153 – Hard to Source Woods

Looking for Local, Non commercial Woods?

How do you find unusual wood species?  The kinds of woods that don't show up in the typical lumber yard?  In this episode I give some tips to consider to help you build a network of sources to help you find the weird stuff.  I say this specifically because there is not a website or a number to call or place to look.  The answer this usually lies in calling and talking to many people and building up that network.  This is the best way I have found to source the weird woods.

Sourcing woods that don't normally show up on lumber racks an online is all about the network you build.  In most instances you are relying on either sawing the logs yourself or knowing someone who will saw logs for you.  So this means you need to go upstream in the supply chain and find where the logs are coming from and how to get them.  This means calling a lot of people and building a network you can call on.  And I do mean calling.  It is amazing what you uncover in a face to face or phone call that goes unsaid in a text or email exchange.  Little industry tidbits and asides that lead to new contacts and new sources of wood or even new wood species.