Replies

1. 
   Patto | May 04, 2007 06:21am | #1

   Hi,

   I am a long way from CA, but my primary source is a local sawmill. He probably recovers about 50% from each log if he is lucky. Lots of the rest is sawdust, but the ends and edges of many logs come off with a chainsaw before the go near the mill. These can be turned and cost little, particularly if you pitch in with tidying up his yard at the same time.

   Dave

2. 
   ring | May 04, 2007 12:11pm | #2

   I'm a long long way from you so I can't help personally. But I can tell you that 2 turners get cutoffs from our shop - 18"to 24" pieces of walnut, wenge, padauk, teak, whatever we're working on. I'm happy to give it to someone who uses it, and from time to time I get a bowl or something in return. Find a custom shop near you and make friends with them.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

3. 
   Pippins | May 04, 2007 03:12pm | #3

   jdutta78, join up with one of the local chapters of the AAW:

   http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/members.pl?submit=Chapter+List#CA

   The local turners can give you advice on what is available to you in your area.

   Steve  

1. 
   jdutta78 | May 04, 2007 05:51pm | #4

   thanks dave, david and steve for the inputs.

4. 
   KeithNewton | May 04, 2007 06:09pm | #5

   Go through your yellow pages, and call all of the tree-service guys, and ask them where the haul the trees that they take down. You should be able to get plenty of free wood if you just let them know what you are after.

   If you have not turned anything green yet, you haven't learned the true joy of turning yet.

   When local people find out that I can use their tree, they will often give me a call and offer them to me.

5. 
   frenchy | May 06, 2007 03:56am | #6

   jdutta 78

     start looking for wood in unusual places..If you are making small items look where pallets come in from overseas.. so mighty fine woods are just pallet material.  I've seen mahogany pallets, black walnut pallets and all sorts of wierd and wonderful woods.. Underneath that grey mess is beauty waiting to happen..

     bring a pocket knife and start dumpster diving..

     

    

1. 
   jdutta78 | May 07, 2007 09:15am | #7

   whoa ! didn't know fine woods are also wasted like that. this sure is a crazy land of opportunity ! back in India (my country), we never imagine getting anything good for free or see anything remotely usable lying around, so this is mighty good news for me... thanks a ton.

6. 
   salvaged | May 09, 2007 08:01pm | #8

   Hi all, thought you would be interested in just how much free material one can accumulate, yes it's a sickness.

   See the pictures below. Some of this material comes from cabinet shops, turners(very large, nice pieces), tree felling services, friends(the large black walnut burl), flooring companies and shipping pallets. Some of this is practice material, some just as good if not better than purchased material. My business revolves around reuse so I have to get it when I can.

   The Kitchen Island is made from reclaimed and discarded material. The top is Oak, Redwood Burl, Poplar, Mahogany. Other material used Black Walnut, Maple, Birch ply also reclaimed. Water based finishes.

   I am in the Bay Area as well, get in touch with some local businesses that use wood and I am sure they will have material for you.

   Best Regards
   Salvaged

   
1. 
   jdutta78 | May 10, 2007 01:05am | #9

   my god ! that's some free stuff !

1. 
   frenchy | May 10, 2007 03:39am | #10

   jdutta78,

    nearly every day I haul wood over to a friends house, black walnut, cherry, maple etc..   smallish pieces, big pieces, long, wide, etc.

     The only feature that makes his place attractive is he like to have bonfires and he can burn massive amounts of it..  plus he's willing to let me unload a pickup truck at a time as long as I stack it neatly..

    There is plenty of wood.. free for the taking,, figure out who's a woodaholic and become his friend..

    It's a real problem..

7. 
   TomHigby | May 29, 2007 04:41am | #11

   I don't know what you propose to turn, but high quality ash or hickory can be bought at yard sales in the form of old base-ball bats.  They make fine tool handles and spindles, rarely cost over $i.00.

   Tom