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New to woodworking, need advice

2K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  Nubsnstubs 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi everyone, I am new to woodworking although I am not as familiar with this particular skill as far as actually building things myself, it is in my blood as my late father built the house we lived in until I was three and many of the furniture pieces I've inherited. Anyway, I am looking to have lumber on hand for the simple projects I plan on starting. My family is working at going green so I would prefer to reuse wood. I am in no way looking for a free ride as far as "cheap or free" goes however, we don't have a lot of money to spend on the beautiful reclaimed woods I've seen online. We also live in the desert and any lumber we find out here is either weathered to the point of splitting or such poor quality I can't do anything with it let alone salvage it. Does anyone know of a reputable lumber site I can order from that has reclaimed wood for a fair price? I apologize for the silly question but, it has been my dream to build things that people love and that makes them happy. I appreciate any help given. Hope all is well with everyone.
 
#2 ·
Hi EMS. Welcome to the site. I don't have any suggestions for what you've asked. But, I can tell you what I've found for small projects. When I need small pieces of wood, I swing by a local place that mills mouldings. They let me dig through their "burn pile" where I can usually find what I need as long as I don't need anything longer than 24" or so. It's not exactly recycled but it's wood that would otherwise just be burned or put in a landfill so IMHO it's still a "green" initiative :) I know that a lot of people do the same thing at cabinet shops or furniture makers that are local to them.
 
#3 ·
My usual wood supply places are Houston Hardwood (in Houston) and Dakota Hardwoods in Waco. I'm sure you can order from either. The Houston place is set up so that you roam the stacks of surfaced and unsurfaced and pick what you want. And they have a 'cut-off' area with smaller pieces of many wood types. Probably they are far from you, but I thought I'd mention them. Houston Hardwood has some rather exotic woods.

And, my brother sells reclaimed heart pine and Cypress from old homes built in the back half of the 1800's, if that would interest you. I think you can google him up at 601 Salvage in Natchez, MS.
 
#4 ·
I would agree with the others and look for cutoffs rather than reclaimed if price is a factor. Somehow, "reclaimed" has became another word for overpriced used lumber and it's gotten ridiculous what people are charging for wood with that label nowadays.
 
#5 ·
You can reclaim lumber from yard sale finds, furniture
in dumpsters and so forth. It can be a fair amount
of work to take existing furniture pieces apart for
material, but it's a great way to save money. Everything
to do with woodworking is expensive if you pay retail,
so I've always tried to buy used tools when I could find
what I wanted on the secondhand market.

Be patient, keep your eye open and a pair of gloves
and some demolition tools in your car. A round table
top can be removed from a pedestal base with a screwdriver
usually and after that it's not too hard to break it in
half to stick it in a car trunk. That's just an example
of how I think about salvaging.

Doors can be good sources of wood too.
 
#6 ·
Generally speaking, reclaimed lumber goes for crazy money up to $10 BF around me.

I think you're odds of finding enough in dumpsters, etc. are pretty slim.

One option so look into is finding beams and having them resawed but of course you loose the patina.
 
#7 ·
Reclaimed woods are more difficult to work than new.And as others mentioned will cost you more than new if it's got any kinda value.
Your best hope is to find someone to mentor you or find a group of woodworker that you can hangout with when they meet.
There's lots to learn but you don't have learn the hard way.

Aj
 
#9 ·
Thanks so much for all of the help! You are all awesome! I forgot to mention. I found a brand new, still in box, never used craftsmen miter saw for $60 bucks at a yard sale! This is going to be the best investment I've ever made as I will get a lot of use out of it. I've checked the hardware stores like Home Depot and lowes and craftsmen miter saws were anywhere from 180-200 USD. I am SO EXCITED! I've already started on one project. I'm turning a full sized head and foot board into a bench! I cannot wait! I will post pics of the project soon! Again, thank you for your help. I look forward to posting again soon!
 
#11 ·
Reclaimed woods are more difficult to work than new.And as others mentioned will cost you more than new if it s got any kinda value.
Your best hope is to find someone to mentor you or find a group of woodworker that you can hangout with when they meet.
There s lots to learn but you don t have learn the hard way.

Aj

- Aj2
Thank you so much Aj. You don't know how nice it is to hear that. That means a lot.
 
#13 ·
I don't know where the OP lives, and that may make my suggestion worthless, but look around for fellows with those small sawmills (wood miser type). They may have wood they don't need or want. I used to get a good bit of nice lumber from a friend near where we live. People would bring him logs to saw into planks, but then not show up to pay for it. And, on occasion, I'd tractor over an oak log or cedar log for him to mill. It was pretty cheap. Now my friend has passed away, and my one big nut tree (walnut or butternut, I think) died and fell over. Gotta find another small mill.

Old Friend Pete gave me: walnut, cedar, hackberry, persimmon, pine and mesquite.
 
#17 ·
I would agree with the others and look for cutoffs rather than reclaimed if price is a factor. Somehow, "reclaimed" has became another word for overpriced used lumber and it s gotten ridiculous what people are charging for wood with that label nowadays.

- AZWoody
I agree with you 100%. It's just like tagging the word "vintage" to something. It may not be worth much but the word "vintage" is very attractive.

You know, my dad was amazing and so creative. He could find wood for free by looking through dumpsters or somehow magically finding some great piece of wood just lying around somewhere lol. Idk how he did it but I plan on following in his footsteps.
 
#18 ·
It seems to me buying lumber from a website is counter to your green effort. First it was found somewhere, then packed up and shipped to a new location… Then, packed up and shipped again to you. Is it really any more green than domestic, sustainable hardwoods being purchased, and you don't have to worry about nails and other items riddled in reclaimed stuff.

I'd recommend getting a nice lot of oak, ash, maple or cherry. All great woods, all can be classic to modern/ contemporary based on design, and I believe all can be sustainable produced and replanted, sticker those boards and keep them in a nice dry environment, when you're inspired, bam, you've got a future piece of furniture laying right in that pile!
 
#19 ·
When I was just starting out playing with wood I was a construction sheet metal worker. I got LOTS of free wood from my employer that was used as pallets for the sheet metal they purchased. Those pallets included lots of hardwoods and lots of pine/fir. These were 4"x4" x10' pieces. I learned a lot and made a lot of mistakes using that wood. I now buy my wood, but that was great when I was just starting. You might be able to get some free pallet wood, like I did, at a local sheet metal shop that does commercial/industrial work.
 
#20 ·
Reclaimed lumber certainly isn't "green" if it's being trucked all over the USA. The best bet is to search Craigslist for salvage or find local milling companies that dump offcuts. Use local sources as much as possible.
 
#21 ·
All of you are awesome! I'm getting lots of great info. I've already started on one project. It's a head and footboard that I am turning into a bench. I should post pics but I'm still learning the site. Plus you're talking to a person who isn't very tech savvy lol.
 
#22 · (Edited by Moderator)
Welcome to the forum! Where are you located? That information will generate better replies. You won t want to pay shipping on lumber.

- onoitsmatt
I'll ask also. Where are you located? You did mention you lived in the desert. Here in the states, it's a pretty big region, and they are all over the world. ................... Jerry (in Tucson)
 
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