Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 16, 2009 05:25am | #1

   Try checking http://www.woodfinder.com

   Of course, if you go to the City, there is Rosenzweig Lumber in the Bronx. 

2. 
   forestgirl | May 16, 2009 06:04am | #2

   Charlie, congrats on getting your stable of tools together!  The best way to get a quick, on-target response is to be specific in the title of your post.  For instance:  Hardwoods in Suffolk Cty NY?? (assuming that's not too many letters!).  That title will grab anyone here who's nearby.

   Woodfinder is a nice resource, but might miss a good bet.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
3. 
   bones | May 16, 2009 06:33am | #3

   Someone else suggested woodfinder.  Another option is to look for sawmils in your area.  You could also contact woodmiszer and findout who the local woodmiser sawmill owners are.  They could help as well. 

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
4. 
   RMillard | May 16, 2009 02:15pm | #4

   Charlie,

   I get nearly all my wood from Groff and Groff lumber. They advertise in Fine Woodworking. I have been completely satisfied with every board I have gotten from them, and their service and prices can't be beat.

   Rob Millard
   http://www.americanfederalperiod.com

1. 
   FrankDrackman | May 19, 2009 12:52am | #9

   "I get nearly all my wood from Groff and Groff lumber. They advertise in Fine Woodworking. I have been completely satisfied with every board I have gotten from them, and their service and prices can't be beat."

   Rob gives good advise.  I split my time between east & west coasts.  When I am on the west coast I order a lot of my wood from Groff & Groff.  Even with the shipping I am increasingly finding it a much better value that purchasing from local dealers.

   The yield is much higher, I can get grain/color matched,  and I can get wider boards from Groff & Groff.

   I should say that I work mostly in cherry & maple.

5. 
   frenchy | May 17, 2009 05:00am | #5

   It's a matter of how much wood and if you like to buy it at a low cost or are willing to pay for  a lot of markup..

     By the time wood is sold at a lumberyard or some other retail shop it's likely had as many as 10 markups.. Wood I can buy for .20 a bd. ft.  might retail out at $4.50 bd.ft.

     IF you buy wood at a sawmill you can also over pay for it as well. 

    However if you buy enough wood from a sawmill the price drops greatly..Plus the chance to get unique bargins..

     Sawmill vary from semi retail outlets to  mills that sell to Farmers, pallet plants, trailer mfgs.  and railroad ties.    That's where you find really modest pries.

    Plus really great deals.. I once bought 1200 bd.ft. of fiddleback maple, some fantastic stuff like I've seen offered for sale for $450.00 a bd.ft.

    I only paid ten cents a bd.ft. for it.   Yep a dime!

     Now to be fair it had sit out in the weather for over a year and looked terrible there was even some mold growing on some of it but I still got 1200 bd.ft. of it for $120

     I also get the thins.. you see mother nature doesn't grow her trees to exact inch  sizes there are almost  always some thinner boards that are less than an inch thick that normally get discarded.    Since they are going to be discarded they are sold for the same price as shredded wood. $20.00 a pickup load..  That's about 1000 bd.ft.  which works out to be 2 cents a bd.ft.    Now you have to run it through the planner a few extra times to get it down to 3/4 inch or 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch thick pieces..  but at that cost?  who cares? 

    In additon burls and other wood with character  have no real value to sawmills like this because they sell Graded wood and burls etc.. grade very poorly.

     They once got a giant white oak that was solid burl.  they made a few cuts and realized it was all burlk and pulled it off to discard it.  I got it from them out of their discard pile.. I have 9 10 foot long 6x6  timbers that are all burl, and 917 bd.ft. of planks 22 inches wide 10 feet long solid burl. 

     40 cents a bd.ft.

     My sister top flooring is made of ash that cost 15 cents a bd.ft.  3000 bd.ft. of 5/4 ash for 15 cents..  

     My subfloor and joists are made with Tamarack for 20 cents.. a bd.ft.   and the ultimate,  Most of the black walnut I've purchsed for my home, well over 10,000 bd.ft.  cost me 17 cents a bd.ft. 

     So if you want a few boards plan on buying them at retail prices.. if you want to inventory enough wood so you can do all the projects you have in mind look for the right sawmill. 

    

6. 
   SawdustSteve | May 18, 2009 05:30pm | #6

   Hi Charlie.... Welcome to the world of woodworking, and welcome to Knotts. Where in Suffolk are you? A bunch of the local guys go to J & A near McArthur Airport. There's another dealer I've never tried in Huntington. go to http://www.liwoodworkers.org. We meet in Smithtown the first Wed. of the month. Join us.
   SawdustSteve East Northport

1. 
   charliec34 | May 18, 2009 11:49pm | #7

   Thanks for the info, that was exactly what I was looking for. Do you have the address of J & A? I live in Port Jefferson. Thanks again Steve.

1. 
   SawdustSteve | May 19, 2009 12:44am | #8

   Here's two 'good guys'....J & A (631) 585-5057 and Roberts Plywood (631) 586-7700.Both are reliable dealers. Roberts, as their name implies, carries all sorts of plywood in different thicknesses and surfaces along with a varying selection of hardwoods. The only slight problem with dealing with them is they will not cut sheets of plywoof for you. You must have the ability to haul 4 x 8 sheets. If you need further info or help, contact me at [email protected]SawdustSteve