buying lumber online

[Michael Press]

I'm about to buy about 60 linear feet of 2x6 oak, probably white oak, to replace the handrails in my house. My local lumberyard has red oak, unsurfaced, but no white oak. They don't surface, but recommended a local millshop that will. I don't have the equipment to do it.

I'll be using this wood for handrails (just plain 2x8 with a stopped dado on the bottom to accept the ballisters). I won't need 4 perfectly perpendicular faces, but I need the boards to be flat (no twist or bow) since I can't flatten them and they're just bolted on top of the ballisters.

I've seen prices online for white oak, S2S at approx $4/bdft, IIRC. I wonder though how much you can trust lumber you've never seen or touched. I'm interested in anyone's experiences ordering lumber online.

Thanks, Michael

[Digger]

Where are you?

Dig

[Michael Press]

Maryland

[Renata]

try woodfinder.com

Renata

smart, not dumb for email

[Davis Eichelberger]

I'd think there'd be plenty of white oak in Maryland. It is easy to find in Virginia. Where about in Maryland doesn't have white oak?

Davis Eichelberger

[Michael Press]

I'm in the Rockville area. I haven't looked exhaustively, just checked a recommended local lumberyard. Any suggestions (even in NVA) would be appreciated.

Michael

[Bob Drzyzgula]

Hicksville Planing Mill in Clear Spring. That's a bit West of Frederick, but well worth the drive. They have damn near anything you could possibly want, at reasonable prices. Google on "Hicksville Planing Mill, Clear Spring, MD" and it should give you their phone number and map links. They're open on Saturday mornings.

At a higher price, but with excellent service and decent selection, try Mizell Lumber & Hardware in Kensington, right next to the train station.

--Bob Drzyzgula

[Carver33]

Michael,

Ther used to be a wood shop, Woodworkers Warehouse (was a cabinet shop which converted to selling wood, cabinet making supplies and tools) on I beleive W. Montgomery Ave (behind the Rockville Metro Station) which carried a very good selection of wood. If they are no longer there, I find it hard to believe that there are no suppliers of white oak in the DC metropolitan area. Look in the yellow pages under Hardwood, woodworking or cabinetmaking. I doubt you would have any luck at the standard lumber yards.

Good luck Bill

[Carver33]

Woodfinder. com reveals:

Wood World Contact: Tim Barrett & Bruce Fonoroff Address: 309 Howard Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 1-800-Wood R Us

among others close by

HTH Bill

[Renata]

Exotic Lumber in Gaithersburg would be one. If you needs lots, you may consider a place like the mill someone suggested.

Really - try that woodfinder website - type in your zip, narrow down what you're looking for (plywood, hardwood, etc.) and it gives you business located within x miles of your zip code.

Renata

smart, not dumb for email