Anyone in Kansas

Click the View ALL in the workshops map and zoom in.

There are lots there.

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

Welcome restowood. I’m in the KC area. I’ve not dabbled in exotics, however, I wouldn’t rule out a mail order on that. I’ve purchased curly maple through the mail and have been pleased. Not really exotic, but that is where I would look.

You might post for the specific wood you need and see if you have a supplier in the group that specializes in the wood. My finding with wood forum members…they have great customer service and won’t likely sell you a bill of goods.

Good luck on your search. Justin

You can get some interesting wood by shopping (carefully) on e-bay.

-- Maplewood, MN

Justin I called some hardwood flooring people in KC that I have a good relationship with and they mentioned a place called Schuttes or something like that. Have you ever dealt with them and know what kind of stuff they have??

-- "Nature provides us with the most beautiful things in this world"

If you’re interested in using reclaimed woods, Elmwood Reclaimed Timber is located in Kansas City, MO. Not really even in Kansas, and not even terribly close, with a three hour drive, but… You might want to check in with Mark DeCou as far as fellow LJ’s go…

The Woodworkers Source might be a good mail order place to check out. I’ve ordered from them before; their shipping is fast and everything is packaged well and their prices aren’t terrible (especially if you don’t have a local source).

If you tweek the word “exotic” to just mean woods you don’t normally see, you might want to try tracking down some local saw mills in your area or see if you can find someone with a portable saw mill who mills and sells lumber. They’re more likely to have woods you might not find at your average lumber yard (like sycamore, hackberry, tulip, mulberry, siberian elm, and figured, spalted or ambrosia maple).

Check your local yellow pages or classified ads. Or you might want to try contacting some of the better-known companies who sell the portable band saw mills and see if they can help you locate people who have purchased them in your area (I know it sounds like a long shot, but I’ve talked to people who have made that work for them – maybe it took a lot of flattery?).

-- Ethan, http://www.merganserwoodworks.com, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/

I started out filling in some locations that were good if you lived in the KC area, then I checked your home page and realized that you live in Wichita. Oops. Not as familiar with that area.

I did a yellow pages search in your area and other than Sutherlands and Lowes, I found this: Wichita Sawmill. May not work for exotic wood, but they may have some great local trees to select from.

-- Happy Ripping!!!

I normally won’t “join” sites unless they support OpenID, but I had to to ask this question.

Where are the “workshop maps”?

-rob
Lawrence, KS

@restowood:

Seeing as you are in Rose Hill, you should have plenty of places in Wichita. I know there is at least one hardwood supplier there.

I go to Winfield annually and pass a sign for hardwood supplier around the oxford area. Never been there, but it would be close. The sign is on 160 west of the interstate.

In NE Kansas, Liberty Hardwoods is what many suppliers use. A have a standing arrangement with one of the cabinet makers that he will just add my orders to his as long as I can work on his delivery schedule.

Me? I mostly get my hardwoods from the local woodworking dumpsters.

Restowood – I do purchase from Schutte Lumber. I’ve purchased white and red oak, although I did walk through the place and they have a wide variety of wood. Give them a call and they may in fact have what you need. You can actually walk through the showroom and pick through for the wood you want. I think they may be a touch higher price, but you leave with the best of the lot. Justin

robdew the place you are speaking of is where I have been getting red and white oak from, not 100% satisfied with their selection if you want more info on them I will pass it along to you. Thanks

-- "Nature provides us with the most beautiful things in this world"

Unfortunetly the hardwood supplier you mentioned in Oxford is having their going out of business sale right now and will be closing their doors on March 31.

There has been a rumor of someone coming in and buying the place and re-opening, but I haven’t heard that confirmed yet.

You might check with the Wood Shop on Seneca. They maybe able to help you out as well.

There are a couple more North of Wichita, but I’ll have to look up the names again and let you know.

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Unfortunately? Sounds like an opportunity to maybe get some lumber at a better price!

(Sorry, trying to look at the bright side of things…)

-- Ethan, http://www.merganserwoodworks.com, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/