Where to Buy Wood for Woodworking - Your Local Shops Aren't Always the Answer
1. Whether you find yourself as a seasoned wood worker
and just starting out, there's always the question of where
to buy wood for woodworking projects. The more familiar
stores such as Lowes or Home Depot carry lumber that is
most commonly used but fails to carry most varieties
often sought to be used. If this is the case, you can always
look online for lumber liquidators also. While this is a
good and positive source, you also have to deal with the
added cost of shipping fees.
2. Before you decide to go out into the world of lumber
purchasing, you need to understand a few things about
the different types of wood. You will find (2) two main
categories of wood; Softwoods and Hardwoods. When
considering the softwoods categories, understand that this
type of wood is generally used by construction industries
with the purpose of framing and interior trimming. A few
examples of softwoods include your
cedar, redwoods, fir, and pines.
3. The hardwood is the more durable of the two and is often
the preferred choice when building furniture, cabinets and
flooring. In the hardwood category you'll find
maples, birches, mahogany, cherry, oak, and walnut.
Also, when consider hardwood and softwood; understand
that these direct terms do not refer to the hardness of the
wood. Hardwood trees have broad leaves and are
deciduous. These types of trees usually lose their leaves in
the winter. Softwoods keep their leaves year around and
are evergreens.
4. The reason hardwood is preferred for furniture is because
they offer a large range of textures and colors than the
softwoods do. Hardwood has two types of classifications
which are domestic (U.S. grown) and exotic (Trees from
around the world.) You'll also want to consider the grade
of the wood when deciding where to buy wood for
woodworking. The grade is a rating that refers to the
number of the defects found in the wood. If you're
interested in building furniture building, look for either
first or second grade wood. The defects in these grades are
not very noticeable. In case you find yourself needing to
purchase your lumber from the internet, below is a list
that has been compiled and put together. It contains the
best lumber companies that we have found:
5. Woodcraft Supply: This company is one of the oldest and
also largest suppliers of wood and woodworking supplies
in the U.S. Woodcraft Supply currently has more than (70)
seventy retail stores in major areas and distributes
approximately 2 million catalogs each year. This
company, also establish in 1928 has never been in danger
of being shut down. It also offers a good selection of
domestic and exotic hardwoods as well as stock pieces and
veneers for your projects.
6. Rockler: This Company actually began as a mail order
business in 1954. In 1978, it started to open retail stores.
Today, there are (30) thirty Rockley Woodworking and
Hardware Stores located throughout the U.S. It also stocks
many varieties of wood to help with your projects.
7. Woodworkers Source: Established in 1978, this family-run
business has (3) three retail locations in Arizona. It
currently offers more than 100 options of wood to choose
from and you'll also find valuable information for any
product you're considering. If that isn't enough, they also
offer phone support.
8. Frank Paxton Lumber Company- This
Company, established in 1914, offers a huge supply of
wood for both domestic and exotic options. They have
retail stores in Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas
City, and San Antonio and do a lot of work with
businesses.