Hi Folks,
I’ve got a general inquiry. I just moved from Michigan to Massachusetts and am having a tough time finding good sources for rough sawn lumber. I have a strong preference for a place that’s a sawmill as well because I prefer buying rough lumber by the bole.
If anyone has recommendations for reasonably priced hardwoods (maple, hickory, white oak) within an hour or two of Boston, please post them.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been to Highland Lumber in NH. Pretty decent folk, but I had a very hard time finding a couple of decent pieces of Wenge there. I flipped thru a couple hundred board feet to find two boards that weren’t seriously twisted and free from insect damage. Also, most of what they have is 4/4, and in 8ft lengths. I’d rather get it a bit longer and heavier (8/4 or 10/4). Nevertheless, I’d recommend them. I also have been to Anderson McQuaid in Cambridge. Nice people too. Selection was very limited and the staff didn’t quite know what to make of some of the tropicals they stocked. Prices were … commensurate with housing costs in Boston. I’d go back, but only if I were desparate.
Anyway, thanks for any tips you have to share.
John Feng
P.S. I have an unused, 1 year old Jet 15″ planer for sale. It still has that gooey rust preventative all over it. If you’re near Boston and are interested, send me email at:
Replies
bfeng,
There have been some recent discussions here about wood suppliers in the Ct and Ma area. You can do a search on Knots.
One which I have used but is a little more than 2 hours from Boston is Berkshire Products in Sheffield, Ma in Berkshire County.
http://www.Berkproducts.com
ASK
Thanks to everyone for the helpful pointers.
Berkshire looks like a great place. Reminds me of a small scale version of A&M Wood Specialties (outside of Toronto ... absolutely the best). Prices made my nose bleed (curly maple is 3x what you pay in Michigan), but I guess that's the price for living in the NE.
I've heard good things about New England Hardwoods, but haven't been there yet.
Does anyone know any farmers, or landowners that mill up their downed trees? In Michigan, this was always the best source of great wood.
Thanks again everyone.
I'll post a review of any other places I get to.
John Feng
bfeng7,
There is just an ever so slight difference in soil quality and utility between MA and MI....MI = 100 bushels of corn per acre.....MA = 30 bushels of rocks.....the point being there ain't too much clearing of land going on out here in MA....lol.
A couple of years ago I dropped off my daughter at Kittery, ME shopping (about an hour north of Boston) and wandered up 1A for a bit. I saw a couple of guys in the woods with their stacks of hardwoods and a slicing machine....we talked for a while and he pulled out his price list...about a $1 or 2 a foot depending and less for softwood.
This is the time of year because without the leaves you can see what is happening and find lots of opportunities ...
bfang
Since I am a weekender and at this time build only for family, price if less of a concern to me.
Another thought occures to me.
In northwest Connecticut, Caanan to be exact there is a hardwood flooring manufacturer Tallon Lumber. On Rt 7
They buy their logs locally and mill them into flooring. They have recently added local hardwoods for sale. Rough lumber
860 824-0733
I don't think they have a web site yet
ASK
Bjeng7,
I have just discovered this document on the internet....hope it helps
http://www.state.ma.us/dem/programs/forestry/utilmark/SawmillDirectory2003.pdf
PS. I deleted the attachment(PDF file)...it was too large...
Edited 4/15/2004 3:39 pm ET by BG
Edited 4/15/2004 3:43 pm ET by BG
This place http://wooderylumber.com/ is not a mill but has a decent selection of rough lumber. Lunenburg - within 2 hours of Boston but probably not within 1 hour.
Also try http://www.woodfinder.com - specialized search engine for lumber suppliers.
HTH
Graeme
John,
Higland Hardwoods in Brentwood, New Hampshire sounds likea good place. I have yet to go but it sounds like their selection is very extensive. It is not a saw mill, only a hardwood distributor. http://www.highlandhardwoods.com/
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Looking for a saw mill in CA, same thing.
Will appreciate any help out there.
Willie J. Martins
You'll have much better luck starting your own thread. (sorry I'm in Minnesota can't help) there were several replies in the past for calif.
Hi bfeng7,
There is a place in Brentwood, NH that is called Northland Forest Products, Inc. They are a very big operation but have bins they keep stocked for smaller guys. They literally have 5 or 6 buildings each the size of a HDepot. In the building next to the office they have bins that contain Cherry, Birch, Hard Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, White Ash, Pine, Cypress, Soft Maple, Yellow Poplar, Walnut, Sycamore, Hickory, Mahogany, and Basswood. The prices are the best around. The number is 603-642-3819. I don't believe they carry Wenge but they may be able to get it. They give a 10% discount for Woodworkers guild members or a 5% discount for cash purchases. Make sure you mention your membership before they write out the receipt. Good luck leaving there without buying more wood than you thought. I still have some 5/4 Mahogany boards that are 12-13" wide and 10' long and look great. I also bought some 6/4 x12" x10' Walnut I used to make a bed for a client. Those boards were beautiful. These are just a couple examples.
