Yeah I've noticed searching lumber and planks (6/4) works better.
Do they have an online presence or are willing to ship?
Do they have an online presence or are willing to ship?
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Winter Build Off 2020 - Get Ready
- Thread starter Scoops
- Start date
I get most of my wood from a local guy who cuts down trees in the forest he owns. He calls me and asks what species and dimensions I need. Of course I have to dry it myself, which comes with the risk of splitting and warping (which haven't been huge problems to date). He'll pull wood aside that has good figure, most of his customers don't want that. He used to just give that stuff to me, but I think he's gotten a bit wise to the market and last time I went there he charged me for figured maple that I feel like he would have given me in the past. It's still very cheap compared to buying anywhere else. Of course the species are limited to what grows around here, but I've bought - ash, walnut, maple, cherry, larch, birch and hickory. I've learned why only the first four in that list are used in instruments.
The other place I get wood is at the local hardwood place. They do custom cabinets and sell wood direct - they have just about any type of wood you could want, you pay by the board foot. It's not luthier pricing, but it can still be pretty expensive. They have a huge cutoff area, I've gotten some really nice pieces there really cheap. My best find has been bass sized mahogany blanks for $25, I bought 4 and used them all up already.
The other place to look is your local Home Depot - but I understand different stores stock different things. The one local to me stocks maple and cherry. I found some amazingly figured maple in their stock, and some nice straight grain wood, but there is lots of crap in there so you have look carefully.
The other place I get wood is at the local hardwood place. They do custom cabinets and sell wood direct - they have just about any type of wood you could want, you pay by the board foot. It's not luthier pricing, but it can still be pretty expensive. They have a huge cutoff area, I've gotten some really nice pieces there really cheap. My best find has been bass sized mahogany blanks for $25, I bought 4 and used them all up already.
The other place to look is your local Home Depot - but I understand different stores stock different things. The one local to me stocks maple and cherry. I found some amazingly figured maple in their stock, and some nice straight grain wood, but there is lots of crap in there so you have look carefully.
Hibdon Hardwood, Inc.
These guys have reasonable prices on a lot of items and will rip for you if you ask. I've gotten burls and a few other items. Very pleased with the quality price and service.
These guys have reasonable prices on a lot of items and will rip for you if you ask. I've gotten burls and a few other items. Very pleased with the quality price and service.
A slight detour if that's ok....
A guy close to me has a tree (don't know the type) that has several enormous burls on it that he's considering chopping down because it blocks the sunlight in his garden.....
I remember reading somewhere that you have to leave some 'log' on either side of the burl when you cut it but what's the next stage in prepping it for use?.....
Burls are, at least, this big.....
A guy close to me has a tree (don't know the type) that has several enormous burls on it that he's considering chopping down because it blocks the sunlight in his garden.....
I remember reading somewhere that you have to leave some 'log' on either side of the burl when you cut it but what's the next stage in prepping it for use?.....
Burls are, at least, this big.....
Drying burl would be tough, but I've read that you should put it inside a paper bag to slow the drying so it doesn't crack. With the grain swirling like it does inside a burl, getting a good piece of wood out would be tough - but every time I see one in the woods when I'm riding my bike I think of how I could get it :-D
I find this waiting for start a good time to make all templates and fixtures ready. Also now it’s good time to sharpen all the tools and bits.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,011
- 1
- 31,720
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I'm just gonna kick back with a beer...
Another vote here for buying lumber (or sourcing it somehow) and then milling it down to the dimensions you need. Getting a bandsaw that can do full board resaw (ie, 8+ inches) is a game changer... 
A few router planing fixtures and you can make up anything that you can find online but for a fraction of the cost. 
A few router planing fixtures and you can make up anything that you can find online but for a fraction of the cost. 
Not that I don't agree with @MPU, as that really does make sense...
But I'm with @ctmullins on this one.
But I'm with @ctmullins on this one.
My wood is ready to go and nicely displayed awaiting a photograph with it's Winter Build Off signage. 
Templates, jigs and fixtures are in the works...
Templates, jigs and fixtures are in the works...
Trying... hard... to resist... "That's what she said" joke...My wood is ready to go and nicely displayed awaiting a photograph with it's Winter Build Off signage.
Templates, jigs and fixtures are in the works...
Trying... hard... to resist... "That's what she said" joke...
well heck we aren't that far apart. Here is a price sheet from two within fair driving distance of me, one in up by Carpentersvills and the other is in Crown Point IN:
East Dundee:
Pennsylvania Red Cherry: 4/4 = $4.25 | 6/4 = $5.25 | 8/4 = $5.75
Sapele Mahogany: 4/4 = $5.85 | 6/4 & 8/4 = $6.25 | 12/4 = $8.00
Sapele Shorts under 30” = $5.00 per bdft!
Black Walnut: 4/4 Premium = $9.75 | 6/4 Premium = $10.40
8/4 Premium = $10.40 | 12/4: = $12.75 All Wide &Clear!
White Hard Maple: 4/4 = $3.95 | 6/4 = $4.95 | 8/4 $5.70 | 12/4 $6.75
The 4/4 through 8/4 are rough sawn, nice and thick!
Natural Hard Maple: 6/4 = $4.50
White Ash: 4/4 = $3.25 6/4 = $3.90 8/4 = $4.10 12/4 = $5.70
White Oak: 4/4 $4.25 | 6/4 $5.75 | 8/4 $7.30 Nice, clear and wide!
African Mahogany: 4/4 $6.95 | 6/4 $7.00 | 8/4 $7.20 Clear and wide!
Purpleheart: 4/4 $9.50 | 8/4 – 10/4 $9.85 Nice Boards ☺
Poplar: 4/4 $2.35
Brown Maple: 4/4 $3.75
Crown Point:
Barnwood-
1" thick of pine and oak in various widths ($5 bd/ft)
2" thick pine and oak in various widths ($5 bd/ft)
Red and white barnwood siding ($3.25 lin/ft)
11"W x 1.25"T various lengths cargo flooring ($25 lin/ft)
6x6 oak beams ($15 lin/ft)
6x6 pine beams ($15 lin/ft)
8x8 pine beams ($26 lin/ft)
Hardwood lumber in 8'-9' lengths-
African Mahogany; 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 8/4 in 8'-10' lengths ($5 bd/ft)
Afromosia; 4/4 ($6 bd/ft)
Cedar; 4/4 ($2 bd/ft)
Cherry; 4/4, 6/4 ($4.25 bd/ft)
Hickory; 4/4 ($2 bd/ft)
Quartersawn White Oak; 4/4, 6/4, 8/4 ($4 bd/ft)
Walnut; 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4 ($5 bd/ft)
White Hard Maple; 4/4 ($3 bd/ft)
White Oak; 4/4, 6/4 ($2.50 bd/ft)
Zebrawood; 8/4 ($5 bd/ft)
Be happy to meet face to face with you but I should check these out first. Unless you find yourself down here pretty often.
