How do I shop for lumber to use in home wood working ...

Finding quality wood that needs minimal milling can be a challenging task, but it's definitely achievable. The catch is that you might spend a significant amount of time meticulously searching through boards to find the few that are straighter than the rest.

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When selecting lumber, prioritize wide boards, preferably 4/4 (1 inch) or thicker, with minimal knots. Such boards typically derive from larger trees and exhibit greater stability.

Pay attention to the end grain of the wood; ideal options should be quartersawn, where the grain runs perpendicular to the wide side of the board.

Generally, lumber intended for construction is not well-suited for fine woodworking without further milling. While some home improvement outlets offer pre-glued panels and hardwood lumber (often in plastic wrapping), these products usually come at a higher price compared to dimensional or rough-sawn lumber sourced from reputable hardwood dealers.

If you lack the tools necessary for milling, consider connecting with local cabinet shops. They may sell you lumber and even assist with basic milling at little to no extra expense. Additionally, purchasing directly from a local sawmill or hardwood dealer is a great option, as they often surface the lumber on one or two sides for a nominal fee.

If you're short on space, hand milling your lumber remains an alternative. For those who favor power tools, a combination jointer/thickness planer could be a valuable investment. Depending on your project, building jigs for milling can also be a practical solution; a taper/straight-line rip jig can help with edge jointing, while a separate jig might assist in jointing board faces up to 6 inches wide—assuming you have a 10-inch table saw with sufficient blade height.

Investigate community shops and rental facilities in your vicinity. Many community colleges or universities have woodworking shops equipped with the tools needed for lumber milling. My local university provides daily and monthly rental options, while larger cities boast MakerSpaces where membership grants access to various equipment. A Habitat for Humanity "ReStore" nearby also rents out woodworking tools, including table saws and planers, though an annual membership is required for access.

It's a fantastic question, Steve. I wish I had the clarity to ask this before diving too deep into woodworking. Initially, I purchased all of my hardwood lumber from Home Depot, often paying exorbitantly more than necessary. Big box retailers primarily focus on construction-grade lumber, making them unsuitable for acquiring quality furniture-grade materials.

My turning point came when I began sourcing lumber from a local hardwood dealer. Conducting an online search with "hardwood dealers" or "lumber dealers" in your area is an excellent start. If local options are limited, considering online orders could be a viable alternative, typically at only a slightly higher cost than local finds. Most hardwood dealers provide "surfaced and straight-lined" lumber, allowing for a flat and straight edge that has served my needs well in the past.

For optimal results, I recommend establishing a relationship with a nearby hardwood dealer who can prepare and straighten your lumber. All you’ll need then is a table saw (or even a bandsaw works if you're okay with some hand-planing).

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Over time, you may find yourself becoming selective about lumber quality, deeming the lumber yard's "surfaced" offerings insufficient. At this point, you might seek "in the rough" options and consider investing in high-quality milling equipment, such as jointers and planers. However, you'll probably have a few years to save, which should be manageable now that you're not spending excessive amounts at big retailers.

For finding hardwood dealers, I use the term "hardwood dealers" in my Google searches. This method revealed two sellers in my Oklahoma area, offering oak and walnut (occasionally cherry). Searching through platforms like Craigslist may yield less frequent results but could still provide useful leads depending on your location. I've found a couple of sellers there, primarily offering rough sawn lumber.

Also, by searching "lumber" within your area on Google while avoiding big box stores, you might stumble upon suppliers providing premium hardwood options. I successfully purchased red oak from local building material suppliers this way, which proved to be much more stable than the offerings from larger chains.

In most regions, you’ll primarily encounter common woods such as pine, oak, and maple. Depending on your location, you may discover rarer, higher-quality woods like cherry or walnut, often only available through dedicated hardwood dealers. Unless you have access to a WoodMizer portable bandsaw mill, which can recycle trees for lumber, better options likely exist at specialized dealers. Utilizing this resource means you’ll need to dry and stack the wood before use, requiring a truck or trailer for transport.

My experiences also include shopping at WoodCraft, which has a local outlet. They carry a broad spectrum of wood species, although typically not in large quantities. Nevertheless, I've consistently found what I need for my projects there, and they offer surfacing services if you lack a surface planer. While there's a nominal fee for this service, I’ve never experienced a charge, possibly due to my usual purchases being limited to a board or two.

Lastly, there are various online dealers I have yet to engage with directly. I enjoy following The Wood Whisperer, who hosts a paid platform for students who collaboratively build projects. He facilitates lumber purchases from Bell Forest Products for the participants and praises their offerings.

As you browse for wood, prepare to encounter many less-than-ideal pieces cluttering the shelves. Expect to invest at least thirty minutes selecting suitable boards for your projects. Personally, I favor the natural aesthetics of wood, opting for lower-grit sanding and opting for stains instead of paint for finishing touches.

The fundamental step for any project is to clearly define what you're aiming to construct. Having a well-drafted design aids in identifying the necessary types and sizes of lumber for your project. Don’t head to the store without a plan; sketch your project design with dimensions in mind and conduct internet research to determine the best wood selections for your planned builds.

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