MJ

Mark & Juanita

17/10/2008 10:28 PM

Searching for curly or figured cherry


After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
$18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.

I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.

What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.

Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?

Thanks for any information.


--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough


This topic has 19 replies

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 4:54 PM

Andrew Barss wrote:

> Mark & Juanita <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> : After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly
> : figured
> : cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
> : $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
> : price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
>
> Mark --
>
> Also check these guys:
>
> http://www.curlymaple.com/cherry.shtml
>
> I bought some really spectacular curly maple from them some years ago.
>
> You can also check out their privtae stock, which gives you
> photos of specific boards:
>
>
>
> http://www.curlymaple.com/pvtstkcherry.shtml
>

That, sir was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks.

--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 10:26 AM

Nova wrote:

> Mark & Juanita wrote:
... snip
>> am also wondering what
>> peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.
>>
>> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
>> panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the
>> pieces so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>>

>
> Hi Mark,
>
> Advantage Lumber and Trim is located about five miles from my home and
> is my preferred hardwood lumber dealer and, at least locally, is a great
> company to deal with.
>
> Rob Pelc is the owner and used to post to this group but stopped after
> he received complaints of advertising.
>
> At one point Rob used to personally hand select lumber to fill orders
> based on the requirement of the customer's project. A few years ago,
> due to rapid expansion of the business, Rob had to place certain limits
> on shipping small orders as it became too labor intensive to hand select
> each piece. Due to the rapid expansion there were also a few problems
> with some of his orders. Check the group archives to see the past posts
> related to the business. See (watch for word wrap):
>
>
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=Advantage+lumber&num=10&scoring=r&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_ugroup=rec.woodworking&as_usubject=&as_uauthors=&lr=&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=&as_mind=1&as_minm=1&as_miny=1981&as_maxd=18&as_maxm=10&as_maxy=2008&safe=off
>
> You might also want to check with Advantage to find out their current
> order/shipping policies.
>

Thanks, I remember some of the interchanges with Mr. Pelc in the past.
I'll see what they can do; unfortunately my particular needs fall into that
small order category, so will see what happens. Appreciate the information
from someone local to them.



--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

ZY

Zz Yzx

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

19/10/2008 12:15 PM

>Well, if you want the best... northwest timber http://www.nwtimber.com/.

GMTA

-Zz

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 6:14 PM

Zz Yzx wrote:

>> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>
> I've been happy with what I've got from:
>
> http://www.nwtimber.com/
>
> Nice people, seem to know each board they have. I've only bought a
> few small pieces of figured walnut and bird's eye maple, but I got
> good stuff and they sent me what they said they send me.
>
> I haven't compared prices but service was good.
>

Thanks

--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

19/10/2008 11:34 AM

David Merrill wrote:

> Do you need to specially treat highly figured woods to prevent shrinkage
> cracking when importing them from moister parts of the country into the
> very
> low humidity of Arizona ? If you're not already experienced in this
> regard it might be worth doing a bit of research with some of the local
> hardwood dealers in Phoenix, Mesa or Tuscon.
>

I'm not sure it would be much different for figured than regular
hardwoods, I've obtained some figured wood from my regular suppliers here
that have exhibited no significant shrink cracking than the other woods.
Our suppliers don't treat the wood any differently -- it all goes into an
unheated, uncooled warehouse.



> I lived in Mesa for eleven years but don't have this specific knowledge
> myself. However, I remember seeing many fine old wooden planes obtained
> from antique dealers from snowbirds down from the northern US and nearly
> every one of them was cracked :-( (I was also impressed by how my sinuses
> constantly felt parched, having arrived from the northeast and midwest
> myself.)
>

My Steve Knight plane is still doing fine after 4 years.


> David Merrill
>
>> > "Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> > news:[email protected]...
>> >>
>> ... snip
>> >>
>> >> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
>> >> panels on my end tables.
>>
>> the featured elements of the pieces, I'm looking for some figure that
>> stands out.
>>
>>
>> > What part of the country are you in?
>>
>> Arizona

--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

Mb

"MikeWhy"

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 1:00 AM

"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
> cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
> $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
> price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.

