Can anyone recommend some good lumber yards in the Washington DC area? I’m going there next month and will have some spare time and would like to check out what’s available. Domestics or exotics, either is fine, just looking for an overwhelming selection, aisle after aisle of outstanding lumber . . .
Dan
Replies
I used to live and work in the area and traded a good bit at a place that I think was called Colonial Hardwoods in Springfield Va. Had a small retail store (for the tools and books) and a large warehouse for the woods. I used to love to go there and just walk around the woods and imagine the possibilities.
Its a little off the beaten path, but I think woth it. This is not a discount house, but you know the old saying "You get what you pay for"
http://www.herbinehardwood.com/contact-us.htm
Rick Herbine has been great to deal with. Not far from DC. Bill Lindau
Am also remembering Smoot Lumber Co in Alexandria which is more of a builders suplly house, but also a custom millworks and roughsawn lumber sales.
I even travelled two hours to Winchester Va to visit Moxon Timber, an importer and seller of woods.
Hope these help.
jr,
Last I heard, Moxon had gone to wholesale only, no walk in sales now. Too bad, as it was an interesting place to visit. Ever been to Allied Wood Products in Winchester? Think it was out on North 11.
Regards,
Ray
Northland Forest Products in Manassas is very reliable with good selection and competitve prices http://www.northlandforest.com/manassas.shtml
Vienna Hardwoods has an eclectic selection with decent prices. You have to dig through as its not as neatly organized as Northland http://www.viennahardwood.com/
And this place a little out from DC in Hagerstown I've been anxious to go see is a mill run by local Mennonites:
14464 Hicksville RoadClear Spring, MD 21722-1240(301) 842-3474 (but don't expect an answer)0700-1700 MTuWF, 0700-1200 Sa
There is also Cave Town Lumber in Smithburg, Maryland. They have been around about 150 years and any kind of mill work you need, they can come up and make from collection of knifes. Also pretty good about hardwood etc. Hardwoods Inc. in Frederick has all kind of exotics and is a little easier to find then going over the mountain to Smithburg. I would never go across the river to Virginia. As H.L. Menkin, there is no civilization north of the Mason-Dixon line or south of the Potomac. Besides, I get lost the traffic every time I go to Northern Virginia.Dan Carroll
Two years ago, my wife had a business trip to Baltimore, and I went along for the ride. While she spent endless hours gazing at PowerPoint Presentations, I took a day and toured western Pa. for hardwood suppliers.
If you've got the time, get directions from mapquest, and go to Hearne Hardwoods. It will be a truly spiritual experience. They have (in my opinion) the finest selection of figured hardwoods in the eastern half of the USA. Their website will give you tiny clues to the wonderful sights to be seen there. Quilted maple, Koa burls, things you might never see again in your life.
And if you can make a full-day trip, you can include Groff and Groff lumber too. Also well worth the trip.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Wow! Thanks everyone, those are some great suggestions.
Dan
Also have been to Groff and Groff. Worth the trip as suggested, but that will consume your day.. I spent so much time there, I didnt get home to Fairfax untill 9:30 pm. Beautiful countryside, mind the horse and buggies, give 'em right of way.
jr,
I live in Burke, which is not far from Fairfax. Let me know if you ever want to meet and trade some woodworking lies. I am a serious hobbyist, and am a member of the Washington Woodworkers Guild. If you are interested in meeting more woodworkers, I'd recommend it. They meet on evening of the third Thursday of each month. Mostly I do casework in making furniture. All of my stuff goes to my grown kids, who luckily love the stuff. I also do painting (Bauernmalerei and Rosemaling) and carving. Latest interest is in researching how the early German, Swiss and Scandinavian Chip Carvers did their work on buildings and on large heavy furniture. Modern chip carving knives just cant hack the big heavy stuff. Anyway, I am always interested in meeting other woodworkers. I find that I can steal more good ideas than I can generate. Of course, you are more than welcome to steal any of my ideas that you think are good. MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel
Thanks for the invite but I am based In NC now, finally having escaped the beltway
jr
In Annapolis there is Exotic Lumber.
http://www.exoticlumberinc.com/
There is also a guy I buy from in Keymar Md, north of Baltimore,
does his own sawing and drying. Has some interesting species like
Osage Orange and very good prices. He is also a great cabinetmaker.
If you want his info just ask and I will dig it up.
Tom
You Don't Want to Know.
You Aren't Going to Know.
exotic has a location in gaithersburg too. there is also a place in frederick, forget the name. i go to groff and groff on my way back from philly trips for work. beautiful drive.Gaithersburg: 7537 Rickenbacker Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 tel: 240.632.038
I'll be in downtown DC. Is it faster to drive to Gathersburg or to Annapolis? Or is the selection in one of the Exotic Lumber locations a lot better than the other?Dan
GaithersburgExpert since 10 am.
Just email exotic lumber and ask about the different locations.
the guy who started it is Bill West, the first store was in annapolis and thats where he usually is.Really nice guy too.Good luck and let us know about your visit.TomYou Don't Know.
You Don't Want to Know.
You Aren't Going to Know.
Depends on where you are in D.C. and time of day. Frankly traffic in D.C. is some of the worst in the country if not world. Gaithersburg is up the I-270 corridor and Annapolis is Rt 50 or Rt 95. BOth are community routes and can be difficult. Fredrick is beyond Gaithersburg up I-270. Until November I made the drive every day to Bethesda from just north of Frederick to work and it could take any where from 1 hour to 2.5 hours each way for a 43 mile drive. Now I have a 15 mile commute up U.S. 15 toward Gettysburg and life is good.Dan Carroll
In the same general direction but a little bit closer than Cavetown is Ingall's Lumber (in Middletown, Md) and Hardwoods, Inc. (in Frederick, Md with a website at http://www.hardwoodsincorporated.com).
I live south of DC and I found a great little lumber yard that mills their own lumber in addition to buying wholesale. Maryland Select Hardwoods, just outside La Plata, MD. I've been to many of the lumberyards mentioned, but none of them close to the prices I've found at MSH. I found them on http://www.woodfinder.com which might also help you with your search. Good luck. Bring a GPS and prepare for traffic hell.
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