Lumber Source in the MD, VA, PA, and WV area

[Michael Gabbay]

Hi all!

I thought I 'd share with the fellow SMC'rs a great source of lumber near Hagerstown MD. Its the Hicksville Planing Mill:

14464 Hicksville Road
Clear Spring, MD 21722-1240
(301) 842-3474 (but don't expect an answer)
0700-1700 MTuWF, 0700-1200 Sa

It's a great place to find excellent quality hardwoods (basically all varieties) plus some of the harder to find wood like purple heart and bubinga etc. The prices are outstanding. My last load of cherry was around $3.50 b/f. Curly maple runs around $3.50 to 3.75 b/f. Walnut goes for around $4.00 b/f.

It's all family owned and operated and the owners are great to work with. All they ask is no cursing (they are Menonites) and restack it the way you found it.

Mike

[Larry Norton]

I drive 2-1/2 hrs to get there, I would drive whatever it takes. It's an unbelievable place. I've seen Robert move 5 or 6 hacks of wood to get to that one piece you need. I get beautiful clear red oak for $2.10 a bd. ft. They also get exotics, I paid $2.75 for purpleheart, but they don't always have a specific spcies. It's fun to see what they have each time. Here's a load I recently got.

[JayStPeter]

Larry,

Do you know of anyplace in SOMD to get veneered and/or BB plywood.

Thanks,

Jay

[Bill Lewis]

So Michael, Larry. Since you guy's have been there do they also keep some pretty normal stuff on hand. Aromatic Cedar, Poplar, basic maple? I'm looking mostly for secondary woods.

Larry, isn't there a sawmill down near the tip of one of the peninsula's in southern md? I remember seeing a website for someone dowh that way.

[Michael Gabbay]

Bill - They do carry all of the normal woods. I get a lot of poplar from them for drawers and painted pieces. I don't work too much with oak but they do carry both red and white.

Give them a call to see what they have on hand.

Mike

[Tom Mullane]

Bill, I live about 15 minutes from Hicksville Planing and have used them a lot for lumber.
Not only do they have all the stuff Mike mentioned, but they have just about any secondary lumber you need... it is best to call to make sure what they have on hand... I am not sure about the aromatic cedar though...
They also do custom cutting of your own trees if you need it...
They are great to work with... I also have permission to go through their scrap bin for free.. found some great scrolling and pen woods there that cost me nothing... though I did make a couple of pens for the owners as thank you presents.

[Larry Norton]

Jay, there's nothing in Southern Md. as far as I know. Ford Lumber in Accokeek might have something, Allied Plywood in Alexandria would have some, but they only sell to the trade. I know Northland Forest Products in Chantilly has it, but it's expensive. I pay $22 a sheet (5ft by 5ft) for half inch Baltic Birch at Hicksville.

[Keith Christopher]

Exotic lumber in rockville, Md is a good one.

[Dan Wood]

I live about 90 miles from Hichsville planing mill and took my first trip out there after reading about it here. They are the nicest people, have a great slection, and saved me a bunch of money over the local supliers. The drive was well worth the time. I will be there for all my projects. Thanks for telling us about this treasure.

[Marlin Williams]

I have been to Vienna Hardwoods.
http://www.viennahardwood.com/products.html
They are smaller but have a good selection at a fair price.


I am from NC and there seems to be a lot more wood options there then here in N.VA. So please post all the wood shops around this area as I like to have options.

[Eduard Nemirovsky]

just come back ( 2 hours drive) from visiting Hicksville Mill. Very nice people and very reasonable price for wood. Bought some wood for a few project.
Highly recommend this place.:D

[Andrew Mason]

Sweet! only a 40 minute drive and I had no idea.

I'll second the :D for Exotic Lumber in Gaithersburg. Neil, the manager and I believe a partner in the company has been very helpful, allowing me to paw through the shelves as much as I like. He's also spent plenty of time answering my questions and showing me some of the truly exotic woods they stock (10 foot tall bubinga slab wider than my arm span). I inquired about paying for use of his massive wide-belt sander, and if it wasn't broken at the time, he offered hourly charges including fractional hours for small jobs like running a half-dozen cutting boards through for final sanding. They also have a store in the Annapolis area and a decent website with pictures and prices.

Also happy with Hardwoods Inc. just north of Fredrick. Had a good selection, along with some specialty tools and what looked like a full service custom molding setup. I only stopped in quickly on a Saturday, but was given good service despite the place being busy.

Both of the above have been great, but I have been looking for a place to pick up the basics in quasi-bulk quantities for better prices (how much weight can a non-load bearing wall support again?).

[Grant Forbes]

As for a mill in southern MD you could try Charlotte Hall Lumber in Charlotte Hall MD. It has been a few years since I was there but I was getting a really good deal on ash and poplar rough cut and kiln dried.

[David Tiell]

As for a mill in southern MD you could try Charlotte Hall Lumber in Charlotte Hall MD. It has been a few years since I was there but I was getting a really good deal on ash and poplar rough cut and kiln dried.
Not sure if it's the same place, but there is a sawmill and kiln behind the farmer's market there in Charlotte Hall. It's been through 2 or 3 owners in the last several years, but is usually pretty good. They only carry the normal selection of domestics (oak, walnut, cherry, maple, poplar), and even that can be limited based on what they've gotten in to saw and dry recently, but the prices are reasonable, and you can dig through to your heart's content to find what you want.

