Irion Lumber?

[Matt Meiser]

I'm considering ordering cherry for a table project from Irion Lumber in PA. I've read some older positive comments about them here. Any reason not to go with them?

[Matt Kestenbaum]

They are often referenced as a premium supplier--I once saw Mira Nakashima speak (current operation among other topics) and I believe Irion was one of the firms with whom the Nakashima studio works. They are a bit farther of a drive than Hearne or Groff/Groff, so I not been there personally...have you checked out the Groff and Groff offers?

[Marco Cecala]

Matt;
First class outfit. Great value, wonderful material. No need to worry, order and enjoy.

[Bud Millis]

Quality wood, although you pay for what you get. Special project + special wood = Your off to an awesome piece. I would.

[curtis rosche]

plus one for groff and groff

[Stephen Cherry]

I don't know if it fits into your plans, but we are getting into the perfect time of year to head east- several good wood suppliers are within a stones throw of the Winterthur museum.

[Matt Meiser]

I'm actually planning to have this delivered. I was warned not to buy cherry sight-unseen from a semi-local supplier and can't afford to take a vacation day to go choose it myself. From what I've read, that's not necessary with Irion, and probably some others.

[David Keller NC]

I'm actually planning to have this delivered. I was warned not to buy cherry sight-unseen from a semi-local supplier and can't afford to take a vacation day to go choose it myself. From what I've read, that's not necessary with Irion, and probably some others.

Yeah, it's not (traveling to look at it at Irion before you buy), but they would be glad to host you. Irion has lumber that I've not found -anywhere- else, typically gigantic, flawless boards. But what may interest you more in terms of cherry is that most of their stock is matched - either flitch sawn from one log, or "sawn for grade" out of one log. For cherry, that matters - the color variation between two trees growing on the same tract of land can be substantial.

[Ed Griner]

Irion and Groft&Groft are also very reliable. You could buy sight unseen from either one with no problems. Wide wood,figured wood,just about anything you want is readily available from both dealers. I'm about an 1&1/2 hours away from Lancaster,so its just easier have the wood sent via UPS.Typically a one day wait for me.

[Jim Becker]

Amazing wood comes from those folks...

[Dick Strauss]

Matt,
Have you thought about trying http://www.hickoryandoak.com/ in Decatur, MI. They are about 150 miles from you. I don't know if they are open Sat, but you might be able to pick your own lumber there at a reasonable price.

You might also try Johnson Lumber in Charlotte...

Take care,
Dick

[Matt Meiser]

Actually all the cherry I used on their kitchen came from Hickory and Oak. Steve brings over a load of lumber every spring for our club as well and I've bought some from him there as well. I've also visited his operation when we were on vacation in the SW part of the state. Unfortunately in June he didn't have any 5/4.

Johnson's is who I was referring to in my "sight unseen" comment above. Sapwood isn't considered a defect in cherry grading and apparently based on others experience you just don't know what they will send you if you order cherry for delivery. I've bought red oak from them for delivery and got first-rate stuff, but sapwood isn't an issue there. If you want to pick it out, you have to go M-F.

[Andrew Kertesz]

Don't know personally but Keim Lumber in Amish country Ohio comes highly recommended as well.

[Bill Geyer]

You will not go wrong with Irion.
Fine folks selling the highest quality material.

[Matt Meiser]

Keim has some george us stuff inside. I've never checked out what they have outside. They are only open until 12:00 on Saturdays if yo go.

[Brian Ross]

Have never bought lumber from Keim but have visited their retail store which is adjacent to the lumber yard. Their retail outlet is like no other I have seen and I have been in a lot of retail outlets in North America and a few in Europe. A location the should be on every woodworkers bucket list.Not many hardware stores that have a full blown country restaurant to feed the many bus tours that stop by.

Brian

[Todd Hoppe]

Matt:

Johnson's in Charlotte is open Saturday, and you can pick in their block warehouse.

[Matt Meiser]

Well, almost a done deal. My dad has to call tomorrow and make payment arrangements (it's their table) and then it will be on the way. Another guy and I are splitting shipping which is about $200 to me. Total cost for a matched set of cherry for a 46x110 table top, plus aprons and the base is about $1300 shipped.

[Matt Meiser]

The lumber showed up yesterday. Beautiful stuff. They marked each piece of mine for its intended use--table top fixed parts (even sketched the curve on the pieces for the ends), leaves, aprons, etc. VERY little sapwood in general. The hunk of wood sent for the legs is absolutely massive and has little to no sapwood on it. My friend's stock had a little more sapwood than mine but still what I would consider premium cherry. He might end up 1 piece short due to planning to resaw some thicker stock that might expose some of that sapwood. Shipping went well too. The only damage we noticed was where the banding cut into the edge of my friend's stock which he didn't think would be a problem due to its rough thickness and his desired finish. They shipped Conway freight and the driver was helpful unloading piece by piece into a trailer. We then pulled the trailer back by my shop, unloaded mine, and restacked and tied down my friend's stock for the trip home.

[Jim Becker]

Good to hear it went well, Matt, and I'm looking forward to the pictures of the project in the Woodworking Projects Forum here at SMC!

[Phil Thien]

...for a 46x110 table top...

That is going to be a substantial table. Can't wait to see some build pics.

[Matt Meiser]

Yep, I'm the oldest of 5, three of us are married and there are now 3 in the third generation and there will surely be more. 48" of that is going to be leaves so even closed it will still be pretty big.

[Phil Thien]

Yep, I'm the oldest of 5, three of us are married and there are now 3 in the third generation
and there will surely be more. 48" of that is going to be leaves so even closed it will still be pretty big.

What are you going to do for chairs? I've thought of making a dining room table (albeit smaller), but I think the chairs would be beyond my current skill set, so I'd probably build the table and buy the chairs.

[Matt Meiser]

My mom bought the chairs which are Amish made. The table looked awful, both from a design point of view and from a material point of view--lots of narrow strips and lots of sapwood. The chairs are nice with some sapwood but not too bad and the color matches the kitchen nicely after a few days of sun tanning.