Where to Buy Quality Wood for Your Next Woodworking Project

Dovetailed joint

Poor quality lumber leads to poor results, no matter how good your tools are. That's why it pays to know where to buy quality wood for your next woodworking project.

One of the first places to look online is a website called Wood Finder: https://www.woodfinder.com/

You can use Wood Finder to find local sources for lumber, wood specialties, sawmill services, veneer, and more. Search by the type of wood you want for your router table or other project, enter your zip code, and it lists suppliers near you.

Here are some additional options for you to consider.

#1. Craigslist

The materials section on Craigslist sometimes lists good hardwood, leftover project stock and even whole logs. What you'll find depends heavily on where you live, so check often.

#2. Your Local Mill

Many communities have a small local sawmill. Buying direct often costs less than buying at a big retailer, and you can choose your boards.

There are two caveats. Mill lumber usually comes rough, so you'll need a good planer and a jointer to flatten and square it.

It may also be green or only air-dried. Air drying typically brings lumber down to about 14 to 19 percent moisture, while furniture for a heated home needs wood kiln-dried to roughly 6 to 8 percent. Ask how the wood was dried.

#3. Local Lumber Yard

Independent lumberyards may cost a little more than big-box stores, but they usually carry better hardwoods and staff who know their stock.

Some yards store wood outdoors or in open sheds, so check boards for warping, checks and moisture. If you want to learn how to pick boards at the yard, this guide walks you through it.

http://woodtreks.com/how-to-evaluate-and-select-lumber-from-a-lumberyard/291/

#4. Tree Service or Landscaping Companies

Tree services and landscapers often have to dispose of logs, which frequently go through a chipper. If you can haul logs away and have them sawn, you can get good wood cheaply.

Expect to dry this wood yourself before using it for indoor projects. Thicker boards take much longer to air dry than 1-inch boards.

Urban trees are also more likely than forest trees to hide nails or fence wire. Run a metal detector over logs before sawing them to protect your blades.