Comments on: How I Buy Wood & Why I’m Weird

By: BillT

BillT — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:14:39 +0000

Hi, my name is Bill and I’m a wood hoarder.

By: amoscalie

amoscalie — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:38:01 +0000

Chris,
I have just redone my workshop (third car garage) and I looked at the rack of wood that I have and decided to do exactly what you are doing. Buy what I need and burn the scraps. I have pieces and parts from various projects that have been sitting around for years, but they will get used up in my historical re-enactment fires from now on.

Jeff

By: tonyfriendly

tonyfriendly — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:14:13 +0000

Such discipline, but very admirable.

By: geppetto425

geppetto425 — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:10:08 +0000

My question is why do you have so many books? You can only read one at a time! Are the for reference or books you wrote?

By: lathemommy46701

lathemommy46701 — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:08:24 +0000

Hi, Chris.
I work much the same with the exception of small cutoffs that are suitable for small lathe projects. Keeping too much lumber around actually messes up the choice of projects!

BTW, I do not find you weird at all. Those of us with “a reverence for wood” (Eric Sloane) and working wood by hand live in a kind of time warp that others simply do not understand. Be the anarchist you are. I’m proud to be one with you!
Mary

By: Jim Matthews

Jim Matthews — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:36:23 +0000

I wish I had come to this realization before my “beginner’s binge” when I bought out three woodworker’s for their wood.

I have now store more material than I am likely to use (SABLE) Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy.

Since then, I must force myself not to cruise Craigslist.

There is ALWAYS someone giving up the hobby or moving to smaller digs where they can’t take lumber.

By: Bradinsc

Bradinsc — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:33:50 +0000

I think after reading your article and many of the posts…. I am the weird one! I have a large supply of wood in my shop, and usually that supply dictates what I am going to make my next project out of! I skimp and save, look for good deals, offer to take “extra” wood from friends who dont woodwork, and raid the contractors dump bins in our being built neighborhood. I RARELY pay for wood.I do have a large amount of pine, but also cherry, oak, and poplar. My FIL cuts Cherry on his camp property in NW PA and has the local Amish board cut it, I stick dry it and WALLAH! Tons of cherry! Guess my shop budget just does not account for buying too much wood. (I do most of my work for free, or a nominal charge for shop supplies)

Brad

By: Daris

Daris — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 01:50:51 +0000

You’re not crazy. I do pretty much the same thing. Not sure I would spend an entire day finding a few boards though. Unless I had a lot invested in a piece.

By: RWL

RWL — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 19:55:00 +0000

Hmm…maybe I will pass on getting built the scrap bin project plan featured in this month’s other wood mag, Fine Scrapmaking, and just throw the stuff out. Nice.

By: gumpbelly

gumpbelly — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:07:58 +0000

I like hybrid too. Big barn, and buy piles plenty big enough to do whole pieces at a time if needed, bought when you see the deals. Buying like Chris talks about is how a person has 2K in a chest of drawers, just for wood.