Where to buy wood?

[Jim_Nutt]

Hi all,

Apologies if this is answered elsewhere, I didn't see anything in a search:

Where would you recommend I look to buy wood for projects? As a couple of examples; 1. To make a workshop table/workbench and 2. To make an oak top for a side table. Are there sites online that you would recommend?

Many thanks,

Jim

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Try the LOCAL tab at the top of the page. Some people local to you will no doubt come up with some more suggestions.

Mike.

 

[MrTeroo]

Hello Jim,

Welcome to the forum.

Lots of workbenches are made with modest wood, from Wickes/Travis Perkins etc

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD39949332C7FB168

Let us see some photo's as you progress?

 

[Jim_Nutt]

Thank you woodbrains and MrTeroo for your quick replies. I've just found the most amazing looking place through the local section based in Kettering, just the thing I was after! Also that YouTube link is exactly what I needed, thank you.

I can happily take some photos as I go. Where would be best to post them?

Thanks again, I will look forward to coming back here.

 

[MrTeroo]

You can start your own thread in the projects, workshop tours and past mistakes section and then update it as and when you want.

You may find it helpful to have a read of the previous workbench build threads in there?

Good luck

 

[Richard S]

Jim
Locally for hardwoods you could try Good Timber in Nether Heyford, they're not necessarily the cheapest but carry a decent range of domestic and imported timber.

Soft wood for a bench etc I've always been happy with the redwood supplied by Towcester Building Supplies, personally I use the Towcester branch but the have one in Daventry also, having said that any decent sized builders merchant should have a reasonable selection of par redwood in stock. Call in and pick your own, don't order for delivery.

Try and avoid the sheds, unless it's for rough work like studs, I prefer Wickes for Cls etc but only because it's convenient.

HTH
Richard

 

[Jim_Nutt]

Jim
Locally for hardwoods you could try Good Timber in Nether Heyford, they're not necessarily the cheapest but carry a decent range of domestic and imported timber.

Soft wood for a bench etc I've always been happy with the redwood supplied by Towcester Building Supplies, personally I use the Towcester branch but the have one in Daventry also, having said that any decent sized builders merchant should have a reasonable selection of par redwood in stock. Call in and pick your own, don't order for delivery.

Try and avoid the sheds, unless it's for rough work like studs, I prefer Wickes for Cls etc but only because it's convenient.

HTH
Richard

Thanks Richard, this is bloomin' great. I tried searching online many times and never found places like this. Maybe my search terms were rubbish; who knows!? Either way, Good Timber looks spot on for a number of projects I'm looking to do. I just wanted to be able to walk in somewhere and handpick the pieces I want, and now I can.

Thanks again,

Jim

 

[Jim_Nutt]

You can start your own thread in the projects, workshop tours and past mistakes section and then update it as and when you want.

You may find it helpful to have a read of the previous workbench build threads in there?

Good luck

Okay great, I'll have a look at doing that. I recently made a shelving unit for my workshop so could start by posting that perhaps.

Many thanks,

Jim

 

[Richard S]

No worries, pleased I could help

 

[custard]

Hello Jim. If you're buying Oak be aware of a few things,

1. Oak is just about the only hardwood that's available graded. For furniture purposes you need the highest grade you can get. If you try and economise you'll likely regret it.
2. As well as European Oak and American White Oak (and for your purposes either will do, I'm sceptical of the claims that they're easily distinguishable, I've been buying timber for many years and I'd struggle to consistently tell them apart) there's also American Red Oak. Red Oak is quite a bit cheaper, in my opinion it's also quite a bit less attractive. If you find a "bargain" it's very likely Red Oak, so insist on White.
3. When quarter sawn (google it) Oak shows a distinctive ray figure. You pay a premium for this. Oak is just about the only timber where you can specify quarter sawn, but it may not always be a good thing. If you're jointing up a top from two or more narrower boards then this ray figure can sometimes be visually jarring at the glue line. It's a personal choice but for an Oak side table I'll generally hunt around for a wide quarter sawn board where I can get the top out from a single board. Another option is "book matching" but for that you need sequential boards from the same log, you'll only find that in specialist timber yards so it's something best left for later on in your woodworking career.
4. You may well come across "pippy Oak", that's Oak with lots of small pin knots. Ten years ago it was considered a low grade, today it commands a premium. As with all these things it's a personal choice. If you're a beginning woodworker I'd say avoid it as it can give you some planing problems.
5. Check your Oak careful for any palm sized yellow patches. Unfortunately "yellow stain" is becoming very common with Oak and Sweet Chestnut, it's a fault when the boards are pushed through the drying and kilning process too fast. If you find any then return the boards, this yellow stain won't plane out and it will show through almost all finishes.

Good luck!

 

[Jim_Nutt]

Thank you, Custard, this is great stuff! Every point you made was totally new to me, so I'll be saving this and referring to it many times I'm sure. I can't wait to get to the shop and see what they've got.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[skeetstar]

Jim, I use good timber, they are pretty accommodating and will let you sort through their stock for ages. Plenty of other hardwoods too. I have had some boards with worm in the sapwood, so make sure you check carefully and get exactly what you want.
All the best with your first project.

 

[Lonsdale73]

Thank you woodbrains and MrTeroo for your quick replies. I've just found the most amazing looking place through the local section based in Kettering, just the thing I was after! Also that YouTube link is exactly what I needed, thank you.

I can happily take some photos as I go. Where would be best to post them?

Thanks again, I will look forward to coming back here.

Kettering has something amazing other than Wicksteed Park? I am amazed!

 

[Jim_Nutt]

Jim, I use good timber, they are pretty accommodating and will let you sort through their stock for ages. Plenty of other hardwoods too. I have had some boards with worm in the sapwood, so make sure you check carefully and get exactly what you want.
All the best with your first project.

Cheers skeetstar, that's good to know. Thanks for the tip.