Replies

1. 
   johnhardy | Dec 10, 2005 03:13am | #1

   Most mills, I think, sell wood that is still green. You'd have to season it (air dry it) or kiln dry it yourself. Some mills may offer kiln drying as a service ... I don't know.

   But most large cities have lots of hardwood dealers. Here in Los Angeles there are several, and the prices are not bad. Some have wood that is S2S or S4S, and they charge higher prices. Some, like Bohnhoff lumber, have stacks and stacks of lumber that is either rough or skip planed, which you can pick through. I've gotten some fabulous lumber buying it that way. Look around, and I'm sure Philadelphia has dealers that would carry exactly what you want.

   John

2. 
   PaDutchman | Dec 10, 2005 03:45am | #2

   Bobby Jax;

    

         You're about 1 hours drive from this supplier. http://www.groffslumber.com/

   Located in Quarryville, just south of Lancaster, Pa. Excellent selection, reasonable prices, no minimum, and widely respected for the quality of their lumber.

         Best of luck!

   Scott

3. 
   jtandrews | Dec 10, 2005 05:32am | #3

   In addition to Groff & Groff, in Quarryville, there is also Hearne Hardwoods, in Oxford.  I've been going to these places (primarily Hearne) for several years, and the folks are great to deal with.  There is no order too small, and their selection is amazing- domestics and exotics in all thicknesses.

   They can do some milling as well.  They'll plane for you, cut it to length 'for travel', and straight-line your purchase.  I've even gone back to them to have a counter top run through their wide belt sander.

   I travel up from MD, but it's probably not a bad trip from Philadelphia.

   It's always an interesting field trip to pick up wood.  I've got a couple friends that love to visit them just to look at the buildings.

   Hearne's website is http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/

   Good luck.

   Jeff

1. 
   BobbyJax | Jan 01, 2006 02:31am | #4

   Thanks for the tip.  After checking out Hearne's web site I finally made it out there this morning and got some beautiful pieces of cherry for a cradle I'll be making for my niece due in March.  They were very helpful just like you said and the ride was not bad either.  I imagine I'll be getting just about all of my lumber there from now on. 

   Thanks again.

   Have a great New Year!!!

1. 
   jtandrews | Jan 02, 2006 04:34am | #6

   Glad to hear everything worked out well.  Those folks can take great care of you.  And, with the selection they have, there is no need to go too far to find hardwoods.  Their mill is about twenty minutes from my home.  As long as they are in business, I will never stock hardwoods at my home shop.

   Did you get a chance to see the big saw?  They have pics on their website, but there is nothing like seeing it first hand.  We usually make it part of the trip.

   FWIW, I have a friend that scavenged an old cherry tree off an island.  After floating it to my marina, he found someone to trailer it up to Hearne.  He met the sawyer on a Saturday morning, and for less than $200 (and two hours sawing) he had it milled to his specs.  So you can do some of what BobbyJax is talking about.  You just need to be able to transport it.  I haven't found anyone with a travelling mill in my area (NE Maryland) yet.  I'd be interested of anyone knows of one.

   Good luck.Jeff

    

    

4. 
   Hairface | Jan 01, 2006 09:00pm | #5

   Sounds like you found  a solution , with the lumber purchase.

   Don't your area have someone that has portable saw mills. I live in Michigan's lower mid area. I sometimes find someone that is wanting a tree removed and after it's down I have it milled to my specks.  Run a metal detector over them first ,then air dry it my self, the reason I have stopped buying lumbers from hobby stores and their help that don't have enough experience working with wood and can destroy a good board, They try to plain to much off at a time and don't watch what direction the grain is.  I some time have to resort to purching lumber from local places

   Professional Furniture builder, G . R , MI

   Building Furniture to become heirlooms

5. 
   Wannabee | Jan 03, 2006 02:08am | #7

   If Carlisle is close enough you can try this guy: http://www.woodplanet.com/main/buying/itemsforsale.cfm?whereto=ind&itid=9106

   He is a small mill that gets most of his trees from his job as at a tree service. Has some pretty nice stuff and the prices are pretty good. You can get it green, AD or KD. Also that site in general has quite a few PA sellers.