Lumber Buying Guide Part 1: Where to Buy LumberOver the next few episodes I’m going to talk about buying lumber.  How to prepare for the trip to the lumber yard and how to talk to the lumber seller.  But today I want to start with where to buy lumber.  Maybe you have great lumber yards […]

A Look at the Lumber Supply ChainMany people ask me about where their lumber comes from.  Specifically, how did it get here and who/what touched it before I pulled it off the rack at my lumber yard or big box store.  This episode takes a high level view of the journey of that board all […]

Lumber tariffs in opposition to new commercial stick frame buildingsMaybe a bit controversial and political this week as I dip into politics and (gasp) the environment.  But hey you guys sent me these articles so I only have my great audience to blame for this episode.   Honestly I love this aspect of the lumber […]

Marine plywood grades are only half the storyWhen buying any plywood, it is important to think about what you are building and what functionality is most important.  This is especially the case with marine construction as marine grade plywood is a term that gets used a bit too loosely and not all of it is […]

Grading, Forest Fires, and BugsThis episode I catch up on some questions submitted via email and give an update on the Amazon Rainforest fires, a beetle cure,  a lumber laundering scheme, and air dried vs kiln dried lumber.Industry NewsAmazon rainforest fires: difficult to tell at this stage but many concession owners state it will cause […]

The Lacey Act requires “Due Care”A few episodes ago when I talked about CITES, I was clear to say that it has no enforcement body and that is up to the governments of the signing countries.  Well the Lacey Act is the teeth to enforce things like CITES.   In short the Lacey Act and the US […]

Green Plywood?On this episode I talk a lot about plywood.  There is a lot more to talk about in the future but I did my best to address some of the questions that have come in  on the topic recently.  The Roseberg Forest Products “scandal” with OkoumePlywood core compositionNon Toxic, “green” plywood optionsCARB2 and the […]

Top Customer Service and Lumber Quality OnlineOn a recent fly fishing and Mountain Biking trip to Michigan, I stopped by Bell Forest Lumber in Ishpeming, MI.  Boone and Eric sat down with me to talk about their online retail lumber business and it was a really interesting look at an entirely different business model to […]

Softwood Forestry ManagementIn this episode I talk about genetically modified Chestnut, Red Oak sizes, Whitewood, the difference between hardwood and softwood, and old studs vs new studs.  The theme really is softwoods and how those resources are managed very differently from our hardwood forests.   Thanks to everyone who wrote in with questions and feedback, you make […]

CITES regulates, Not EnforcesFormed in 1960, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an international agreement between governments.  Its goal is to ensure that international trade does not threaten the survival of plants and wildlife.  Every year the convention meets and individual governments can propose whether a species should be listed or […]

300 containers of Bubinga go missingOn today’s show I have to talk about the fiasco in Gaboon with the missing Bubinga, but also answer some questions on getting starting in the lumber import/export business.FeedbackChris works for a lumber company and after sharing this show with his boss, they are now using it to train new […]

Identify How ANY Species Will WorkThis episode is essentially the condensed audio version of the 2 hour class I taught at Woodworking in American in 2016.  I’ve included the video of that class below if you want to delve deeper into actual species examples thrown at me from the audience.   But the important part about this […]

Feedback is GoldOn today’s show I’m sharing some great feedback on the French Oak of Notre Dame, some thoughts on Ebony availability and regulation, and finally the cycle of tree blights like Thousand Canker and Emerald Ash Borer.  Plus I get a tiny bit editorial about CITES and the upcoming Convention Votes. Big Thanks to […]

Hardwood Lumber Grading Can Help You Plan Your ProjectsThis episode focuses on hardwood lumber grading.  I do get a bit into plywood grades.  Softwood grading I try not to touch with a 10 foot pole.  At least not without copious amounts of Scotch.  I’m also lean heavily on NHLA (North American Hardwood Lumber Association) grading […]

French Oak is There but At What Cost?The fire at Notre Dame in Paris is just heartbreaking.  As a woodworker (heck, as a human being) seeing such an amazing example of architecture destroyed hurts my heart deeply.  The craftsmanship built into that structure boggles the mind and the impact it had on millions of people […]

Here is the mission statement of this podcast and a call for input and feedback.