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questions from

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mail order

Lumber

I live in a rural area and the only place I can buy lumber doesn't have much of a selection (just oak and pine). I've seen ads in woodworking magazines for hardwood lumber dealers that sell wood through the mail, but I'm a little hesitant to try this. What do you think?

Dave Ritchie via email

Lumber selection can vary greatly depending on what part of the country you live in and how close you are to a large population center. Most home centers have a pretty limited selection of lumber for building furniture projects.

And even if you're fortunate enough to have a hardwood lumber dealer nearby, you may be looking for an unusual species of wood that your local dealer doesn't carry. If so, ordering lumber by mail may be your only option.

There are plenty of hardwood dealers who are willing to ship their product to your door. Some may require a minimum order or prefer to deal with large-volume customers. But there many dealers that cater to individuals and small businesses. There are just a few things to be aware of before you place an order.

Of course, the most obvious drawback to ordering

▼ Inside. Once you remove the cardboard and plastic wrapping, the wood looks like it just left a lumberyard.

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Delivered to Your Door. If you

don't have a lumber dealer nearby, ordering wood by mail can be a

convenient option

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lumber through the mail is that you're buying it sight unseen. In this sense, you're at the mercy of the dealer. But you can improve the odds of getting what you want by asking as many questions as possible up front.

Is the lumber graded, and if so, what grade are you buying? Are the boards surface planed or roughsawn? How is the lumber dried (air-dried or kiln-dried)? What lengths and widths are available? The idea is to get an accurate mental picture of the wood you are buying before you actually place your order.

Choosing a Dealer. Of course, finding a dealer that you feel comfortable with is kind of like finding a mechanic. You may have to try two or three before you come across one that you feel comfortable with and that's willing to work with you.

One way to find a reliable lumber dealer is to place a small order first and see if you're happy

with the lumber and the service. ^ And I've found that once you estab- W lish a relationship with a dealer, you're more likely to get "special" treatment the next time you place an order. (I've had good experiences with Badger Hardwoods, see margin on opposite page.)

Shipping. The biggest drawback to buying lumber through the mail is the added cost of shipping. (I spent $85 on shipping for an order of 60 bd. ft. of lumber.) Make sure you discuss the shipping costs at the time you place your order so there won't be any surprises.

It's also a gcxxi idea to ask how your order will be packaged and shipped. My order was wrapped in cardboard and arrived in good condition (see photo above).

WoodFinder. Here's one final tip. If you're looking for a specific species of wood, there's a website (www.zvoodfinder.com) with a program that can help you find it. All you do is type in the species of ^ wood you want and it will give you a list of dealers who stock that species and are willing to ship. &

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