I scored a mini-Neener today at Woodcraft in Woodridge for cherry, 36 bf at
$3.69. Just normal figure and color, but still not bad. (Picked them clean,
leaving just a few banana twisted boards. They say a new truckload is on
order, but that'll take a few weeks.)

Hearne Hardwoods advertises UPS packages of figured cherry, 15 bdf or 50
bdf, on their internet store site, flat pricing. UPS adds about $3 to $4/bdf
to the cost. I *just* ordered a bunch of common #1 from them, but it hasn't
even shipped yet, so I can't recommend or otherwise. Freight to IL for
otherwise would be bargains is prohibitively high. The big bundle of QS
woak, for example, looked attractive but the freight was more than the
lumber cost itself. Would like to hear what others think of their quality
and service.

LH

"Lowell Holmes"

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 11:48 AM


"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
> cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
> $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
> price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
> I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
> regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
> peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.
>
> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
> panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
> so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>
> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>
> Thanks for any information.
>
>
> --
> If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

Out of nine headers in this newsgroup this AM, only two are related to
woodworking. How sad.


In regard to figured cherry, the last time I was at Clark's Hardwood Lumber
in Houston, they had a bin full of figured cherry. I don't know about
shipping. but I suspect they will accommodate you.

You might Google them and contact them. Maybe a woodworker here could go
look for you. How much and what size are you looking for?

What part of the country are you in?

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 10:20 AM

Lowell Holmes wrote:

>
> "Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
... snip
>>
>> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
>> panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the
>> pieces so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>>
... snip
> In regard to figured cherry, the last time I was at Clark's Hardwood
> Lumber
> in Houston, they had a bin full of figured cherry. I don't know about
> shipping. but I suspect they will accommodate you.
>
> You might Google them and contact them. Maybe a woodworker here could go
> look for you. How much and what size are you looking for?
>

I'll take a look and see if I can find them. I'm looking for about 12 BF.
The panel sizes are roughly 9 1/2 inches high by 14 inches wide (backs are
slightly smaller). I computed the need for about 8 BF between the two
tables, so am planning on about 12 to 15 BF order. Since the panels are
the featured elements of the pieces, I'm looking for some figure that
stands out.


> What part of the country are you in?

Arizona

--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

Sb

"SonomaProducts.com"

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 11:42 PM

Well, if you want the best... northwest timber http://www.nwtimber.com/.
Not cheap but a nice search engine and a pretty picture of every peice
in stock... thousands. Mapel, Cherry, Claro Walnut, Myrtle, curly,
spalted, quilted, burl, etc.

One really funny thing is how proud they are to have slabs of the
local "Heritage tree" that was apparently sick and need to come down
in some local town. The greens tried to save it but the city took it
down and now NW is hawking slabs. Beautiful.


On Oct 17, 10:28=A0pm, Mark & Juanita <[email protected]> wrote:
> =A0 After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly fig=
ured
> cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
> $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
> price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
> =A0 I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specif=
ic
> regarding figure. =A0I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
> peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been. =A0
>
> =A0 What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
> panels on my end tables. =A0These will be the primary features of the pie=
ces
> so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>
> =A0 Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>
> =A0 Thanks for any information.
>
> --
> If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

Nn

Nova

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 1:57 PM

Mark & Juanita wrote:
> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
> cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
> $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
> price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
> I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
> regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
> peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.
>
> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
> panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
> so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>
> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>
> Thanks for any information.
>
>

Hi Mark,

Advantage Lumber and Trim is located about five miles from my home and
is my preferred hardwood lumber dealer and, at least locally, is a great
company to deal with.

Rob Pelc is the owner and used to post to this group but stopped after
he received complaints of advertising.

