Anyone from Ottawa?

[John Smith]

I live in Ottawa (Canada). I was wondering if anyone on this newsgroup is from the area and can offer me some advise.

I get most of my wood right now at Home Depot, which is convinient, but expensive. I'm now looking to build a maple bed frame, and HD does not carry enough of what I need, and it would cost me a small fortune. I also need some cherry for another project I am working on. What is the best source for wood? Is it better to order it, or is there a local store that offers it at a good price?

Also I need some clear plastic -- I want to build some tool storage shelving for my tools with a clear plastic doors to protect from sawdust. I have no clue where to get that. (I was considering glass, but I'm scared it would break).

Finally, for the bed posts, I need to use a lathe. Is there somewhere in Ottawa I can outsource this work instead of spending $600?

Thanks in advance,

John

[Charlie Self]

John Smith asks:

I'd bet that a trip to a Lee Valley store will provide you with the means to answer all your questions in one place.

Check the store out and talk to the staff.

Charlie Self

"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a *part* of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a *part* of Europe." Dan Quayle

[JGS]

Hi John, I use to buy my lumber from Adams and Kennedy in Manotick and still do on the odd occasion but have found a few smaller operators who offer good product at 25

-50% less the A&K and appreciate your bus> I live in Ottawa (Canada). I was wondering if anyone on this newsgroup is

[Michael Daly]

Lumber suppliers seem to like to hide. Many aren't even in the yellow pages. Look around for small mills in the area. Also, take a look at this web site:

specialists won't necessarily be cheaper than HD. I know some will require you to buy a huge piece to resaw or pay for them to resaw. HD, by selling you only what you need, ends up cheaper. Not a problem if you're constantly bringing in wood, but for small, one-off projects, paying $200 to get $60 worth of wood and then having lots of leftover is a pain.

HD, Revy/Rona and others stock various sizes of Lexan (polycarbonate) and plexiglass. The former is particularly tough and would be a good choice.

Mike

[Donald Cranstone]

John:

Barr Lumber, just west of Packenham [phone] is a small sawmill with a kiln. I've purchased lumber from them many times. If they have what you want on hand when you want it, their prices are excellent, only a fraction of what HD charges. Plan to pay in cash for the best deal. Harry Barr can also be reached at home in the evenings at

624-5363.

I also have a Smiths Falls telephone number [phone] currently advertising various varieties of kiln-dried hardwood, including the maple you are looking for.

If you need the rough-sawn wood planed to thickness, you should enquire whether any supplier you choose can so this for you.

Randy Warren [phone]) runs a small sawmill near Packenham and may have what you want, but does not have a kiln, so you would have to plan om air-drying the lumber under cover for about a year.

In Ottawa, Cliff Ralph [phone] (926 Garwood Ave) sells unplaned kiln-dried hardwood lumber from a shed in his back yard at attrctive prices, not as attractive as Barr Lumber, but if you don't need much it is cheaper than driving a long distance, and much cheaper than Home Depot. Because his volume of sales is not large, he is not required to charge GST on his sales. I can recommend him highly. You may be able to arrange for him to plane the lumber for you.

I hope this helps.

Don