I'm curious about how others do it!

[OCtoolguy]

I swore I was not going to start a topic but it seems like there is not much going on right now so, I thought, what the heck. 
I was just wondering how folks go about a project once you have decided to make something. Do most of you keep a stock of wood on hand or do you go out and buy for each project? I know those of you who do a lot of work on Baltic Birch keep a supple of that on hand but for those who are like me and do most of our work in hardwoods, do you keep a stock of it on hand or what? I don't have a lot of space so I'm limited to what I can keep. I'd really like to hear how others do it. I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a controversial subject. Let's just share our ideas.

 

[Bill WIlson]

Hard to imagine this getting heated, but stranger things....

Anyway, I usually have wood on hand.  My circumstances probably aren't typical.  I have access to more than a thousand board feet of white oak, cherry and maple lumber that was cut from my father-in-law's farm several years ago.  My BIL & I share it.  If I want to use a different species, I buy it locally and usually buy some extra, so I have it for future projects.

I keep some in my shop, but my space is limited.  The bulk of the lumber is stored in the barn and wagon shed, which is on my in-laws property, just across the road from my house.

[OCtoolguy]

15 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Hard to imagine this getting heated, but stranger things....

Anyway, I usually have wood on hand.  My circumstances probably aren't typical.  I have access to more than a thousand board feet of white oak, cherry and maple lumber that was cut from my father-in-law's farm several years ago.  My BIL & I share it.  If I want to use a different species, I buy it locally and usually buy some extra, so I have it for future projects.

I keep some in my shop, but my space is limited.  The bulk of the lumber is stored in the barn and wagon shed, which is on my in-laws property, just across the road from my house.

I think I wish I was your neighbor.

 

[JimErn]

I order bb in bulk, usually 45ea 12x12x1/8, or 1/4 - they come in a box easy to store

hardwood I order as needed if I have an idea, not all ideas turn out worthy of being called a project, but typically 4-6 boards from ocooch at a time

Poplar I get at home Depot if needed, like for kids puzzles

[Scrappile]

Have some on hand, some projects I have to order for specially.

[trackman]

I get my wood from a saw mill about 15 miles from me. I keep a supply of different types. They sale all kinds most 4/4. 

[kmmcrafts]

I get a lot of my lumber from my brothers mill up the road.. But most times I don't get to pick and choose the species.. and it's usually green so I bring it home and sticker it out in my old shop.. I've only been getting wood from him for about 1-2 years now and what I got a couple years ago is finally drying out that I can use it.. Most of it is Cherry, Walnut. Ash, Spalted Maple, Hard Maple, and a few odds and ends of various species..

Before getting lumber from my brother I just bought it since at the time I didn't have my big bandsaw to resaw it and also didn't have a planer and his lumber is rough cut.. I still buy a lot of wood since I cannot pick and choose and since most of what I have is still needing drying out.. Our local LLJohnson workbench store runs a wood expo show every Sept.. great deals on lumber during this time so I buy the bulk of my lumber during this event since it's a good 30+ % off normal pricing.. So I typically spend around $800 + or - on lumber and BB ply at this show.. every year I get busier and end up either running out or very close to that before the show comes up so every year I buy a little more lumber, LOL.. I try my best to not need to buy any more lumber until the big sales event.. somehow.. I managed to stretch it the last two years with the help of some of my brothers dried stash of lumber.. and only needing a couple of boards from his stash.. He has two huge barns full of dried out lumber that he has pulled off the mill to use as projects over the years.. and now he is about retirement age.. tells me I just need to come get most that stuff because he'll never use it in his lifetime, LOL

Most the lumber I get from him is what is rejected / cutoffs from the grade lumber buyer / inspector.. They have certain specs they have to go by and I think a board has to be 100% clear of any knots etc splits..what have you and they have to get at least a 8 ft clear board  maybe it's 6ft? not sure.. but anyway they cut off the ends to get a board they need.. one end might have a knot at the 6-8ft mark even though the board might be a 12 -14 ft.. they cut that off to get their clear board.. and leave whats left behind.. My brother doesn't mess with it and just burns it in his wood burner.. if I don't take it..

[Fab4]

50 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said:

Hard to imagine this getting heated, but stranger things....

