Wood suppliers

[Dusty Buffalo]

Do most of you use local lumber yards for your wood or do you have a catalog/on-line source?

I can find real basic stuff at Lowe's or HD but I'd like to find some more unusual stuff to work with.

Thanks a ton.

[Old Mooner]

There are a jillion wood suppliers out there. First, I suggest you check out the "Other Great Sites" under "Scrolling Community" on the left side of this page. There are also quite afew others that advertise with SSW. I, personally, use Sloan's Woodshop quite a bit (they are listed). It depends a great deal on what you are looking for in the way of wood. Smaller, finished pieces of hardwood are pretty costly and wood bought by mail costs almost as much in shipping as the wood itself.
Moon

[sheltiecarver]

DB,
I use lots of poplar (and occasionally, birch) from Home Depo, and I'm not (too) shy about picking through the whole stack to find one with cool grain. They are also pretty good about cutting it for me - and allowing me to just buy the part I'm in love with, while there is no cutting at our Lowes. You should also look in your yellow pages, or those of the nearest bigger city, for hardwood. You may find something relatively close. If you don't have resawing or planing capabilities, sometimes they will do that for you, for a price. Nothing like that at HD or Lowes, of course. Also check with places like cabinet shops. I haven't had all that much luck, but some folks get to go through the discard bin for free or very cheap, and get all sorts of cool stuff. Flooring (hardwood) installers might be another source for some fine cutoffs.
If I want thin stock, I order it. The links have all the ones I've tried - they are all pretty reliable. Shipping really drives up the prices, though. I'm trying to use that as justification to get a bigger bandsaw and a planer. So far, it is easier and cheaper to dole it out to the mail order places. I talked to a scroller at a local woodcarving show who got lots of wood on that online auction site by typing in thin wood. She was very satisfied.
Good luck!
Sandy

[Mick Walker]

Kelly, send me a PM or an e-mail and I can send you a list of on line wood suppliers. Mick.

[Jediscroller]

I buy all of my wood at a couple of local lumber yard or Woodcraft. Between them I can get virtually anything I need. I resaw and plane my own so I prefer buying "rough" lumber as it's sooooo much cheaper.

Kevin

[urband]

In the Chicago area try Owl Hardwood

If you live in the Chicago area, especially the western suburbs, Owl Hardwood is the best place to go. They have EVERYTHING! The people there are very helpful, and they are happy to let you browse the aisles for the piece you want.

There are two stores. One is on St Charles Rd at the eastern edge of Lombard. I'm sorry, I don't recall where the other one is. I think it may be in Chicago.

Dan

[Dusty Buffalo]

I'm in Georgia, but will be traveling through Chicago later this summer. I may have to make a side trip just to visit Owl Hardwood.

I'll have to try some of the local lumber yards here in my area. Maybe I'll actually get lucky and find a good one.

Thanks for all the tips.

[lucky788scroller]

Coming north, through Chicago, and shortly after you cross the WI border you will pass Kettle Moraine Hardwoods . They have a huge selection. They also have a website . If its scrollsawing lumber, from where I live, I have one great wood dealer that sells mainly scrollsaw ready woods, and always great quality and prices, Petersons Custom Lumber (they too have a website), plus Kettle Moraine Hardwoods, within 15 to 20 minutes drive. If I go to a radius of about 35 to 40 minutes drive, I get to Badger Hardwoods and a guy that sells thin boards for scrolling, although a bit cheaper then petersons, the quality isnt nearly the same. I guess Im in a good spot as far as wood suppliers goes. dale

[morsewk]

wood supply

owl Lumber has three locations- Lombard, Des Plaines and Oak Lawn. Haven't been there but understand they have a great selection.:

[bearfretworks]

There was a great discussion on this in Wood and Tools section back in December. not quite sure how to post links to "old" threads, but this should get you to it......

http://www.scrollsawer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6210