source for wood

[rickm]

ok, I dont want to be repetitive. there have been lots of posts on where to buy wood and most involve buying basswood. I am hoping someone knows of a website where one can pick from various woods, like poplar or even some exotic stuff, and it has a picture and you click on it and order yr wood. I am pretty good with internet searching but cant find anything.

[mobjack68]

Hey Rick, my wife was yakkin in my good ear the other day about my wood pile and asking what I was going to do with all of it. So I got to thinking, what if I cut this stuff into carving blocks and offered it for sale....So here I am, I have wood and am ready to cut, you have a desire to try some different wood....

What do I need to do??? How can we make this work???
talk to me about sizes???

your turn...

[Claude]

Rick:
You didn't mention where you're located, so that makes it a bit more difficult. Here's the one I buy wood from (other than basswood): Colonial Hardwoods This store is located in Springfield, VA.

Claude

[rickm]

well Im located west of chicago. Mobjack, well right now Im looking for stuff with pretty grain, like a poplar, as far as sizes, almost any form of chunks will do, I cant handle anything to big. I am a bit of a scrounger, so Im pretty good at making do and gluing up when I have to. My guess would be pieces around 3"x4" or so and as far as kind of wood, not sure. I have a bunch of oak and apple pieces for firewood, but I want a wood that can be carved and finished and be pretty. make any sense?

[Donna_T]

Rick,
Although not cheap, the Woodcraft stores usually carry a variety of exotic woods in different sizes. They seem to have stores in many major cities.
Donna_T

[Gergie]

Here are some links. My guess is if you contact these people if they don't have what your looking for they may be able to tell you where to get it.. Good luck.

Turning Stock from Wood Workers Source

Texas Woodcrafts - Wood, Lumber, Turning Blanks For Sale

turning wood items - Get great deals on Crafts, Home Garden items on eBay.com!

butternut items - Get great deals on Lumber items on eBay.com!

poplar items - Get great deals on Lumber, sassafras items on eBay.com!

[happyhal]

If you are not afraid of glue ups Home Depot and Lowes has poplar in 1x from 1.5" to 6", and up to I believe 36" long. Hal

[brent]

Try walllumber.com

[jmischel]

rickm: That apple can be carved, and it finishes up really nice.

A quick search reveals Owl Hardwood in Chicago (three locations): Owl Hardwood Lumber Company

There's also Wood World: Home Page

There are Woodcraft stores in Libertyville and Woodridge: Find a Woodcraft Store Near You - Woodcraft.com

When I was in the Phoenix area, I went to Woodworkers Source, which had an incredible array of wood for sale. You can order online from Exotic Hardwood Lumber and Woodworkers Supplies | WoodworkersSource.com.

There are other specialty shops scattered around. You might be able to find something from Woodfinder: Woodfinder :: Find Sources for Hardwood Lumber, Exotic Wood, Veneer, Sawmill Services and Other Woods such as Tonewoods, Recycled Lumber& Salvaged Wood, Carving Stock and Turning Blanks.

Also try Texas Woodcrafts - Wood, Lumber, Turning Blanks For Sale. They have some really nice stuff. Mostly turning blanks, but some of those would be very carveable. I've carved sycamore, which I thought carved very nicely. And mesquite is beautiful, if a little hard. Be careful with the Texas Ebony and the "Bodark". Both are very hard. The eastern red cedar is lovely, carves easily, and smells nice.

A Google search for "exotic hardwood" turns up lots of hits.

[rickm]

u guys are good thanks