Bleu
There are more old drunkards than old doctors. Ben Franklin
I can't believe no body has mentioned Downs and Reader as a source of wood in the Boston area...you can spend a whole day going through the choices in their warehouse!!! They are located in Stoughton, MA. They have an amazing selection of both domestic and exotic hardwoods. Very helpful in the service side of things. They sell rough stock but you can have mill work done for an additional cost if you don't have a planer.
Martha
You folks are great! I can hardly believe how many helpful posts there have been.
Talon Lumber (CT)
Northland Forest Products (NH)
both sound like great bets.
I've been to Downs & Reader. I called ahead and were told they had a ton of what I needed in stock. I drove a good 35 miles only to find they had but 50bdft of really rotten stuff in the racks for us small-timers (I was only looking for a hundred bdft). I asked about the "ton" of stock they had ... and was told it was too much trouble for them to bring more of it up from the commercial sheds in the rear. Then I noticed that there was a large pallet of exactly the species they seems short on, near the main door of the DIY shed. I asked, and was told, "oh, um it's still to much trouble to fork-lift it down for you, go elsewhere."
I've been making furniture for 15 years, and have bought from operations large and small. I'm proud to say I'm on friendly terms with every one of them ... except Downs & Reader. They will never ever get my business.
John Feng
WOW! very interesting experience or lack of help that you got from Downes and Reader. I wonder if it has to do with who you happen to be dealing with or something. They got out a pallet of cherry for me from down in back and I was only buying enough for a 42X66 table top. Then the guy went through each board with me helping me move the boards and select the wood. I ended up with beautiful figured cherry. Sorry you did not have a similar experience.
-Martha
ROTFLMHO! Martha, why do you suspect you got such wonderful service and that poor SOB got snubbed. ;-)
so what does ...ROTFLMHO! translate to???
...I don't know bfeng7...but my guess is that I look a damn site better in a skirt than he does!!!! : ) ...atleast I hope!!
-Martha
ROTFLMHO = Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Head Off. ;-)
Years ago my friend Dave, who was quite talented with a needle and thread, had the very same experience at various suppliers of sewing notions (is that the word I want?) that you had at D&R.
You're right, I don't look good in a skirt. My brother in law, who is a scotsman, comes off pretty good.
I'm sure the folks at D&R are fine. I just don't prefer to shop where the place feels like (1) They're doing me a favor (2) They tell me one thing on the phone, and another after I drive 25 miles to get there.
Anyway, other than Wenge, I thought their selection wasn't bad, and if you find what you want at a price that you like, more power to you.
John
Last time I was at Downes & Reader they told me they weren't expecting to refill the retail mahoghany bins anytime soon because it was all going to the comercial side. That, and the fact that most of their prices recently jumped dramatically, has me looking elsewhere...
John,
Try This....
http://www.toolseeker.com/Lumber/Massachusetts.htm
TDF
what price are you selling your planer for? i have had good luck at downes and reader. i do agree that if it is not in the DIY bins they can be cranky about opening a whole new lift of lumber. it is hit or miss depending on the time of day or how busy they are with their commercial business. i would try them again .thanks
Well, when the bin's empty except for 4 twisted board with insect damage, I think it's time to reload. If this is too much trouble for them whent the new pallet is just on the other side of the same shed ... they obviously don't care much about the DIY guy who only wants to spend $500 or $600 bucks. I understand if they want to cater only to the 1000bdft commercial people, but then it's not that DIY friendly, right.
I understand why someone would like D&R if they were close by. No argument there.
The planer? Here's the story. Back in MI, I had access to a commercial shop with a 24" planer. I bought the 15" a bit over a year ago thinking I'd do little stuff at home. Actually, I bought a Unisaw, DJ20 and the Jet planer at the same time. Anyway, I had no occassion to even clean of the shipping protectorant before I move to MA for a new job. Now that I don't have that 24" planer nearby, the 15" isn't big enough for most of my rough lumber. So, I need to sell it and buy a big one. I paid something like $1200 for it (still the going price on the street). Given that it's in never-used condition (with all accessories, extra knife set, documentation, everything but the box), I'd like to get $950 for it. That's 20% less (and no tax) than new. Feel welcome to make an offer.
John
Go to woodfinder.net. I usually go to the Woodery Lumber Co. in Lunenberg. Can email you directions.
Jim
Coventry Woodworking
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