Where can I buy natural edge slabs?

[Aaron Heck]

Anyone have any good contacts for cool natural edge slabs of wood? I'm considering building a desk and smaller table out of a piece of slab and I was curious if you guys had anyone I could call. I've found Goby Hardwoods. Anything else?

Thanks!
Aaron

[Garry Smith]

If it doesn't need to be kiln dried then I know a local mill that can cut jus about anything you want. He also has a woods operation so he may be able to find just what you are looking for as long as it grows in our region.
Call Don Clark at 906-477-6747 and tell him Garry told you to call.
Garry

[Aaron Heck]

Garry,

Thanks for the contact info. Yeah, I was actually hoping to have the wood dried - kiln or air or whatever. Just so it didn't have to sit around the shop for a year or two before I could use it. But I'll give DOn a call and see what he says.

Aaron

[John Shuk]

EBAY. They have everything. Just gotta wade through.

[Hank Knight]

Aaron, try Hearne Hardwoods. They have a huge inventory with a lot of natural-edged stock. Take a look at their web site (www.hearnehardwoods.com); it has photos and prices of current inventory. Their quality is excellent and their staff is very helpful. I bought two 8/4 walnut crotch slabs from Hearne a couple of years ago and was very pleased. I have no affiliation weith Hearne Hardwoods; I'm just a satisfied customer.

[Scott Banbury]

Aaron,

What species are you looking for?

I may be able to help you out. :)

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Aaron, Look for people with band mills in your area. A lot of them cut slabs as an additional source of product.

[Joseph N. Myers]

Aaron,

You didn’t mention what type of wood your looking for. If it is Cypress, your in a good area. If it is Walnut, Cherry, etc., not so good an area.

You want the go with air dried, 5 years plus (forget the 1 year/in rule). Hearne Hardwoods has great stuff, a little expensive but in PA. Steve Hall Lumber, www.walllumber.com (http://www.walllumber.com/) is closer in NC and usually has real nice stuff. You could also check out www.woodfinder.com (http://www.woodfinder.com/). And I would give WoodMizer a call at 317-271-1542 for some local sawyers.

For design ideas, try http://www.dumonds.com/slab_furniture_gallery.htm. (http://www.dumonds.com/slab_furniture_gallery.htm.) They go under the title of "Slabs to Log Furniture" - really great looking stuff.

Too bad you don’t live closer as I have at least 30 walnut and cherry slabs, 1-1/2"-3" x 14-24" x 5'-7' (have to take inventory one of these days). I’ve included a couple of pictures, the first being mostly walnut in my back yard, the second being cherry at one of my storage sheds.

Regards and good luck, Joe

[Jim Becker]

I'll second the motion for Hearne...awesome stuff available in many species, both domestic and imported. And Joe is correct...too bad you're not closer. He has a nice inventory! (Which I need to poke around through "real soon now"!!)

[Aaron Heck]

Thanks for the responses, guys. Wow, Joe, I wish I had some of that stuff just lying around! Is any of that bookmatched, by chance?

Unfortunately, I'm not really looking for any species that's local to me, so I'm probably going to have to mail order anything I get. I'll be sure and give Hearne and Steve Wall a call tomorrow.

I think I'm most interested in some black or claro walnut, maple or cherry. Something with some crotchwood or a little figure would be great. Looking for that special piece that really makes you say WOW.

I talked to Goby walnut tonite and they have some nice 5/4 figured and bookmatched walnut that sounds pretty nice. Price is around $20-$25 a foot. But I guess you have to pay for the good stuff.

I did also check out Dumonds site earlier. Pretty cool looking stuff. I actualy thought the slabs on his site were for sale. When he wrote me back, he said they are only for sale when he builds the item. :D Oh well.

Here were a couple that caught my eye.

Claro walnut
http://www.dumonds.com/images/wood/claro2lg.JPG

English Walnut
http://www.dumonds.com/images/englishwalnutbookmatchedtablelarge.jpg

So we'll see. I guess I can't expect to find something in a day, so I'll just keep looking.

Aaron

[Aaron Heck]

I think I found the one I want.

http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/Inventory/VirtualInventory/Bubinga/bubinga1/bubinga.html

:eek: :D

Back to reality, I'm looking thru some of the wood at Hearne. Man, they seem to have a lot of stuff. I have no idea how I'd ever pick anything out. I wonder how much plane tickets are up there....that almost seems like it'd be easier.

[Tom LaRussa]

I think I found the one I want.

http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/Inventory/VirtualInventory/Bubinga/bubinga1/bubinga.html

:eek: :D

Back to reality, I'm looking thru some of the wood at Hearne. Man, they seem to have a lot of stuff. I have no idea how I'd ever pick anything out. I wonder how much plane tickets are up there....that almost seems like it'd be easier.
Aaron,

Take a look at Gobi. They sell mostly walnut in sizes to make you cry. http://www.gobywalnut.com/slab.htm

Gilmer has some amazing stuff too. http://www.gilmerwood.com/Big_boards.htm

You can also try Gnarly Woods, (they advertise bookmatched Black Cherry flitches at 34" wide). http://www.gnarlywoods.com/


Don't forget Good Hope Hardwoods. http://www.goodhope.com/Lumberyard/lumberyard.htm
Anybody need some 16/4 Bubinga in 44" wide and 14' long? :eek: :eek: http://www.goodhope.com/Lumberyard/Bubinga/bubinga164.htm

[Aaron Heck]

Thanks Tom. Great links. Just amazing some of the boards people have out there. Man oh man. I'm getting more and more confused the more I look. But it sure is fun.

[Bob Hesser]

Aaron,

Here's a guy selling old growth cypress over on Fl's east coast...

http://www.floridasunkencypress.com/pages/1/index.htm

Here's a thread showing some of his slabs ( jump to the end of the thread to see some of his stock)

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