Wood sources-MN

[Justin Henry]

Looking for some decent sources for lumber in MN or heck, willing to maybe visit Iowa or WI if the prices are real decent.

My old source burnt down last year and now I'm back in the search. Sheesh-looked at Youngblood and dang near filled my drawers at those $$$. Highest I have ever seen.

Anyone with ideas - I am all ears:D

[Scott Loven]

Straight south of Rochester, just over the MN border
http://www.hartzellwoodstock.bigstep.com/generic87.html;$sessionid$I5B5MQQAAAINZTZENUEUTIWP ERWRJPX0

Scott

[Al Willits]

Been to Hartzell and its a nice place to go to, cheap and decent wood, from what I can tell.

Justin, join the Minn woodworkers guild and get 30 or 40% off Youngbloods list price, plus there's some nice people in the guild.

You near the Twin cities?

Al

[Quinn McCarthy]

Justin

Try renneberg hardwoods in Menahga, MN

www.renneberghardwoods.com (http://www.renneberghardwoods.com)

They have a huge selection and good prices.

They deliver once a week to International Falls I am sure they would deliver to your area as well.

Youngbloods has about the highest prices I have run into.

Quinn

[Al Willits]

Quinn, is that with or without the woodworkers discount?
For the metro area with the discount they didn't seem to bad, plus they have a ton of stuff there.
Might put a plug in for the guild, with membership they also get discounts at many supplies, makes the $30 worth it, plus the stuff the guild puts on, just went to a David Marks semminar a ways back.

I notice Rennebergs web site doesn't list a price list, any way to get one online, Quinn??
Al

[Pat Zabinski]

In southeast Minnesota, there are two common sources for wood.

Root River Hardwoods in Preston: http://www.rootriverhardwoods.com/

Vetsch Hardwoods in Rochester: (507) 288-0671.

I find Vetsch a bit easier/friendlier to deal with when you want smaller quantities.

[Greg Deakins]

vetsch is very friendly, they will surface a single board if you ask, and they have large stock. Havent tried hartzell yet, but am going to give root river a shot. They are more expensive than Vetsch. I was wondering were I could get bubinga or similar around rochester, and havent had any luck, without going to the cities. Anybody got any ideas in that area?

Speaking of the Minnesota woodworkers guild, I am thinking of putting a piece in the upcoming Northern Woods show, that they put on. The deadline is the eighteenth, so I need to make up my mind. I had posted wondering if anybody had heard of the show, but nobody replied. ANybody here heard of it? I would assume so if you are familier with the guild.

There is also the Northern Minnesota woodworkers guild, which is near Brainard.

[Al Willits]

Greg, at the last meeting they mentioned the show, but being a newbie I wasn't paying that much attention.
I'd contact of of the upper levels and they could probably steer you in the right directions.

Hartzells seems to be the cheapest I've found, plus their prices are online.
Al

[Thomas Prondzinski]

Another vote for Vetsch in Rochester. Greg yes I have heard of the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild show. I entered a couple years ago.I am working on a project for this years show. Alot of great looking furniture etc.

Tom

[Greg Deakins]

aaaah, now I feel I must enter it! There is a lot to do yet, I would likely not have the photo for the brochure in time, but it now seems like more than a call for membership. I talked to Rich, from the guild, and he seemed to be persuading me to join up more than anything, and when I hadn't heard from any of you, I was a little put off, but what the heck, right? If anything, it will be fun I'm sure... Greg

[Bruce Volden]

Justin


I just made a haul for lumber over in Steen, MN. FTP is the name of the mill. If you google FTP sawmill you'll come up with name, address, phone # etc. I'm at work now otherwise I'd post it.


Bruce

[scott kinninger]

Beyer's Hardwood & Millwork in West Salem, WI has a lumber supply retail store that they opened for people like us. West Salem is about 15 miles from the MN/WI border on I-90. They carry domestic as well as exotics, if you want bubinga, zebrawood, purpleheart, bloodwood... they have it, the only things that I've noticed they don't carry is ebony and wenge. It's not a big operation like some of these other places so give Barry a call over there @ 608-786-2201 before you go to check their hours and inventory of wood that you want, he's a real nice guy.

