It's probably about an hour's drive for you, but if you don't mind
traveling to Manchester, CT, I really like Harris Woodworking. There
is absolutely no comparison between them and Home Depot. They have
many types of wood, in lots of grades and thicknesses. No extra charge
for planing to whatever thickness you want and providing one straight
edge. Quite the candy store!
Here's their website: www.harrisent.com
I have no connection to them, financial or otherwise. I'm just a
satisfied customer.
Pawel wrote:
> I am trying hard as i can to avoid HD, but i am getting frustrated, other
> lumber mills have very bad selection (from hardwood only oak) worse service
> and prices than HD. Any advice where to buy nice hardwood lumber in small
> quantities in this area? New Haven Bridgeport .. thanks
>
Continue past New Haven to Branford and see Carl @ The Wood Rack. He's
located in an industrial park behind the Branford USS Chowder Pot, which
is located on Rt. 1. He's a one-man shop, so you're dealing directly
with the owner.
If all of your wood has been from home centers, prepare to faint.
He's also got pro quality supplies like sandpaper and drawer slides.
Carl is also very helpful during the selection process if you tell him
what you're looking for.
<http://www.thewoodrack.net/>
Tell him Barry the check ripper-in-halfer sent you.
<<When was the last time you were there?
Harris' selection has serious waned in recent times and scuttlebutt
has it that they're not really interested in the retail hardwood biz
anymore. Even Dennis, the guy who usually greeted customers at the
wood racks has moved on to CT Wood Group in Enfield.>>
Last time I went to Harris, probably in late summer or early fall, the story
I got was that they were holding off on restocking the hardwoods because
they wanted to expand the cabinet shop into the area where the wood racks
are and that they were planning to move the retail wood department to a
different building in the same neighborhood but they hadn't settled on a
location. The guy also said they hoped to accomplish this by the end of the
year or thereabouts. I just checked their website last week for any
evidence that any of this had actually taken place and it does not appear
that it has. It's entirely possible that they were blowing smoke up my ass
so I think my next wood buying excursion will be to CWG. I see theyre going
to be at the Wood Works show in Springfield this weekend so I'll check them
out there.
Lee
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_________________________________
Lee Gordon
http://www.leegordonproductions.com
On 13 Jan 2006 12:36:02 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>It's probably about an hour's drive for you, but if you don't mind
>traveling to Manchester, CT, I really like Harris Woodworking.
When was the last time you were there?
Harris' selection has serious waned in recent times and scuttlebutt
has it that they're not really interested in the retail hardwood biz
anymore. Even Dennis, the guy who usually greeted customers at the
wood racks has moved on to CT Wood Group in Enfield.
On the other hand, if you have been there in the last quarter or so,
and the selection was good to excellent, I'd be extremely happy to be
wrong. More sources are always better! <G>
Because of Harris' crappy selection, my last year's trips were to The
Wood Rack as a first choice and CWG as a second. CWG has a selection
that is truly terrific, but The Wood Rack is closer to me.
CWG is also excellent if milling is needed, as he's more of a factory
than TWR. CWG is in fact, a genuine POINTY STICK FACTORY! <G>
I had them do a few hundred feet of trim for me a few months ago. I
really liked the service, and felt the price was fair.
Barry
On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 23:56:35 -0500, "Lee Gordon"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Last time I went to Harris, probably in late summer or early fall, the story
>I got was that they were holding off on restocking the hardwoods because
>they wanted to expand the cabinet shop into the area where the wood racks
>are and that they were planning to move the retail wood department to a
>different building in the same neighborhood but they hadn't settled on a
>location.
They had zippo in July, my last trip. I got right back in the truck
and headed to Enfield.
I heard rumors that one of the owners, possibly Mr. Harris himself
(the recent " Woodshop News" cover subject), was wanting to buy the
retail end of the biz out, so that would fit with what you heard. The
rest of it went that he wanted to open up a retail store specializing
in hardwood, sheet goods, finishing supplies, and possibly some
high-end hardware. I'd like to see him succeed, but CWG is awesome,
Woodcraft is convenient for small quantities, and OFS sells pro
finishing materials 10 minutes away, so he won't have it easy.
Barry