how to make a smart buy on wood?

Find someone in your area with experience. I am sure that they will gladly offer you insights about acquiring wood. Sawyers with portable sawmills in you area are a great source for good hardwood lumber that will not sink your bank account. Many advertise on Craigslist. If you do a search on Craigslist for the lumber you are looking for, I bet you will find it and pay much less than retail at the hardwood lumber store. I sell a good bit of lumber on Craigslist and I get to meet all kinds of interesting woodworkers.

-- Wood-Mizer LT15

All lumber is good, if only for building a fire to keep warm while you work with better lumber. What do you
want to build with the lumber? If it is a sawhorse then construction lumber is good. If it is a fancy chest,
then color of wood may indicate a preference. Look up and learn about quarter sawn, rift sawn, and plain
sawn wood, the internet has quite a bit on this. Try Roy Underhill’s The Woodwright’s Shop. If you really
want to get into it The US Dept of Agriculture has “The Encyclopedia of Wood”, I picked up a used copy
for less than $10.00 and it has more information than I will ever need. Check the internet for woodworking
clubs in your area. I grew up with a father that had me help build our houses and I am still learning, you
have the right attitude, because you are willing to ask questions. I hope you have as many happy years as
i am having learning the answers.

-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter

Just remem ber that wood from a borg is “squirrely wood”. That means that the squirrels were runnin’ around in it last week. You will have a lot of movement in the wood until it stabilizes. 6 to 8% moisture is good for projects, and won’t suffer a lot of warping.
If you want some good stuff, look up Hogan Hardwood. They have good stuff, and aren’t too far from you. Not cheap, but quality.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

Bigcody,

What area do you live in?

-- Ty, Up in Washington

southeast missouri