This is where I've been buying all my wood.

[Joel Ficke]

Come on Greg, you can do it...enter the show. I'm planning to and it would be great meeting other SMC folks there.

As far as lumber lumber supply, there's also a great place in Cameron WI called Hanson hardwoods. Curly maple at $3/bf, #1 pine at $0.80/bf, cabinet stock varies based on market conditions, but is generally lower than anyplace else I have found. They don't surface or anything like that, almost a wholesale place but great prices if they have what you want in stock. Definitely call ahead before making the drive.

[Quinn McCarthy]

Al

You are better off to call Rennneberg. The more you buy the more they discount it however they are open to small orders. I have been dealing with them for 10 years. I have never had a complaint about grade or scale.

Are you talking about youngbloods. They never mentioned that there was a discount for memberships.

I called about a price on mahogany. They were double the cost of wall lumber. Some of that was made up in shipping from South Carolina. WHen you live in I Falls you pay shipping for everything.

Quinn

[Justin Henry]

Wow-you guys are great! This is better than a menu at my local Perkins:D

I've got some calling and driving to do I see - I love to have mucho choices for wood. Thank you all - reponses blew away my hope/expectations of feedback.

I guess another thing I maybe really should do is look into the WW Guild - thought about it in past and like so many things it slipped off my brain. Make that call this week too.

Again - hearty THANKS to everyone!

[Al Willits]

Quinn, they never mentioned it to me the first time I went in, but its wholesale pricing and its either 30 or 40% off, can't remember right now which.

They may still be a bit spendy, but those of us in the metro area they are close and well stocked.

Check the woodworkers guild web site and you'll see we get a discount at many places, Rockler, Woodcraft too.

http://mnwwg.org/mambo/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Also more importantly, I've meet some pretty nice people at their gatherings.

It'd be nice to have a Minnesota Creeker gathering this spring/summer, didn't know there was that many from MN here...:)

Maybe get a wood run going?

Al....who sees Creeker visits galore.....:D

[John Myer]

Try galenawoods.com. Although this operation is located in Iowa, the owner is from the Twin Cities area, so on smaller orders you can arrange delivery to the cities. John

[Steven Wilson]

So who burnt down? Was Northern Hardwoods in Cannon Falls?

[Brian Elfert]

Did Lake Elmo Lumber in Lake Elmo, MN close up shop?

I don't know that the prices in their retail store were all that special, but I did buy speciality moldings and baltic birch plywood on occasion.

Brian Elfert

[Al Willits]

Lake Elmo has closed, last fall I believe.
Al

[Ben Nesseth]

Northern Hardwood in Cannon Falls shut down....Elmo's in Lake Elmo burnt down. Both too bad...

[Ben Nesseth]

Northern Hardwood in Cannon Falls shut down....Elmo's in Lake Elmo burnt down. Both too bad...

[Al Willits]

I was at Lake Elmo's going out of business sale, musta burnt down after that, but they were going out of business then.

Al

[Chris Schumann]

Back from the dead... bump.

I'm looking for 8/4 stock for the 21st century workbench project (can't wait for my elm to be cut down and dried). I did see red oak 2x4's at Menards for about $26.50, but nothing larger.

I'd like some 2x6 for the rails, but 2x4 for the rest should be OK.

Also, a new link to the shop in Iowa would be nice. Links seem to have expired.

Thanks

[Scott C. Williams]

John is the address galenawoods.com correct?

[Mike Wellner]

There is supposed to be a guy in Paynesville, but also I think there is a place in Milacia too.

[Chris Schumann]

Links? Names? Phone numbers?

[Scott Schwake]

This guy advertises on CL: logs-to-lumber.com/ (http://www.logs-to-lumber.com/)

[Chris Schumann]

I've seen the logs-to-lumber ads and web site. Any experiences with them?

[Karl Brogger]

In Minnesota-

Liberty Hardwoods- I think they're actually out of Iowa.

Metro Hardwoods- Maple Grove. I haven't bought anything from them in years.

