Replies

1. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 27, 2005 07:56am | #1

   Hardware-- Cabinetmakers Hardware, 6910 Renwick, 77081. Coastal Fastener Co., address?, Settler's Hardware Co., 1901 West Alabama, 77098. Sunbelt Fasteners, 7115 Ashford, Houston, 770?

   Lumber-- Hardwood Lumber Co., E5-1/2 st., 77007, Mason's Mill & Lumber Co., Tanner, 77041. Houston Hardwoods, 4910 West 34th. St., 77092.

   Polishing Supplies-- Murphy Bros.Paint, 2412 Bissonnet,, 7705, Finisher's Supply, 410 Blue Bell, 77037. 

   Machinery-- Circle Saw Builder's Supply, 2510 Ella Blvd.,77008. The Cutting Edge, address not known, but it's on the eastern side of the Sam Houston Tollway just south of US 59 S West Freeway. Monarch Machinery, 3506 Ben Wilson Street, Victoria, 77901. LM Spray Equipment Co., PO Box 7626,, 77270, (713 861 6814) MVP Sharpeners for saw doctoring, address?

   That'll do for now. I do feel duty bound to warn you that I found the Houston climate brutal and unbearably hot for 9 months of the year and I was glad to eventually escape it. Nowadays I'd look forward to a move back there with all the happy anticipation of my own impending castration---- without anaesthetic, ha, ha.

   My wife, a Houstonian, now finds the very pleasant and mild climate we experience in the UK persistently too cold and wet, even in mid-summer, ha, ha- ha, ha, ha. Slainte.

   Richard Jones Furniture

1. 
   PhilS | Oct 27, 2005 08:20am | #2

   This is great. Thanks.I'm in Dallas, Tx now so I'm familiar with the heat to some degree. I expect the humidity to be more of an issue but I don't kow to what degree.Thanks again; Phil

1. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 27, 2005 10:56am | #3

   Phil, I found the humidity really sucked in Houston. I'd sweat but there was nowhere for the sweat to evaporate off to. the high heat and humidity made furniture making and polishing, well, er, challenging. It doesn't get as hot or cold as Dallas but the humidity is often very high-- sometimes 80- 90% or more in the a.m., perhaps dropping to 30- 50% at its hottest later in the day.

   What I found interesting when I lived there was that  there was usually no breeze or wind during the hottest summer months unless a storm was passing by.  December to February were my favourite months with November and March usually fairly pleasant too, but that's just me as I prefer to be cool rather than hot. 

   On the furniture making front Houston has a good range of suppliers right on the doorstep. For timber and board materials I almost always ended up at Mason's Mill and Lumber which is on the west side of town not far from the Sam Houston Tollway. I found them a good company to work with. There are the usual overpriced Woodraft and the like around catering mostly for the amateur market. I didn't buy from them very often but they could be handy for the odd bits and bobs. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture

2. 
   PlaneWood | Oct 27, 2005 04:58pm | #4

   Austin Hardwoods Inc (281) 440-0763	Houston, TX Map
   Clarks Hardwood Lumber (713) 862-6628 Web Site	700 E 5th 1/2 St Houston, TX Map
   Hardwood Products (713) 984-8904	1585 W Sam Houston Pkwy N Houston, TX Map
   Hardwoods Specialty Products (832) 200-3555	7885 Northcourt Rd # 800 Houston, TX Map
   Hogan Hardwoods & Moulding (713) 683-0991	7770 Blankenship Dr Houston, TX Map
   Houston Hardwoods Inc (713) 686-6176 Web Site	4910 W 34th St Houston, TX Map
   Lodge Lumber Co (713) 672-6679 Web Site	5001 Oates Rd Houston, TX Map
   Lumber Liquidators (713) 961-0149	5809 W Sam Houston Pkwy # 1201 Houston, TX Map
   Notice that none of these say "KATY".

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   PhilS | Oct 27, 2005 05:15pm | #5

   Thanks Mike. This is very thorough. I appreciate you taking the time to round up this information for me!Thanks again; Phil

3. 
   PlaneWood | Oct 27, 2005 05:17pm | #6

   That's because there ain't much out here for woodworkers.   Mainly just yuppie houses and fast food places.  There is Home Depot and Lowe's of course.  I can think of only 1 hardware store in the Katy area. 

   I use Clarks Hardwoods close to downtown Houston for domestic and some exotic hardwoods.  Hardwood Products on Sam Houston Pkwy. is a good place for sheet goods.

   Traffic is getting terrible out here.

   The town of Katy is small.  But the Katy area supports one of the biggest school districts in the state, in area.  I think 6 high schools at last count.   When we moved here 18 years ago there were two.

   Houses are cheap and taxes are HIGH!  If you factored in taxes into the cost of a house, then house prices here would be as high or higher than other parts of the country.  Only problem, you never get taxes paid off!  Taxes on my 3300 sq ft house are about 6K a year.  Electricity is running about 13 cents per KWH.  People are friendly here except when they are driving.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

4. 
   belizewoodworker | Oct 27, 2005 10:03pm | #7

   fors tool The Cutting Edge Woodworkers tool supply 11760 Sam Houston Pkway.

5. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 28, 2005 07:07am | #8

   I lived in Texas a few years.. Only wood they know is Oak used to make Jack Daniels!

1. 
   TaunTonMacoute | Oct 28, 2005 05:56pm | #9

   JD is made in Tennessee.

1. 
   bobtexas | Oct 28, 2005 06:28pm | #10

   Thanks Taun.

   The rest of you guys go easy on Texas.  You're just jealous that you don't live here. ;-)))))))))))))))))

   Texas has 9 different geographic regions.  From wet and hot in the SE to high and dry in the West.  How many does your state have?  In a state that's more than 800 miles from North to South and East to West you can find just about anything here.

   I have found it to be a great place for woodworking in my garage year around.  I don't need a big heater chuggin' all winter long and making the humidity 3% while my sinuses and furniture crack.

   The above posts are quite good for resources listing.  I buy my wood at Clarks Hardwood near Downtown.  Great people, great selection, and there ain't no wood that they ain't got.  In quantity.

   Bob

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 28, 2005 07:59pm | #12

   TEXAS is the only pace on Earth that I have been to where you can stand up to your knees in mud AND have dust blow in your eyes!I just LOVED Texas.. Should have stayed there...

2. 
   SgianDubh | Oct 28, 2005 08:42pm | #13

   "You're just jealous that you don't live here. ;-)))))))))))))))))"

   Whew! That's a strong claim Bob. Been there. Lived there. I'm not jealous.

   I'm booking a holiday trip to Houston in August for three weeks as I write-- or perhaps I'm already having second thoughts about that idea, and suddenly the Falkland Islands are exerting their tantalising pull for a break at that time of year, ha, ha-- ha, ha, ha. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture

2. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 28, 2005 07:57pm | #11

   I know.. We just used it alot when I lived there..