Sources for rough lumber?

[alcarey]

Hi all,

I've been lurking for several months, learning lots. Thanks to everyone for your willingness to help each other.

I've recently upgraded my shop with a Delta 13" planer and old Craftsman 6" jointer. The immediate benefit is the ability to square up lumber, but I also keep seeing people say I can now buy "rough cut" lumber and save money.

Where do I look for this stuff? I have a plan to make a writing desk for my mother out of cherry and would like to save whatever I can on materials.

Thanks in advance...

Al

btw- I bought the last BT3100 I could find in Southern NH about 3 months ago, thanks to this forum.

[jarhead]

Woodfinder

Al,
Try locating a local lumberyard using Woodfinder or the Yellow Pages.

[BrazosJake]

Where ya located?

Woodweb.com also has a sawmill locator, I used it to find a mill in my area.

Pull out the yellow pages, turn to hardwood or lumber, and start callin. If they don't sell hardwood retail, ask if they know someone who does. That's how I found most of my local sources.

If you're in the southern U.S., try hoganhardwoods.com.

[jnesmith]

Does anyone ever have any luck with woodfinder? I keep seeing it recommended. For me, it lists the closest source as 113 miles away. It does not include any of the half dozen options that are within 40 miles.

[LCHIEN]

If you are in a city of fair size, One way is to go to the local yellow pages.
Look under lumber. Then scan all the ads for the key words "Hardwood lumber". All the other guys sell mostly construction lumber (softwood pine for framing and such).

A hardwood lumber dealer will typically have varieties of hardwoods.
The one I use has some racks near the front of the store, with popular hardwoods planed all four sides (S4S) and cut to dimensional lumber sizes - these are aimed at the newbies and cost a lot, sold by the linear foot.
In the back they have huge racks of all sorts of lumber sorted by name alphabetically. Each bin may have wood of assorted sizes and widths, typcially there will be several of one or more sized planks with odd widths, 8-ft lengths and thickness from 3/4 to 2+ inches. These are all rough (usually quite dirty) and sold by the BF. many are quite warped.
It can be very discouraging when they are so dirty you cant tell what the grain is going to be like. Also not too well lit - I think next time I'll bring a flashlight!

There was also a short rack of cutoffs of various species, labelled and with very random widths, lengths, thicknesses and degree of finishing (most planed at least 2S) and lengths between 6" and 4 ft.

The other problem with the hardware lumber stores is that they have short hours, almost like banker's hours. Most seem to be open 8-5 M-F and 9-12 on Saturdays
which doesn't give me much chance to visit as I work 8-5 weekdays and have a scheduled activity every saturday morning.

[Russianwolf]

Does anyone ever have any luck with woodfinder? I keep seeing it recommended. For me, it lists the closest source as 113 miles away. It does not include any of the half dozen options that are within 40 miles.

I've had good luck with it. When I was in centerville it led me to a place 5 miles from home that wasn't in the phone book. since then it's led me to the mill I work with in PA that has outrageously low prices. 60 miles and well worth it.

that being said, it is only as good as the suppliers that register with it, just like the yellow pages, just like woodweb, and any other form of advertising. Some of the places I've found have been by word of mouth (amish mills) which isn't really any more reliable in my opinion.

[final_t]

Does anyone ever have any luck with woodfinder? I keep seeing it recommended. For me, it lists the closest source as 113 miles away. It does not include any of the half dozen options that are within 40 miles.

No. Which is one of the reasons wikiwood.com was created (see sig).

Also see as per other replies your local phone book or something like iPlease.com which can do a regional search. However, I've found both to be lousy for the Columbus area because they both refer to either sawmill/suppliers that are out of business, or worse, places that will NOT sell to the general public.

Try talking to local schools that offer woodshop and see if they know of any.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Well partner, if u lived in northern NY, parts of PA or Ohio u could get tons of r/s from the Amish. Up here in St. Lawrence county (NY) seems like evry other Amish starts up a saw mill. They still use a HUGH 3 or 4 foot round saw; do a pretty good jog of sawing. Some are better than others but with the proper tools in ur shop u can correct sloppy sawing and its CHEAP. Last time I bought some paid about 40 to 50 cents a running foot for pine.

[Wood_workur]

Does anyone ever have any luck with woodfinder? I keep seeing it recommended. For me, it lists the closest source as 113 miles away. It does not include any of the half dozen options that are within 40 miles.

most companies dont list them selves. Try telling them about it, they might look into it. That is why I searched using woodnet forums.

[Harry Slyde]

Hi Al. I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I, too, have been a fan of this site and also looking for lumber. I have noticed there are alot of members from Ohio. I live down the street from Rockler in Cleveland. Do any of the N.E. Ohio members have any recommendations for me as well? My search through the Yellow Pages has been less than pleasant. Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys.

[cbrown]

Assuming that alcarey is in NH where he got his BT, he might try
http://www.highlandhardwoods.com/
which is mentioned in this thread:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=21678

--------
Christopher

[alcarey]

Thanks for the input, everybody. Looks like I'll be checking out Highland Hardwoods real soon- that's a new one to me, they're not in my Yellow Pages. I'm in Manchester NH, so it's only a 20-30 minute drive.

Thanks again,
Al