Thick wide walnut near Boston?

[edward kinslade]

I have a hankering to build a couple of maloof pieces.

Where on earth can I get good walnut near Boston?
I would love to go sawmill direct, but....
ideas???
Thanks
Edward

[Ed Harrow]

Downes and Reader in Stoughton is where I'd start.

http://www.downesandreader.com/

[David Roberts,Fitchburg,Ma]

Are you willing to go green/rough? I just picked up a couple hundred feet of Maple from a man in Orange, Ma. Its a ways out, if you are in Boston, but there is a fair amount of guys with bandsaw mills in North Central Mass. I believe he wanted $3 ft for the Walnut, I went with the Maple for $1 bd ft. I always have wood stored away for future projects, so drying in the shop or a shed is not an issue. I still have three 12" x 12' 4/4 Cherry boards from the early eighties drying in the shed. I hate to cut them down, so I am waiting for the day I can build a 12' long Cherry dining room table. I just have to build an addition to the house first.

[Ken Platt]

David, could I get contact info for the guy you'd mentioned in Orange? I'm in north central CT, pretty much on the mass border, so it's not that much of a hike for me, and those are some good prices. Thanks -

Ken

[Jim Kirkpatrick]

I think I've seen that guy from Orange on Craigslist. Although he's not there now, there are several other sweet listings on CL. Just search for "walnut"
There's a guy in RI selling some premium 2.5" slabs for "$6"....I presume that means /bf?

[Don Jarvie]

Anderson and McQuaid in Cambridge - Its pricey but convient

Highland Hardwoods in Brentwood NH

Boultier Plywood in Somerville - Mostly plywood but they did have hardwoord also

[David Roberts,Fitchburg,Ma]

If you don't mind waiting, I will search for the guy from Orange's number. I wrote it down, and passed it along last month, but will have to do a little hunting. It was a number I got off CL, the price was right,and he is only 10 minutes from rt 2 and 202. Work finds me across most of North Central Mass at times,so I am always keeping an eye out for bandsaw mills. I know of at least a few, but what they have depends on the weather and luck. Frequently I have a project in mind, but sometimes karma determines the wood species. My thought is, just like saving money for retirement, you need to always have some lumber in the "bank".

[Jeff Duncan]

If your looking to do a project now then green wood isn't going to help you. If you have time to wait several years then maybe. I find it's not worth the savings to buy something I'll probably still need to dry not to mention have to store it somewhere. I paid something like $2.40 bd. ft. for my last order of hard maple and it was ready to be turned into doors right off the truck.
If your looking at finding good quality lumber I would start with places like Downes and Reader, and Highland Hardwoods. Places that will let you poke around and pick and choose the sticks you want. There are a lot of places to buy from but wholesalers (like sawmills) for the most part aren't going to be selling a stick or 2 to the weekend warrior. Now on the other hand if your willing to buy in 1000 bd ft lots, that's a whole different situation.
good luck,
JeffD

[Jason White]

Are you metrowest?

Jason


I have a hankering to build a couple of maloof pieces.

Where on earth can I get good walnut near Boston?
I would love to go sawmill direct, but....
ideas???
Thanks
Edward

[Maik Tobin]

I go through both walnut and cherry. I have been to Downes and Reader many times, and I am disapointed every time. Their stock is poor at best and prices are high. Lats time I went to pick up a stick of 10/4 cherry, I was so disapointed that I continued on to NH and Highland Lumber. I was only slightly less dissapointed. I know I am very picky, and I have been getting most of my lumber directly from PA. Last month, I went to Holt and Bugby in Tewksbery and was delighted with their stock and their prices. I ended up buying 165 bf of cherry and walnut at very nice prices. They are closed on Saturdays, but I would strongly suggest you check them out.

[David Roberts,Fitchburg,Ma]

If your looking to do a project now then green wood isn't going to help you. If you have time to wait several years then maybe. I find it's not worth the savings to buy something I'll probably still need to dry not to mention have to store it somewhere. I paid something like $2.40 bd. ft. for my last order of hard maple and it was ready to be turned into doors right off the truck.
If your looking at finding good quality lumber I would start with places like Downes and Reader, and Highland Hardwoods. Places that will let you poke around and pick and choose the sticks you want. There are a lot of places to buy from but wholesalers (like sawmills) for the most part aren't going to be selling a stick or 2 to the weekend warrior. Now on the other hand if your willing to buy in 1000 bd ft lots, that's a whole different situation.
good luck,
JeffD


Jeff, you are right about working with green lumber, but wrong about bandsaw mill guys. I know one guy in the next town, he is in his late 70's, he gets together with a couple of buddies, and their tractors and they cut a few logs, and then have beer in the summer, or coffe in the winter. For this man, like a few others that I know, it isn't about a part time income, its a social activity. I have never bought more than 200 bd feet at a time. I have however bought $20 worth of Cherry, because thats all I needed, and that looked good. When I buy Oak or Pine, I usually look for vertical grain that gives me that quarter sawn look, but at a buck or less a foot. There is a real sawmill in Townsend, I used to buy only small amounts from. My point, you don't have to buy wholesale, but you do need storage space. I do have a 2000 sq ft barn/shop and a nice shed for storing wood, not a city shop.