WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

brief intro and a question

Posts

brief intro and a question

#1

brief intro and a question

Steve S., Coastal Georgia

>Hello everyone,

I've been lurking here off & on for a few months and thought I'd throw in. I'm originally from northern Minnesota. After college and a stint in the Army I returned home for school, only to marry a woman on an Army scholarship program. The Army saw fit to send us down to sweltering Ft. Stewart Georgia last summer, and it looks like we're here to stay at least a couple more years. Sometimes I miss the snow, but mostly not.

I've been into woodworking for about 7 years, with a mix of power and hand tools, but I try to stick to the hand tools if I'm not in a rush to finish something. Screaming routers spraying wood chips and belt sanders kicking out clouds of toxic dust are things I try to avoid if I can, but I do admit they come in handy sometimes.

I've got the usual complement of stanley bench planes, 3 thru 8, mostly picked up through junk shops and auctions/ebay. I don't have any duplicates (unless you count the LN #4) so I don't think you can call me a collecter yet.

I'm pretty much a self taught amateur, learned through books,trial and error, and skulking about forums like this one. I mostly build furniture, stickley/arts & crafts era knockoffs. Boats are my other interest, I've built a couple kayaks and a canoe.

Which brings me to my question: Anyone know of any loca hardwood lumber dealers in the Savannah GA area? I've done the internet Woodfinder thing but the closest to this area is probably a good 3 hrs away which makes for a 6 hr round trip. I'm looking for some quartersawn white oak for a nightstand project and maybe a blanket chest. I guess I could get some stuff shipped but would I'd prefer to be able to preview if I could.

Thanks, Steve

Re: brief intro and a question

#2

Welcome aboard!

Catharine C. Kennedy- Chatham Center, NY

>

Re: brief intro and a question

#3

easy solution and a tip

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>go to a cabinet shop and ask were they get their lumber. If it is obvious that you are not competing with them they should be pleased to give you a source. Military people are quite apt to command special respect in that part of the world so use this advantage if needed. In a city that size there will be more than one good source.

Now, if you buy where the shops buy, you may have to buy AS the shops buy, with the advantage of their likely better price. The "as" means you may have to buy by grade and accept what you get so long as it meets grade. You miss the experience of personally sorting through a retail pile that 10 others have already sorted through, but you should get much cheaper lumber. For example, you might order 100 bd, ft. of 4/4 quartered red oak and they haul it out to your truck with their fork lift. It will probably be available in 1 face and better grade("FAS1F") or select and better(Sel&Btr) or 1 common and better grade("common and better"). Either grade is entirely suitable for what you are making, with the latter significantly cheaper when you can get it.

Re: brief intro and a question

#4

Re: brief intro and a question

R.J.Whelan

>Steve ... good luck with the wood search.

Next time you're making that 6 hr round trip think about me in tiny Bishop, CA: when you're arriving home and getting ready to unload I'm just arriving at the mill - at least I have friends in the area and can do a little visiting before making the return drive (if I leave my house at 6AM, I'm usually home be midnight) ... rj

Re: brief intro and a question

#5

Re: brief intro and a question

Joe Rogers,Northern Virginia

>RJ it sounds like that is one of the many benefits of forsaking corporate America. Are you enjoying the solitude? I bet the trade was worth it;-)Glad you are adding a post now and then.JR

Re: brief intro and a question

#6

Welcome...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Good to have you here. Have you tried the yellow pages for a local hardwood supplier? Perhaps a local lumber yard might carry some hardwoods too. Good luck in your search.

Re: brief intro and a question

#7

Re: Welcome...

Lee Brickman

>Hi Steve... I'm new here, but I use to hang out at Badger Pond a few years back. Glad to see the forum is still alive. As for where to get quarter sawn oak... Good luck, I haven't had much success finding it in the south. I live near Live Oak now (was in Jacksonville for years). Most of us buy from Mcewen Lumber Co. in this area... but I have never seen any quarter sawn oak there. I get mine from a local sawyer with a bandsaw mill and dry it myself. Let us know if you find a good deal!

These numbers may help:

McEwen Lumber Co. (Jacksonville) (904) 783-0170

McEwen Lumber Co. (Charleston) (843) 766-5383

Burt Lumber Co. (GA) (706) 678-1531

Georgia Lumber Co. (800) 995-8627

Glen Oak Lumber & Milling (888) 522-4202

Re: brief intro and a question

#8

Re: Welcome...

Steve S., Coastal Georgia

>Thanks for the replies everyone. I know where there's a cabinet shop outside of town and might swing by there and see what they do.

Jacksonville's 2 hrs away, so at least that's a little closer option. I guess the Midwest had me spoiled a bit, I had no trouble finding oak, cherry, or walnut in MN, seems a little scarce down here!

Steve

Re: brief intro and a question

#9

Re: brief intro and a question

R.J.Whelan

>Joe ... the peace and quiet is great - the long drive to buy supplies is well worth the several months of "low stress" living in between ... rj

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.