Anyway, I usually have wood on hand.  My circumstances probably aren't typical.  I have access to more than a thousand board feet of white oak, cherry and maple lumber that was cut from my father-in-law's farm several years ago.  My BIL & I share it.  If I want to use a different species, I buy it locally and usually buy some extra, so I have it for future projects.

I keep some in my shop, but my space is limited.  The bulk of the lumber is stored in the barn and wagon shed, which is on my in-laws property, just across the road from my house.

Hi Bill:
The only way this topic would get heated is if someone talks about their designer firewood
I'm sure WE have all been there
Fab4

BTW, I buy what I need most of the time - I do get freebies from time to time

[rjweb]

I buy my wood per project, then the left overs will save for other small projects. A lot of my work isn’t scroll saw, but some furniture pieces and other odds and ends stuff, RJ 

[Sycamore67]

I likely have about 100 bf each of red oak, poplar, Sycamore and ash mostly 3/4-7/8" with some 1/4 _ 1/2".  Also have some maple, walnut, cherry, hickory and Allen.  Then I have a bunch of exotics that are generally 12-24" long.  

I am very fortunate to have the stock of wood.  We are blessed in the Midwest to have lots of different hardwoods at reasonable prices.  I typically go up to a small sawmill in Michigan to get hardwood when I need it.  My wife likes to go as we go by several wineries nearby.

[oldhudson]

I have some stock on hand and it serves for many projects, but I always find buying something I don't have. Recently my daughter asked that I make pull-out shelfs for her 50's kitchen. She asked for melamine, so that meant another purchase. I picked up 2 sheets of 5/8" - 49" x 97" (barely fit in my mini van). Here are some pics of my wood storage. Some outside in an unheated garage and some in the shop. I have pw from 1/8 to 3/4. Mdf I have 1/4 - 3/4. I keep some of all of these: walnut, cherry, red and white oak, doug fir, yellow pine, maple and poplar.

[OCtoolguy]

3 minutes ago, oldhudson said:

I have some stock on hand and it serves for many projects, but I always find buying something I don't have. Recently my daughter asked that I make pull-out shelfs for her 50's kitchen. She asked for melamine, so that meant another purchase. I picked up 2 sheets of 5/8" - 49" x 97" (barely fit in my mini van). Here are some pics of my wood storage. Some outside in an unheated garage and some in the shop. I have pw from 1/8 to 3/4. Mdf I have 1/4 - 3/4. I keep some of all of these: walnut, cherry, red and white oak, doug fir, yellow pine, maple and poplar.

Nice set up. I wish I had a tiny fraction of your space. But, I'll work within my parameters. Thanks for the great pics.

 

[Scrappile]

Ha! If the amount of space one's wood takes up, I am a lot richer in wood than @oldhudson!  Coarse, I only have a tiny amount of wood but the way I organize things,  my tiny amount takes up a whole lot more space....  I even build a cart like his, it over there some where under those pieces of scrap wood.....

[bandaideman]

I have over the years purchase a little. Mainly I have had friends and wood workers who had wood left overs and like money if some one asks if I might be able to use it I say yes. I met a Doctor who in the 70s harvested from his wooded land to build a regular size Barn to store and work on his John Deere tractor Collection He had 10 when I met him about 2000 but took He did not know I was interested in wood working for a bout 10 years later when he saw some of my scroll sawing work and noticed I was dumpster diving in the parking lot. They were renovating the hospital and were throwing out 2 inch Oak rails doors and thinner base board. He invited me to his barn to take some of the wood he was not going to use and since he used to build large projects maybe I could use some of the wood he wouldn't. So he had a lot of walnut some oak birch and cherry so this is what I have been using since. Rough sawn but had a band saw and planner. For a project I either find a pattern and see if I got a piece of wood to fit or I pick a piece of wood and find a pattern to fit. 

