF at Hardwoods Inc. and was told it was the equivalent to Trupan. I believe the brand was Timber Forest Products. Is there a place to get Trupan in Atlanta or will this be okay to use for my spoilboard? I searched the forum but all the results for Atlanta Trupan were 4-5 yrs old. Thanks!

Jay

[orgtech]

I am using that product on my Buddy for a spoil board with good success.

[mrgadget]

Thanks that's good to know. I may give it a whirl then.

[twelchPTM]

I haven't had my bot for to long but from what I have read on hear and what I am going through right now you do need to be careful. While ULMDF works efficiently for vacuum bleed, if its low grade material it will never stay flat. I do believe trupan is a form of ulmdf but they have a manufacturing process that makes for a very stable product.

[billp]

Thomas,
You are correct. Trupan is peeled off Radiata pine logs in the same way you would peel veneer. That is a LOT different than the standard "sawdust/water mush" process which is used in a lot of the MDF on the market. Real Trupan ( it will be stamped on the side of EVERY sheet) is much lighter, and more porous ( therefore lighter) than most MDF's even the "light versions". Numerous catastrophes in the last few years have slowed ( maybe even stopped) the flow of the product into the country.
Being located in Trupan,Chile they got hit by an earthquake which sent a tidal wave that dumped almost 200 railroad cars into the plant. By the time they recovered from that, there was a fire in the plant (can you imagine a better environment for a fire to spread?). If you can find it, get it and stash it away...

[shilala]

Funny, I've been looking for a retailer in Cleveland for the last hour or so and came here to check the new messages and here's a thread. :)
I read about the disasters Bill mentioned, that's at the plant that makes the Ultralight Trupan. Arauco makes 3 other grades, some of which are made in North Carolina.
I also saw that other outfits make ULMDF, one in New Zealand (http://www.atlanticplywood.com/docs/CHHSpec041508FINAL.pdf), I think it was. They used Radiata Pine, it made me wonder if maybe they've managed to snag the same process as Trupan uses?
I just simply cannot find a piece of trupan in, around, or near Cleveland. I was thinking of using it for a spoilboard or laminating a couple pieces for my table/spoilboard, but the headache has made me give up.

[mrgadget]

You can't turn around without learning something new here!! Did not know that about their factory and how it was made. Thanks! Guess I'm gonna have to try and pull out all the stops to find some Trupan if I can. If not, well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Sure would like to get one step closer to getting it running, though. One step at a time, one day at a time.

[beacon14]

I'm down to one piece of Trupan left in the rack and we are going through spoilboards about every 4-6 months so I hope there will be some to be found somewhere by then.

I've used Sierra Pine Lightweight MDF (which I also got at Hardwoods Inc, is it the same stuff?) and it worked well enough, but it did want to curl more than the Trupan, and it was harder to get edgebanding or tape to stay stuck to the edges, especially as it got thinner. But if that's all that's available it's better then nothing and it's much better than "regular" MDF.

[woodworx]

Everything Bill said is correct. Earthquake, Fire....Now the mill has scaled back its shipments to the US, and is sending a lot of material to Japan. They are paying more than we are, so availability is tight.

I sell Trupan in the Seattle area and my good buddy Rob is the North American rep for Tumac Lumber (the importers of Trupan)

You can contact him Rsimonsen at tumac dot com. He should be able to tell you where to get it. Many distribution areas are pretty vast so you might have to get your supplier to bring it in for you.

[sawkerf]

A & M Supply Merietta GA (800) 548-7799. They have it in Charlotte, maybe they'll have in GA. Too

[beacon14]

Really? I had no idea they carried Trupan. I'm going to call them Monday. If I can convince them to send in a bundle is anyone else in Atlanta interested in a group purchase?

[mrgadget]

I'd be interested in a few sheets so count me in!

