I'm fortunate enough to live in a small community that has a number of cabinet shops. Twice I have approached different shops asking for a few pieces and been sent home with a truck load! Both of these shops were delighted to have someone haul off the scrap.
I have a local cabinet shop that has a burn pile ,, believe it !,, as stated above took and left one of my guitars ,, from then on has been "Help ur greedy self " This is a cabinet shop ,, all the scraps are high grade .. lengths as much as 10 to 12 feet .. I table saw em down to 1.5 ,, some ,, if the pattern is interesting ,, I'll stand on edge and get me fretboards ,, plane em just a scode and u good to go !
For the longest time, I lived close to a cabinet mill. They would regularly set out in the corner of their parking lot end cuts of maple, oak, cherry, hickory and cedar. All you had to do was beat savengers looking for fire wood. In my first 150 guitars, about 3/4 of the neck wood and fretboard wood came from this stack. Look for a cabinet maker, tell him what you're looking for. You can often get wood for free or cheap. If you have a good table saw, think about repurposing wooden pallets. Many are made for local hardwoods. I have found a lot of oak and once even mahogany. Finally, repurpose furniture. I once found the equivalent of 15 necks in a kingsize mahogany headboard that I bot of $20...
I use a local timber supplier for my American Oak hardwood neck blanks cut to size - fish around you never know who you might find locally hidden away behind a car wash.. (-;
I go to Menards and buy the 6 foot 1x2 hard wood maple. I've also used oak from Lowes and it hasn't warped yet. You do have to be patient and only buy the perfectly straight ones with good grain. Sometimes it seems like you look at 20 before you find one you can use. The last one i bought i was disappointed as the maple had unsymetrical markings (although the grain was good) but you know, after i fretted it up and rasped the back i grew to really like it. If you're not fretting the neck you can use old kitchen/dining room table legs sawed in half lengthwise. Some of them are original growth lumber and you can't do better than that.
WillLoyd > Comrade PaulFebruary 25, 2014 at 3:08am
Yeah, the problem is that here in the UK, our home stores only have Swedish pine, which is ok but I would prefer to use a hardwood
robert jones > WillLoydFebruary 25, 2014 at 7:52am
Time to get creative, there is hardwood around you.
The stiles on cabinets are normally 1x2 hardwood so you might be able to get a few pieces for your necks at a cabinetry shop, especially if you bring a CBG along with you to show why you want better neck wood. (Tends to lower the price.)
Shipping crates from the Orient are occasionally decent quality hardwood so check out the skip at any local home decor store that carries pottery and statues from the Far East.
Stone and tile are packed on hardwood pallets and the stringers of these can be cut down to size using appropriate caution regarding nails in the wood. Check the pallets at the home store and reserve a pallet with the manager when it empties of product. Again CBG in hand opens up the negotiation in your favor.
Basically check any importers of large or heavy items from overseas because there is a good chance to find suitable wood at any of them.
Broken antique furniture is another source of good hardwood.
Replies
Be careful what kind of wood you use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JExaZHOfxfY
I'm fortunate enough to live in a small community that has a number of cabinet shops. Twice I have approached different shops asking for a few pieces and been sent home with a truck load! Both of these shops were delighted to have someone haul off the scrap.
Good luck!
I have a local cabinet shop that has a burn pile ,, believe it !,, as stated above took and left one of my guitars ,, from then on has been "Help ur greedy self " This is a cabinet shop ,, all the scraps are high grade .. lengths as much as 10 to 12 feet .. I table saw em down to 1.5 ,, some ,, if the pattern is interesting ,, I'll stand on edge and get me fretboards ,, plane em just a scode and u good to go !
For the longest time, I lived close to a cabinet mill. They would regularly set out in the corner of their parking lot end cuts of maple, oak, cherry, hickory and cedar. All you had to do was beat savengers looking for fire wood. In my first 150 guitars, about 3/4 of the neck wood and fretboard wood came from this stack. Look for a cabinet maker, tell him what you're looking for. You can often get wood for free or cheap. If you have a good table saw, think about repurposing wooden pallets. Many are made for local hardwoods. I have found a lot of oak and once even mahogany. Finally, repurpose furniture. I once found the equivalent of 15 necks in a kingsize mahogany headboard that I bot of $20...
just some thoughts.
I use a local timber supplier for my American Oak hardwood neck blanks cut to size - fish around you never know who you might find locally hidden away behind a car wash.. (-;
Here in San Diego, there's a local hardwood specialty shop: Frost hardwoods... they specialize in supplying cabinet makers, but will sell to anybody..
I haven't been there in years as I've found maple and walnut at my local home stores, but I plan a trip there for some nice necks...
Check around, you might be surprised what you find.
John
I go to Menards and buy the 6 foot 1x2 hard wood maple. I've also used oak from Lowes and it hasn't warped yet. You do have to be patient and only buy the perfectly straight ones with good grain. Sometimes it seems like you look at 20 before you find one you can use. The last one i bought i was disappointed as the maple had unsymetrical markings (although the grain was good) but you know, after i fretted it up and rasped the back i grew to really like it. If you're not fretting the neck you can use old kitchen/dining room table legs sawed in half lengthwise. Some of them are original growth lumber and you can't do better than that.
Time to get creative, there is hardwood around you.
The stiles on cabinets are normally 1x2 hardwood so you might be able to get a few pieces for your necks at a cabinetry shop, especially if you bring a CBG along with you to show why you want better neck wood. (Tends to lower the price.)
Shipping crates from the Orient are occasionally decent quality hardwood so check out the skip at any local home decor store that carries pottery and statues from the Far East.
Stone and tile are packed on hardwood pallets and the stringers of these can be cut down to size using appropriate caution regarding nails in the wood. Check the pallets at the home store and reserve a pallet with the manager when it empties of product. Again CBG in hand opens up the negotiation in your favor.
Basically check any importers of large or heavy items from overseas because there is a good chance to find suitable wood at any of them.
Broken antique furniture is another source of good hardwood.
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