[Rockytime]

My system is simple. I have no room for storage of any kind. I buy 3/16" X 4 X8 Luan underlayment and Home Depot quarters it for me. I stack it in one corner of the garage. The Poplar and Oak I buy in two foot lengths. I but pine boards one or two at a time. Fortunately Home Depot and Lowe's are only about ten or fifteen minutes away. I occasionally purchase a few pieces of wood from Woodcraft when they have a sale. Woodcraft is about 40 minutes away through traffic so I don't do that often Ray, I'm in the same boat you are. Now STOP stirring up trouble! :>)

[teachnlearn]

Most the scroll saw patterns I've seen are somewhat small. I can imagine there isn't space in any living space. We have lived in apartments and had to create space. Slide a few boards under the bed. Slide a few boards beside the frig between the wall and frig or frig and cabinet. Slide a few boards behind sets of cabinets, dressers, bookcases. With 8 x 10 signs there must be a few spaces to keep a  bit of spare wood. Most purchases depend of the amount you buy. Buy one piece and you pay max. Buy a bit more and you get a discount. I lived in a submarine and they tucked everything in a space. Hardwood has a higher price, but you probably have favorites you work in, I haven't seen too many posts with someone working in a exotic scarce hardwood. One major question is budget. We buy food in bulk and break it down to small packs and freeze it. We have to save, but we save a lot on bulk purchase. Stock of wood would work the same.  'Might fit in the freezer if you break it down'.

Unless you live in a tent, there is space somewhere. If you live in a tent, put pieces of wood on a tarp next to it and fold the tarp. Bet I could fit a few 8 x 10 pieces under the car seat, or in the trunk.  RJF

[scrollingforsanity]

Generally go out and buy what I need for a project except BB I keep plenty of that on hand. I am not a very good organizer or planner. Seems if I keep stock laying around I end up moving it all the time and possibly dinging it up. 

grizz

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I have tons of woods of all kind exotics and domestics. I use to go to woodworking shows and they use to have show prices so I stock up I have a hardwood dealer near me that I usually go every summer and stock up and in fact need to make a trip. If I need special wood I never buy just for that project. Waste of money if you buy like that. I buy plenty of board feet. Wood does not go bad and have a shelf life. I do have it scattered in various places in my basement but always there. I collect wood like others collect scrollsaws. 

[teachnlearn]

30 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I have tons of woods of all kind exotics and domestics. I use to go to woodworking shows and they use to have show prices so I stock up I have a hardwood dealer near me that I usually go every summer and stock up and in fact need to make a trip. If I need special wood I never buy just for that project. Waste of money if you buy like that. I buy plenty of board feet. Wood does not go bad and have a shelf life. I do have it scattered in various places in my basement but always there. I collect wood like others collect scrollsaws. 

Naturally funny. 'Wood has a shelf life.'

At times wood can go against the grain. RJF

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

1 hour ago, teachnlearn said:

Naturally funny. 'Wood has a shelf life.'

At times wood can go against the grain. RJF

Some maybe KNOT so much.

[Phantom Scroller]

I have a full shed of wood some sheets of ply, oak, red cedar, maple, pine and other exotics I take a trip to the saw mills and buy a car full really cheap in big lengths 1" thick and cut in half on the bandsaw if required a lot better wood than the stores they will cut it for free as well. Roly

[Brianr24]

Well I’m not sure if I’m a hobby woodworker or a hobby wood collector. I love to buy / harvest wood. Then I never want to use it. I like to save it. If I’m going to make a project out of cherry I could have 200 bd ft but I won’t use it I go buy more to use then I try use as little as possible and save that. Also if I have beautiful pieces of wood I never want to use it. I always want to save it.

I’m looking to put up a small shed out back just for wood storage. But I don’t want to use up the wood to build it.

I guess I’mmmm mr. wood miser.

oh yeah and all my studded walls have wood slats nailed up so I can store long thin cut offs in . Most are absolute garbage. But I won’t throw them out.        

“Mmm. Better keep that might need it sometime.”Even though I’ll never find it again or even remember I have it.

Edited July 11, 2019 by Brianr24

[Bill WIlson]

7 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

Some maybe KNOT so much.

I saw what you did there.

[bcdennis]

I usually have Poplar and Red Oak on hand at all times.  Right now I have some Walnut in stock but for smaller projects.  I always look through ebay for deals on Walnut, Purple Heart, Red Cedar or other wood I can't get locally.  Occasionally I can find Aspen but it is hard.  All of my projects are out of boards so I try to hoard as much as I can when I can. 

[Bill WIlson]

17 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I think I wish I was your neighbor.

 

I'm fortunate to live in a region that is rich in native hardwoods.  Lotsa wood and lotsa small, private sawmills to cut it up.  Just need a place to store it.