Buying Lumber

Lowes and HD are probably the most expensive places to buy wood.

Try http://www.woodfinder.com to find places in your area.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Not only are they pricey but the selection is extremely limited and the quality generally suffers from bows and twists in the way the wood is handled and stored.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

If you have a weekend, Iowa and Wisconsin are gold mines for good lumber, search some sellers on E-bay, most sellers are small lumber mills that you can buy wood from. I usually go down there twice a year and get good deals on wood, and a better selection of sizes.

-- Stuart, North Dakota

Thanks folks, I like the Iowa/Wisc idea for the future. This weekend I’m going to check out “The hardwood connection” in Sycamore Il. Besides the cost and the same samsonite gorrilas working for the big box stores, I hate that some of the wider stuff is edge glued. “solid oak” “may be edgeglued” they might get away with the terminology, but somehow seems misleading.

-- Bob, Yorkville, IL ...The more you know, the more you know you don't know

Check out the Woodworkers Shop in Bloomington and Pekin, IL. They have a great selection and are good to do business with.

-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.

http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

Try this site. 166 miles away from your location. 3hr drive there will be worth it!

Bob, there used to be (may still be there) a sawmill right in downtown Yorkville. He would saw local logs, Lots of Oak & maple, some cherry. I bought quality lumber from them a few years ago. I forget the name, but they were next to the tracks, on the “wrong side” of the tracks. Ask in town , somebody should know.

edit:
I just “googled”sawmill, yorkville and came up with this: Nicholson Logging & Lumber
(630) 553-4566 201 E Van Emmon Rd
Yorkville, IL
If they are gone & you can afford to get 100bf at a time. Heidler Hardwood in Chicago will sell wholesale if you pick it up. Also Raynor& Rinn-Scott in Bedford Park will sell wholesale & possibly deliver if the load is worth $500(I think) Both places are not too far off I55, so it would not be too hard for you to get to.

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com

When I lived in Naperville (western suburbs) there was a place in Lombard called Owl Hardwood Lumber. Google that name and see if they are still in business. They had a full assortment of lumber and supplies.

-- Genius is immediate, but talent takes time.

Owl is still around. Their prices are such that I won’t recomend them to anyone anymore.
$7.76 / bdft for qswo last week is a tad rich for my blood

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com

If you can take a trailer and make the trip worthwhile, Cole Hardwoods in Logansport, Ind (1611 West Market Street, Logansport, IN 46947, Indiana) is a top notice dealer. They have an amazing set up and if you get there when it’s not to busy they’ll give your a tour of their facility. It really is worth the trip.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Hello Fishsomo…have I got the place for you…your getting close if you get to Sycamore IL…I found that place alittle priceeeee…but if you go alittle further on up the road you found gold…look on the map for a small town call ….............its on the tip of my tongue…I’ll have to get back to ya…someone at the door. Blkcherry…..The town is called Kirkland it just a small country town that you can pass if you sneeze but it is just the place to buy lumber….hardwood….when you arrive the mill is on the western side of town on the left it call Kirland Mill…Blkcherry

check out craigslist.org in the for-sale, materials section

welcome to lumberjocks !

-- ..... art for lifes sake

I have to agree with everyone else, big box stores are pricey and the quality is poor. I just bought a little over 100 bf and paid $2.80 bf for quarter sawn white oak. One of the nice things about this mill is I get to hand pick what I want. I can’t help you with supply since this mill is in Northeast Kansas but I think you are on the right track if you are looking to get lumber somwhere besides Lowes.

-- Kip Hiebert

I bought pine studs at Lowes for my barn/shop. I thought it was cheap$. bought extra. Nothing like pine studs and a nail gun.

you Jocks Rock! Thanks for the heads up on the pricing Blackcherry, think I’ll pass right on by to the place you suggest. I’ve tried the Yorkville place, but there was nobody around…maybe closed like another I seen in Oswego?

-- Bob, Yorkville, IL ...The more you know, the more you know you don't know