Vetsch 507.288.0671- Rochester. Gotta go down there today for a very small order.

Renneburg 507.331.4599, they have a location in Faribault now. They also handle trim, which is nice.

Youngblood-

there's others, I just can't think of em'

[Steven Bolton]

Valley Hardwoods in Glydon, Minnesota, by Moorhead is a good place to buy lumber.

Steve Bolton

[Scott Schwake]

Metro Hardwoods- Maple Grove. I haven't bought anything from them in years.

I called Metro about a year ago, said they didn't do retail sales and referred me to Youngblood.

[Matt Ocel]

www.youngbloodlumber.com - (612) 789-3521

Central ave in Nord East mpls.

Its fun just to walk thru.

[Kevin Groenke]

I'm afraid the days of cheap hardwoods in a retail setting are a thing of the past.

Did Youngblood quote you the retail or wholesale price? Youngblood gives MnWWguild members wholesale pricing. If you're buying much stock it will quickly pay the membership, the Northern Woods Exhibition is also worth the price of membership
http://www.mnwwg.org/

Here are a couple others to consider:

Forest Product Supply, Maplewood: a custom shop that also sells stock. They sell drops and offcuts at very attractive prices.
http://www.forestproductssupply.com/

Siwek Lumber and Millwork, Mpls, Jordan: Some hardwood and sheet stock, curious things like cottonwood, fingerjointed fir, odd lots, lots of trim, doors, windows. Not real user friendly, try to get a commitment on price before digging through too much stock.
http://www.siweklumber.com/

Industrial Lumber and Plywood, Mpls: Wholesale pricing comparable to Youngblood.
http://www.industriallumber.net/

ReUse Center, Mpls: A part of the Green Institute and De-Construction Services, I've seen locally harvested hardwoods here, and they ovten have reclaimed stock which may be suitable depending on the project.
http://www.thereusecenter.com/

Good luck, if you find cheap hardwoods, please share with the rest of us.

-kg

[Kurt Strandberg]

Check the woodworkers guild web site and you'll see we get a discount at many places, Rockler, Woodcraft too.

http://mnwwg.org/mambo/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Also more importantly, I've meet some pretty nice people at their gatherings.

It'd be nice to have a Minnesota Creeker gathering this spring/summer, didn't know there was that many from MN here...:)

Maybe get a wood run going?

Al....who sees Creeker visits galore.....:D



Not to high jack the thread but I did not see on the woodworkers guild web site where and when they meet.

[Robert Chapman]

If you are willing to go to Upper Michigan check out www.bellforestproducts.com (http://www.bellforestproducts.com) These guys are great and specialize in figured hardwood like birdseye and curly/tiger maple.

[Mike Parzych]

Kevin is spot-on regarding the Twin Cities sources. The MN Woodworkers wholesale price deal with Youngblood is really good since you can sort thru the lumber to pick the boards you want. Just restack neatly - the hard maple pile is usually a mess. They also have 4/4 red oak that they call skip-planed, but on most boards it's fully planed to 7/8ths + and I've been able to just sand it a bit and it's ready to use.

Another vote for the cut-off bins at Forest Products - some are up to 36-40" long, and decent widths.

I've been noticing lately that the prices on craigslist hardwoods (in the "materials" section) are quite low lately. Except for Logs to Lumber in Inver Grove Hts., who advertise there. I've been wishing I had more spare cash to take advantage of some bargains.

What is the deal with Industrial Hardwoods? - I've never been there.

[Scott Schwake]

Another one for the list: http://www.wickswoodproducts.com/
My dad bought a bunch of black ash wood paneling there and was satisfied.

[Mark Ball]

I had great luck with these guys.

http://classicwoodworks.us/

[Chris Schumann]

Straight south of Rochester, just over the MN border
Found an updated URL: http://www.hartzellwoodstock.com/

[Paul Ryan]

Here is another one for the mankato area. Volk band mill. The guys name is jim volk really nice guy and good prices. Only problem he doesn't cut 5/4 does 4/4 and 6/4 but not 5/4, say he donest have much call for it. 507-243-3513.