[David Tiell]

Jay, there's nothing in Southern Md. as far as I know. Ford Lumber in Accokeek might have something, Allied Plywood in Alexandria would have some, but they only sell to the trade. I know Northland Forest Products in Chantilly has it, but it's expensive. I pay $22 a sheet (5ft by 5ft) for half inch Baltic Birch at Hicksville.
Larry and Jay,
There used to be a place called Maryland Select Hardwoods over in Nanjemoy, although the address says it's LaPlata. I've only been there a couple times, but they were reasonable and had a good selection. If they are still there, (still shows up on woodfinder.com) check them out.

Dave

[Rich Harris]

Larry and Jay,
There used to be a place called Maryland Select Hardwoods over in Nanjemoy, although the address says it's LaPlata. I've only been there a couple times, but they were reasonable and had a good selection. If they are still there, (still shows up on woodfinder.com) check them out.

Dave

Bringing up a very old thread, but MD Select is Alive and well. I drive up from Great Mills on occaision to buy wood there. The prices are very reasonable and he has a monthly email with specials. No plywood just a great selection of local and imported woods.

[Dave Mendoza]

I have been to Vienna Hardwoods.
http://www.viennahardwood.com/products.html
They are smaller but have a good selection at a fair price.


I am from NC and there seems to be a lot more wood options there then here in N.VA. So please post all the wood shops around this area as I like to have options.


I've been going to Northland Forest Products in Manassas for many years. The prices are the greatest, but they have a decent selection.

[james bell]

I have purchased from Vienna Hardwoods for over 30 years - great selection with the only problem trying to get some of the wood out. Small shop with tons of inventory! Having moved further south, I also shop at Maryland Select - not the selection VH has as far as types of wood, but slightly better pricing and a large shed so it is much easier to get to the wood.

Colonial Hardwoods in Springfield, VA has excellent product, but also prices to match.

[george wilson]

I used to go to Hobby Woods on Eastern Ave. in Baltimore. I don't know if they are still there.

Twenty years ago was probably about the last time I was there. maybe 25.

The name belies the great selection of lumber they have there. I bought large boxwood for the lute I made in 1970 there that some of you may see at George Wilson guitar maker. The boxwood was 2" thick.

They also had mahogany and all kinds of hardwoods.

[Gary Radice]

Another one a bit farther south: Transit Lumber in Richmond, VA.

http://transitlumber.com/

[Bailey John]

I've frequented the spots mentioned and can add Rick Herbine out near Lucketts, VA north of Leesburg on Rt 15.

He mills for the local Woodcraft and Exotic HW of Rockville

http://herbinehardwood.com/

[Frederick Rowe]

Try Free State Timbers, in Timonium, Maryland. Run by Josh Nozick and Ed Slater, great guys to deal with; they carry domestic and exotic hardwoods, plywood, and veneer.

http://www.freestatetimbers.com/index.html

[Steve Blythe]

Do y'all know about woodfinder.com? You just plug in your zip code and how far you want to drive, and it finds sources in your area... good hunting, Steve

[Dave Fairfax]

Has anyone been to Hicksville Planing Mill, located out past Hagerstown, MD recently. I have been reading about them in the forums, and I try to call but no answer, which is expected. It is about a 3hr. drive for me and I am looking for clear Walnut, probably around 400 b/ft. Also, if anyone has any info on pricing. thanks.

[Jon Toebbe]

Boy, this is timely! I'm moving to Annapolis at the end of the week and plan to set up shop as soon as money allows.

@ Steve Blythe: WoodFinder is really helpful, but a personal recommendation can be even better. I've followed WoodFinder's advice to some really hostile lumber yards that have ZERO interest in small-volume hobbyists like me. Call first, I guess.

[Eduard Nemirovsky]

Just visit two month ago. Same place, nice people. Most recent price list -235371

Ed.


Has anyone been to Hicksville Planing Mill, located out past Hagerstown, MD recently. I have been reading about them in the forums, and I try to call but no answer, which is expected. It is about a 3hr. drive for me and I am looking for clear Walnut, probably around 400 b/ft. Also, if anyone has any info on pricing. thanks.

[Jon Wilson]

Just got back from a visit to Hicksville Planing Mill.
Picked up some cherry & Padauk, the prices are fan-freakin-tastic!
It is just as awesome as described!
I attached to current price list as of today.
280904280905

[David Nelson1]

Thanks for posting!

[Keith Hankins]

Wow. Are they cash only or what? It's 3hrs, but might be worth the trip.

[Jon Wilson]

Cash or Check

They are awesome to work with and very friendly.


I forgot to mention and I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it, but if you want the lumber "dressed" (as they call it at the mill)
they will run it through the planer and straight edge one side for you. They didnt charge for this, not sure if that's always or because I only
bought a few boards.

[Jon Wilson]

Thought I might add a couple pictures of the boards...

280910280911280912

[Jon Wilson]

Is there a Mill Support group??


The other day was my first ever visit to a Mill and
All I can think of is going back up to Hicksville!
Good thing it's only 20 minutes away!!!


Waiting on lumber to acclimate is a lesson in patience!

[Dan Hintz]

Jon,

Do they only sell "flat" stuff, or would the occasional turning "chunk" be found out there?

[Jon Wilson]

Dan,

I'm not sure about any turning "chunks".

Someone with more knowledge of the mill could answer, I can check the next time I'm up there
or you could try to give them a call. If you go the calling route know that there were only
5 maybe 6 guys there while I was there and the place was crawling with customers. The gentleman
that was showing me around and pulling stacks of lumber for me to dig through did have a cordless
phone on him and was answering it quite frequently but he did tell me that they get A LOT of calls
and sometimes it's rather difficult to get anyone on the phone.