At one point Rob used to personally hand select lumber to fill orders
based on the requirement of the customer's project. A few years ago,
due to rapid expansion of the business, Rob had to place certain limits
on shipping small orders as it became too labor intensive to hand select
each piece. Due to the rapid expansion there were also a few problems
with some of his orders. Check the group archives to see the past posts
related to the business. See (watch for word wrap):

http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=Advantage+lumber&num=10&scoring=r&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_ugroup=rec.woodworking&as_usubject=&as_uauthors=&lr=&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=&as_mind=1&as_minm=1&as_miny=1981&as_maxd=18&as_maxm=10&as_maxy=2008&safe=off

You might also want to check with Advantage to find out their current
order/shipping policies.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]

AB

Andrew Barss

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 6:17 PM

Mark & Juanita <[email protected]> wrote:

: After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
: cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
: $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
: price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.


Mark --

Also check these guys:

http://www.curlymaple.com/cherry.shtml

I bought some really spectacular curly maple from them some years ago.

You can also check out their privtae stock, which gives you
photos of specific boards:



http://www.curlymaple.com/pvtstkcherry.shtml

-- Andy Barss



: I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
: regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
: peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.

: What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
: panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
: so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.

: Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?

: Thanks for any information.


: --
: If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

--
<o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o>
Andy Barss
Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona
Communications 114A, 626-3284
<o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o>

cc

"charlie"

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

20/10/2008 12:57 PM


"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Lowell Holmes wrote:
>
>>
>> "Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>>
> ... snip
>>>
>>> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
>>> panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the
>>> pieces so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>>>
> ... snip
>> In regard to figured cherry, the last time I was at Clark's Hardwood
>> Lumber
>> in Houston, they had a bin full of figured cherry. I don't know about
>> shipping. but I suspect they will accommodate you.
>>
>> You might Google them and contact them. Maybe a woodworker here could go
>> look for you. How much and what size are you looking for?
>>
>
> I'll take a look and see if I can find them. I'm looking for about 12
> BF.
> The panel sizes are roughly 9 1/2 inches high by 14 inches wide (backs are
> slightly smaller). I computed the need for about 8 BF between the two
> tables, so am planning on about 12 to 15 BF order. Since the panels are
> the featured elements of the pieces, I'm looking for some figure that
> stands out.
>
>
>> What part of the country are you in?
>
> Arizona
>
> --
> If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

you might be interested in this

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/mat/885702854.html

i dropped by last weekend and got a 3'x2' slab of very old fir that had
incredible waves to it.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 10:06 AM

Frank Boettcher wrote:

> On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:28:54 -0700, Mark & Juanita
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly
>> figured
>>cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
>>$18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
>>price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>>
>> I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
>>regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
>>peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.
>>
>> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
>>panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
>>so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>>
>> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>>
>> Thanks for any information.
>
> No local sawmills?
>

In Tucson, AZ? Nope. Actually, there may be some small businesses around
that harvest things like mesquite and ironwood, but no cherry.

> I buy from a local sawmill two miles or so from the house. Guy's a
> retiree, does it on the side. He sells me rough,dry, tree run, as it
> comes off the stack (no quality select) cherry for $1.50/bdft. If I
> buy a hundred bdft. I generally get 35-40% waste, and maybe 10 that
> turns out to be very figured. It's hard to tell what your going to
> get, but for another fifty cents he'll let you take it off the stack
> select and restack. Thing is, before it is face jointed or planed, I
> can't really tell what I'm getting anyway.

That's what happens when you live in an area of the country that grows
trees instead of cactus. :-)

>
> Frank

--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

ZY

Zz Yzx

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 5:21 PM

> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?

I've been happy with what I've got from:

http://www.nwtimber.com/

Nice people, seem to know each board they have. I've only bought a
few small pieces of figured walnut and bird's eye maple, but I got
good stuff and they sent me what they said they send me.

I haven't compared prices but service was good.

-Zz

FB

Frank Boettcher

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 7:58 AM

On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:28:54 -0700, Mark & Juanita
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
>cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
>$18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
>price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
> I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
>regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
>peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.
>
> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
>panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
>so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>
> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>
> Thanks for any information.

No local sawmills?

