Shopsmith Forums

How far will I drive to get top choice lumber? Right now, this bar is set at five hours, round trip. These boards came from State College, PA before I ascertained them. Well folks, can you name the species of this wonderful wood?

Clues: heavy, tight & straight grain.

It looks a little like QS White Oak, for a guess.

I don't know. As long as I have been doing wood working, I am not good at species identification.

After driving for 5 hours to get this load home, I hope you got a lot more than what is pictured here. If not, those are expensive planks.

Run a couple of them thru the surface planer and then give us another look-see.

I'm one of those old fogies who hates driving, so my limit is about 10 miles. I have been successful getting good deals close to home, so I don't want to go farther.
A couple of years ago I found a good deal but it was 100 miles away. I contacted the guy anyway and asked about shipping it. We decided that the expense would be too much, but he mentioned that he had relatives in my town and would be coming my way in a week to visit them. I agreed to give him $20 to deliver it. We both won. I got it here cheap and he got a little gas money.

Nope, 9 lengths of boards and that right there is Mahogany!

Wow! Wood must be real dear where you live.

Anything other than oak, walnut, cherry and sometimes maple, is TOUGH to get. Or maybe I just don't have quality contacts.

I consider Mahogany, to be an exotic and guess what fellows, I did not pay one red cent, cept for the drive, for this wood!

beeg wrote:Have a look see here.

http://www.woodfinder.com/

You guys have no idea .....

Using woodfinders for mahogany:

Alpine Builders Supply Company, Inc. Sante Fe NM (190 miles)
Woodworkers Source - Store #2 Tucson AZ (216 miles)
Woodcraft - Tucson, AZ Tucson AZ (229 miles)
Timber Hardwoods/Timber Woodworking Machinery LLC Mesa AZ (261 miles)
Woodcraft - Chandler/Phoenix, AZ Chandler AZ (263 miles)
Woodworkers Source - Store #1 Tempe AZ (269 miles)
Woodworkers Source - Store #3 Phoenix AZ (284 miles)
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware #18 Phoenix AZ (284 miles)
Acacia Hardwoods Lubbock TX (306 miles)
Woodcraft - Colorado Springs, CO Colorado Springs CO (422 miles)

But don't feel sorry for me, I like it here ....

rjent wrote:

beeg wrote:Have a look see here.

http://www.woodfinder.com/

You guys have no idea .....

Using woodfinders for mahogany:

Alpine Builders Supply Company, Inc. Sante Fe NM (190 miles)
Woodworkers Source - Store #2 Tucson AZ (216 miles)
Woodcraft - Tucson, AZ Tucson AZ (229 miles)
Timber Hardwoods/Timber Woodworking Machinery LLC Mesa AZ (261 miles)
Woodcraft - Chandler/Phoenix, AZ Chandler AZ (263 miles)
Woodworkers Source - Store #1 Tempe AZ (269 miles)
Woodworkers Source - Store #3 Phoenix AZ (284 miles)
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware #18 Phoenix AZ (284 miles)
Acacia Hardwoods Lubbock TX (306 miles)
Woodcraft - Colorado Springs, CO Colorado Springs CO (422 miles)

But don't feel sorry for me, I like it here ....

Have you checked with any of these companies on shipping charges? Do you know any local truckers that make runs to any of these cities? Some return home empty or lightly loaded and can bring some wood back for you. Any cabinet shops in your area? Convince them you are not their competition and many will include your wood needs in their regular order. Some may want to order it and sell it to you. It is all about networking and finding people that are in woodworking or are sympathetic to hobby wood workers.