Wood Sources

[mcyr]

What's your favorite on-line source of wood for your projects?

Best regards,
Mike

[ger21]

I've purchased figured birch from http://www.figuredhardwoods.com/lumber.html
I buy veneer from www.certainlywood.com, and Ebay.

If you can find what you need locally, it'll usually be a lot cheaper.

[sawmiller]

i've tried selling wood before by ebay, not worth the hassle for me.
shipping is normaly more than wood price.
find a local small sawmill like i have, and you end up with decent prices and the ability to select what you want, just dont leave the wood stack messed up.
i have several stacks of wood drying, and if i have to go out and restack a pile, it drves me crazy.
but anyways, you can use the forestry forum to find some local sawyers
http://www.forestryforum.com/
dan

[CarlosC]

Steve Wall Lumber - http://www.walllumber.com/

or try Woodfinder - http://www.woodfinder.com/

[mcyr]

Thanks, everyone.

Cheers,
Mike

[jolafson]

Is there any particular species you're looking for? Or just random stuff. We can't give our scrap and chop ends away fast enough. A few guys around here come and sort through to get all the figured, character stuff for hobby and even some artistic stuff.

[mcyr]

No, nothing in particular. Just sources that are readily available on-line. Thanks.

Mike

[tdnp]

jolafson, I know its a very long shot but where are you located, I an looking for some figured and exotic wood for some turning projects.
TDNP

[rabidgoalie]

I have yet to order from them, but when I was looking for a wood source for more rare woods I found 'Woodworkers Source'. I don't know if their pictures on their site are true representations of the stock you will receive, but if you purchase their craft packs or project packs the shipping is free. Plus, their prices beat Rocklers every time. I plan on ordering a project pack of African Mahogany from them, so if anyone wants to wait to see if these guys are for real, I will be able to tell you in the next few weeks...barring a long wait on shipping that is.

I have links to several others, but as far as price and selection is concerned, these guys seem to be the best that I could find on the Internet.

I agree with everyone here on finding a local saw mill. Even if the prices are the same as the site above, I would be able to pick through their stock and find the grain and lengths that I want for my projects and I would know exactly what I am getting. Of course, that won't work for all types of wood, but it would be better than waiting for a month on stock that some warehouse worker 'hand picked' for me (i.e. just grabbed the boards off of the top of the stack )

Oh, have you ever checked out Kauri? You can go to AncientWood's web site and check out some of their pieces. This is one wood you will not find down at your local saw mill (if you do, I want to move to where you live you lucky dog!). It is very expensive, but I have to say that it looks great. I would never use it for an entire project due to the price, but I have played with the idea of ordering some to use as inlay on some end tables that I have planned.

[ger21]

I bought a piece of birdseye maple from Woodworkers Source a long time ago. Very good quality, but if I recall they are on the expensive side. But no matter where you go, wood is expensive these days.

[sawmiller]

my wood , from the woodmiser bandsaw , is cheap compared to those prices
air dried fas oak goes for .8 to 1.00/bdft (12" x12"x1") red cedar is 1.00/bdft
and i'm selling some white oak right off the log to someone for fencing and barn wood for .60/bdft
but i , like many small mills, dont advertize much.
for me now, the mill is a second source of income, not the main
look around , kick the bushes, you can find someone local to you.
the forestry forums and woodmizer maintain a database of where sawyers are.
if you call them in the evenings, they will probally have time to talk.
i like to have people come get some of my wood, then see what they have built out of it, it adds satisfaction to the sawing process.
dont forget getting your own wood sawn into logs, i have people that bring me one log from thier parents place or something they helped someone by taking the stormdamaged tree away, i saw that at .28/bdft when i get the time.
you might have to wait awhile for the wood to dry, but the fact that you know where that wood in the project came from, is cool.
off soapbox
dan

[jemmyell]

If you want thin exotics for inlay or for sign work, try the luthier (guitar maker) suppliers. They will frequently have 'orphan' pieces from guitar back or side sets that they sell cheap. Also headplate blanks are good source for small signs, name plates etc. Two good ones here in California are:

Luthier's Mercantile

http://www.lmii.com/

Allied Lutherie

http://www.alliedlutherie.com/

And if you are into Oregon Black Walnut, then Goby Walnut Products has some great stuff too

http://www.gobywalnut.com/

They are currently having a moving sale.

The best deals from the lutherie suppliers will be had by calling them and asking about these odd pieces of wood they might have.