Hello,

I've briefly spent some time looking for blanks to turn wooden grips. Does anybody have a decent source for these pieces/blanks of wood? Seems like some of them are ridiculously expensive... Just getting started with my lathe, but any suppliers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

John

John,

I am actually a woodworker dabbling in rodbuilding... and I can (perhaps) help you out. People here have been generous with their time -- I can manage the same with wood scraps! I have a few pieces of fiddleback hard maple, mesquite, figured claro walnut, etc. that I am happy to send you depending upon the size that you need.

I forgot to mention initially that it would, of course, be free.


Let me know.

Erik





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2006 05:10PM by Erik Godwin.

Tropical exotic hardwoods of latin america. Google that and you will get a place run by Mitch Talcove in Southern California. Very decent prices on Cocobolo and other exotics. Some wood distributors are unrealistic with their pricing. These people are in line with market value.
The other alternative is to go out with chainsaw in hand and find something that catches your eye. Sometimes a discarded gnarled old stump can yield beautifully figured burl.

If there is one near you, you might try Rockler. They sometimes have some nice stuff, and not too bad for price. Otherwise, I find local specialty wood suppliers are better than what I have found online. Want something really unusual? how about 50,000 year old wood? Try ancientwood.com

John,

For actual distributors, consider the following:

Gilmer Hardwoods: [www.gilmerwood.com] They have the best array of wooden eye candy on the net. It isn't cheap, and it has a $100 minimum, but they have turning squares in most dimensions and of woods that I cannot find anywhere else.

Hearne Hardwoods: [www.hearnehardwoods.com] Their selection of high-figure woods is spectacular, and they have excellent service.

Irion Lumber: [www.irionlumber.com] Another great source of high-quality lumber. I don't know if they have a minimum.

As mentioned above, Tropical Exotic Hardwoods is also excellent.

Erik

I pick my own. I also have a friend who is a wood worker who gives me stuff. I use wood that is native to the area up here, cedar, birch, maple, poplar, etc. And I have yet to cut down a live tree. You would be surprise what you can find during a walk in the woods.

Wow guys,

Thanks for all the help. I'm just getting started, so I'll do a little practicing before I move on to the expensive stuff. Thanks again for taking the time to respond. Have a good week.

John

I buy a lot of my wood from Penn State Industries. I've always felt their prices are reasonable.

Something else that I've heard of folks doing is going somewhere like a Kubota tractor store and taking their throw-away pallets. Apparently, their shipping pallets are often made out of some interesting exotic woods.