Jay

[sawkerf]

Yep, I hope it pans out for you. I've only been an A&M customer for a few months but I have been very pleased so far. In fact, I have only been able to find 1 sheet of trupan since 2004 from my usuall suppliers, so when I heard they had trupan I was thrilled. It makes such a huge difference in my 7.5 HP vac it's amazing.

[beacon14]

I called today and was told they do not have any Trupan in any of their locations. Who told you they have it? Maybe I need to talk to that person.

Justin, any chance of shipping us a bundle or two? What kind of freight cost would we be looking at from wherever you are to Atlanta? I've emailed Rob and hope to hear back with good news. Thanks for the contact info.

[beacon14]

Well, Rob called me 5 minutes later and apologized for taking so long to get back to me. I wonder how quickly he returns calls when he's not on vacation.

He gave me a lead or two and says worst case they have Trupan in stock in Philly. I'm going to make some more calls in the morning with the goal of bringing in a bundle to share amongst the Atlanta tribe.

Send me an email with your desired sheet quantity (18mm 49 x 97 sheets) and I'll see how many we are looking for as a group.

[Brady Watson]

...worst case they have Trupan in stock in Philly...

David,
Let me know if you find out where/who they are getting the stuff from in Philly...The closest places I've found it to me is either near NYC, the middle of PA or Virginia...

-B

[sawkerf]

Got mine from Charlotte,NC branch

[mark_stief]

Rayner & Rinn Scott in Des Moines Ia and Bedford Park Il have full bunks of the stuff in 1/2 and 3/4 thickness it's where I get mine all the time:)

[beacon14]

So here is what I have found. Wurth Wood Group (also commonly referred to as Worthless Wood Group) has 3/4" Trupan in stock in Charlotte. Or so they tell me. The Worthless sales person who told me twice he would get back to me with a cost to ship down a bundle never did (further testament to their Worthlessness). But at least we know we can get a bundle that way if it comes down to it.

I asked the Arauco rep at the IWF, and was told that Hardwoods Inc. carries Trupan. So I called HI last week and was told they do not have it in stock, but they are considering bringing some in, especially if they know there are several potential customers interested in buying it.

So - I suggest that if you are at all interested in seeing Trupan stocked here in Atlanta, that you call Nace at Hardwoods Inc. (404-792-0910) and tell him you heard they were going to be bringing in some Trupan, and when will it be available????? If we can get several people to call and ask about it, they might just get the message.

Post here or let me know if you do talk to Nace. If I hear that several people have spoken with him, I'll follow up and see if they can make it happen.

[mrgadget]

Thanks for finding out about this at the source David! I'll call and bug Nace again.

[harryball]

Atlanta Hardwoods, Hardwoods Incorporated is at www.hardwoodweb.com (http://www.hardwoodweb.com)

I purchase some of my supplies from them fairly regularly, in the past when I ask about Trupan I always get the same story, "We've been thinking about bringing it in."


I have an order to pickup from them if not next week then the next. I'll be sure to press them again with an actual order for a few sheets of Trupan UL while I'm there.

I'll let you know how it goes.

/RB

[woodworx]

The reason suppliers are reluctant to bring this in, is because it is an imported product that needs to be bought by the container. That is a huge investment for a distribution company. 2-3 sheet inquiries take a long time to get rid of 14 units. If you want to get any supplier to carry Trupan, you might want to commit to a few units. Its a hard bullet to bite for both parties.

[harryball]

You're right Justin, I completely get the economics of the situation. It's a catch-22, can you sell it? How do you expect to sell if if you don't carry it? Don't want to get stuck with it, and several other considerations.

The problem seems to trickle all the way back to the mfg, some of which insist on selling a full load of any single product. i.e. you can buy anything you want in quantities of "full load" with no mix and match. I've seen these policies erode in this economy to some degree.

In the meantime, I don't get upset, I buy what I can get where I can get it and that's that.

No word on Trupan yet, I have a feeling it'll be the same story though.

/RB