Wood source for segmented turning

[Tom DiBiasio]

Hi All

I have been tooling up to try my hand at making a few segmented bowls, already made a wedgie sled with stop, bought some wedgies, and installed and designed few bowls using the segment pro SW. I made a few "test" bowls and would now like to attempt a more decretive bowl using some exotics like Padauk, bloodwood, purple heart, etc.... For the few test bowls I made I cut up some domestic wood left overs I had from my furniture projects, but now I am wondering how and from whom do most people buy their exotic woods for doing segmented projects? The only HW dealer I have close by to my home only sells domestics and he is willing to get some exotics but I will need to purchase 20+bf of each minimum. Any advice you can give me on who or how to buy smaller amounts of exotics to make a few more interesting looking bowls and vessels?

Thanks

TomD

[Edward Weber]

I buy all my exotics from Cook Woods https://www.cookwoods.com/

For small amounts and accent pieces you can always use pen blanks or bottle stopper blanks.
Depending on the tools you have (whether you can mill down lumber) the better you can tailor your purchasers.

[Kevin Jenness]

Here's a couple near you
http://www.righteouswoods.com/imported_hardwoods.html
https://www.koszelalumber.com/hardwoods

[Karl Loeblein]

You may find better prices joining https://www.woodbater.com which is free to join (as long as you’re not just a seller looking to only make money off the forum). Great place for woodworkers to sell, trade and talk about anything woodworking related.

[Gary Pennington]

Check out https://www.rarewoodsusa.com/ Amazing inventory and super folks to deal with. Well worth the trip if you happen to travel to Maine.

Gary

Edit: Order online or via phone, not just in person sales.

[Jim Morgan]

Some additional possibilities in the area include Newport Nautical Timbers in Bristol, RI, Reader Hardwood in Taunton, MA, or, for small pieces, Woodcraft in Walpole, MA.

[Robert Hayward]

Woodcraft sells small pieces of imports online. Woodpecker does as well. I am fortunate to have a good hardwood dealer that caters to the hobby and craft people a few miles from my home. The prices are much better than buying small boards online and having them shipped.

[Earl McLain]

What types of exotics are you thinking? Mahoganies and some rosewoods are pretty easy to find and “reasonable” priced. Some places do better than others in specific woods. Stuff I’ve gotten from Cook is always nice though!
earl

[Reed Gray]

Any cabinet shop will have lots of off cuts. The high end ones, and if you have a high end motor home manufacturer near by, will have lots of off cuts. We do have a local 'Bargain Bin' type place that gets odd lots of all sorts of different woods.

I would suggest trying first with some not so exotic woods, then go the more exotic ones. Some of the tropical woods have a lot of oil in them and don't glue up well, even if you wipe them down with acetone. It may hold for a while, but the oil does come back....

robo hippy

[Al Weber]

Try the "shorts bin at Highland Hardwoods in Brentwood NH. Always some exotics art good prices

[Brian Tymchak]

You may find better prices joining https://www.woodbater.com ....

Karl, this a bad link. Maybe a typo?

[Forrest Forschmiedt]

Karl, this a bad link. Maybe a typo?

I think he meant to type: https://woodbarter.com/