Canadian lumber

[Phil L.]

Hi all,

Anyone know where to get nice cheap wood in the Toronto area?? I'm a beginner and don't want to waist good wood on my first projects, cause I might mess them up. I know that the big stores (home depot/rona/building box) are usually more expensive than other places.

I'm thinking pine is good (any other suggestions?)

Thanks...phil

[yobosaeyo]

You could try working with pallet wood which is usually free. Kevin

[Eric Tonks]

Try printers, the pallets are usually single use only and of smoother, cleaner wood.

[BeerBoy]

Hi Phil, Go the the Canadian Woodworking Magazine forum at:

'll get good advice from all the locals. They're a real nice bunch of folks and very helpful.

---BeerBoy

[Bob Flint]

One problem with your theory is that cheap wood or 'found' wood is usually not straight or even or grain-consistant, and will be very hard to work with!

The better the wood you learn on, the better you will be when it comes to adjusting your methods to accommodate bent and crappy wood. It's like learning to solder copper pipe - you learn with new shiny pipe so you can handle the corroded and oxidized pipes in your house!

and hey - who says your first projects won't be good??? Have confidence!!

I myself usually go to Reno Depot and look for the bargain stack of lumber... lately they had pre-glued up stock 5/8" pine at 8 feet by 16 inches for under 20 bucks! You can't beat that! (wish I had a big truck...)

[Dave Balderstone]

Free and twisted, warped, cupped, dirty, nailed together with the Spikes From Hell...

Not what I'd wish on a new-to-the-addiction wooddorker.

djb

[Michael Daly]

Start here:

[Glen Duff]

I've never been a fan of pallet wood until: 1) I discovered softwood pallets and, 2) I learned how to take them apart quickly and fairly easily.

I don't go out of my way to find pallets though as it makes no sense to try making quality furniture out of it other than pieces that are structural and not seen. If you are looking for pallet wood I would highly recommend finding some pallets made of poplar. This is really a functional wood and I always like plenty of it in my shop.

Glen Duff

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Michael Daly wrote:

[Phil]

Try Japaneese motorcycle shops-- The pallets are Mahogany-- used to be anyhow