I buy from a local sawmill two miles or so from the house. Guy's a
retiree, does it on the side. He sells me rough,dry, tree run, as it
comes off the stack (no quality select) cherry for $1.50/bdft. If I
buy a hundred bdft. I generally get 35-40% waste, and maybe 10 that
turns out to be very figured. It's hard to tell what your going to
get, but for another fifty cents he'll let you take it off the stack
select and restack. Thing is, before it is face jointed or planed, I
can't really tell what I'm getting anyway.

Frank

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

17/10/2008 11:24 PM

MikeWhy wrote:

> "Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly
>> figured
>> cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
>> $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
>> price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
> I scored a mini-Neener today at Woodcraft in Woodridge for cherry, 36 bf
> at $3.69. Just normal figure and color, but still not bad. (Picked them
> clean, leaving just a few banana twisted boards. They say a new truckload
> is on order, but that'll take a few weeks.)
>

Good on you -- that's a terrific price; here FAS cherry was $8.50 / BF at
Woodcraft.


> Hearne Hardwoods advertises UPS packages of figured cherry, 15 bdf or 50
> bdf, on their internet store site, flat pricing. UPS adds about $3 to
> $4/bdf to the cost.

Thanks, I'll take a look at them. I only need about 10 to 15 BF, so this
may be an option.


> I *just* ordered a bunch of common #1 from them, but
> it hasn't even shipped yet, so I can't recommend or otherwise. Freight to
> IL for otherwise would be bargains is prohibitively high. The big bundle
> of QS woak, for example, looked attractive but the freight was more than
> the lumber cost itself. Would like to hear what others think of their
> quality and service.

--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

TD

"Tom Dacon"

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 8:39 AM

You might give Edensaw in Port Townsend, WA, a call to see what they have.
They're the premier supplier of woodworking and boatbuilding wood in the
Pacific Northwest: www.edensaw.com

I know they'd hand-pick you something good if they have what you're looking
for.

Tom Dacon

"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> After checking out the local Woodcraft for either curly or highly figured
> cherry and coming up empty (well, they had some marked as figured for
> $18/BF that was so badly cracked and checked it wasn't worth 1/4 the
> price), it looks like I'm going to need to do the mail order route.
>
> I really like Steve Wall lumber, but they don't offer anything specific
> regarding figure. I will give them a call, but am also wondering what
> peoples' experience with Advantage Hardwood has been.
>
> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
> panels on my end tables. These will be the primary features of the pieces
> so I'm looking for figure that will stand out.
>
> Any other mail order companies that I'm missing?
>
> Thanks for any information.
>
>
> --
> If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

18/10/2008 10:41 AM

Tom Dacon wrote:

> You might give Edensaw in Port Townsend, WA, a call to see what they have.
> They're the premier supplier of woodworking and boatbuilding wood in the
> Pacific Northwest: www.edensaw.com
>
> I know they'd hand-pick you something good if they have what you're
> looking for.
>
> Tom Dacon

Thanks, I'll take a look

DM

"David Merrill"

in reply to Mark & Juanita on 17/10/2008 10:28 PM

19/10/2008 3:59 PM

Do you need to specially treat highly figured woods to prevent shrinkage
cracking when importing them from moister parts of the country into the very
low humidity of Arizona ? If you're not already experienced in this regard
it might be worth doing a bit of research with some of the local hardwood
dealers in Phoenix, Mesa or Tuscon.

I lived in Mesa for eleven years but don't have this specific knowledge
myself. However, I remember seeing many fine old wooden planes obtained
from antique dealers from snowbirds down from the northern US and nearly
every one of them was cracked :-( (I was also impressed by how my sinuses
constantly felt parched, having arrived from the northeast and midwest
myself.)

David Merrill

> > "Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >>
> ... snip
> >>
> >> What I am looking for is something highly figured to use as plant-on
> >> panels on my end tables.
>
> the featured elements of the pieces, I'm looking for some figure that
> stands out.
>
>
> > What part of the country are you in?
>
> Arizona


You’ve reached the end of replies