Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daryl on March 9, 2016 at 12:56pm

I have the same problem. Lowes and Home D have the crappiest wood to select from. The nearest lumber yard with hard woods is an hour away. Soooo, I made friends with a kitchen installer for Lowes. They tend to send extra filler pieces so this guy has a ton of old stock he was happy to get rid of. I did make him a nice Padron fretted 3 string for thanks. Suprise, he wanted to learn but has stubby fingers so a 3 string is perfect for him. He also took me to a kitchen designer he knows who also had extra material! Win win! I also do local yard sales fo table leaves, table tops, that has been good also.

Attachments:

• image.jpg, 1.8 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Murdoc_420 on March 9, 2016 at 1:02pm

  I actually went to home depot again today and found a decent 8 footer of red oak. (well, the 4 feet I wanted was ok). But their saw is out of order and after 20 minutes I still didn't get any help :(

--

The guy from lumber yard called back and said the guy he could special order it from basically had 'stock for home depot'. Probably cost more for the order.

----

 The place I linked above has 'neck blanks' but they are fairly pricey. Fine if someone wants me to make them a nice/expensive one. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on March 11, 2016 at 7:27am

Had that happen when I needed some pvc pipe. I found a hack saw that the employees used to cut pipe and cut it myself. I've found that if you ask them to show you where the saw is, it gets more attention and quicker results.

You can cut the balusters by hand if you take your time with the hand saw. Two necks per baluster...IF your local store carries the oak ones. I've only found pressure treated pine locally.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Frank Carr on March 9, 2016 at 1:10pm

Home Depot should also have some oak square balusters. They'll be in a different section of the lumber department. They tend to be better looking and straighter than the poplar dowels.

Woodcraft and Rockler stores should be in your area (Colorado?) but they tend to be a bit pricey.

Shipping charges tend to be high for bulk lumber so I haven't ordered any online (yet).

As for boxes, you might try liquor stores, thrift stores and antique malls in your area. Also, you can try garage and estate sales. You even can build your own boxes, but then you're back to finding appropriate wood.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kigar on March 10, 2016 at 5:04pm

See if you have a store selling reclaimed flooring and other construction lumber.  Old flooring is great stuff, a piece of old oak gym floor is straight and stiff and has great character.  And cheaper than new lumber.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Murdoc_420 on March 10, 2016 at 7:27pm

 Thanks guys, I'll look into those options.

 Was trying to stay away from the squares as I don't have table/jig saw but found someone who is willing to do some cuts for me. May have to make him a cbg before long :D

 The price for the rosewood fretboards was OK, $8 per, wanted one for my bass I'm getting ready to do. It was $8.50 shipping. Got two more for same shipping and a $1 off each so I can live with that for nicer g's. Averages about $10 each.

 Their maple neck blanks were a bit much though, You can get a few out of them with proper tools, but they'd still be $15-20 each for maple (the cheapest they have). Getting a bit high for average boxes I think.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on March 11, 2016 at 3:52am

You can get African Mahogany in 3/4" x 4" x 24" for $8.20 each from Ocooch Scroll Ready Hardwoods. They aren't long enough for a "through-body" type neck. But perfect for a "bolt-on" style. And very affordable.

And they have other wood choices.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Grandpa G on March 12, 2016 at 6:49am

Try the thin wood department at:

kencraftstore.com

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wade on March 12, 2016 at 8:15am

Check out your local lumberyard/
place that makes hardwood flooring.
In most cases they have a much better appreciation for wood and should be able to get you better quality woods.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Murdoc_420 on March 12, 2016 at 8:37am

Hmmm, I actually avoided the flooring place thinking it was probably just pre-cut short pieces, I'll give it a try.

Ken craft store seems to have very good prices on stuff.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nhirvana on March 12, 2016 at 8:55am

I've been using a place for years (for work, I'm a residential remodeling carpenter) called "Exotic Lumber", as the name implies, they specialize in exotic woods from all over the world. they have 2 locations in the Washington, D.C. area but I would imagine they're not the only ones in the world. Anyway, they always have specials on small pieces of hardwoods. I just started building so I can't wait to raid his bins!
To comment on an earlier post, Oak flooring is straight, cheap, and easy to find. And 2 1/2" widths are plenty wide enough for whatever your building.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JL on March 14, 2016 at 2:20am

doing a little of that myself, leftover oak flooring.  Table saws HATE oak, btw.  even the resaw blade on my bandsaw didn't like it.  strangely the 20tpi detail blade did the best ???

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page