Lockdown timber suppliers

[rt18]

Hey all,
I'm venturing into woodworking and my first project will be a relatively simple desk for my missus. I'll need timber, and wondered how to go about getting hold of it during lockdown?
If I wanted, for example, square cut Birch or Maple lengths to make up the top surface, where can I get hold of that?
I'm in the North East of UK, and not looking to venture into B&Q

 

[Notch7]

Try asking on UKworkshop.

Birch is not commercially available in the UK.

US hard maple is a standard commercial import....be aware that solid maple will contain brown colouring on some boards.

if you want sawn boards, hardwoods are cut into boards of random width, whatever can be yielded from the log. Board lengths will depend what packs the merchant has -they are nominally in multiples of a foot. So you might find 8'0 boards are available.

Widths are nominal too and are generally rounded to the nearest inch. So a 7" wide board may be between 6.5" to 7.5" wide.

American timbers are all imported with 2 square edges.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

All our timber merchants are open. Some, like British Hardwoods and John Boddy do mail order. Where are you?

 

[^woody^]

John Boddy

?

Looks like the shut up in 2015!

 

[Diver Fred]

Buy a copy of the 'Woodworker' - that has a listing of timber suppliers.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

?

Looks like the shut up in 2015!

Shows how long it is since I used them, then.

British Hardwoods in Keighley are still very much with us, though - I installed some oak flooring supplied by them as recently as Christmas.

I have to admit that most of the stuff we install comes on the back of girt great wagons in multi tonne drops - so not quite mail order

 

[rt18]

Thanks everyone. I'm totally new to this and looking forward to exploring woodworking.
I didn't realise how expensive nice wood was! British Hardwoods > Planed Ash (their cheapest) > £11/m for a 5 3/4" board. 12m = £132 + delivery. Just for the table top. Then there's the support structure etc.
I'll be staining/protecting the top, so I want a nice grain, but the support structure will be white, so I guess I can use inexpensive pine?

@JobAndKnock I'm in north Durham County, close to Stanley. I'd prefer to use a local supplier but I expect most timber merchants are offering cheap imported fencing and deck. I'm looking for furniture grade timber, but again I'm new to this so happy to be proven wrong. Is what I'm after commonplace? Or niche supply?

@wgt52 I doubt I'll see that in my local newsagents or Tesco - where's a good place to acquire a copy? I see you can get a digital copy online, but I always prefer to hold a real paper.

 

[Diver Fred]

Tesco's won't but most local Newsagents either hold it or can order. W.H. Smiths always have copies.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I didn't realise how expensive nice wood was!

Yes, but most if the trade buys rough sawn hardwood and dimensions and planes it themselves. As to the base, if you are painting it I'd consider joinery grade redwood as opposed to the knotty whitewood that places like B&Q sell at exorbitant prices. If you intend to do much ot might be worth finding a local joinery shop who can plane, thickness and edge plane for you and maybe supply small quantities of prepared redwood

@JobAndKnock I'm in north Durham County, close to Stanley. I'd prefer to use a local supplier but I expect most timber merchants are offering cheap imported fencing and deck.

In my experience most proper trade yards have the biggest sales in structural softwoods, carcassing, etc. Fencing and decking are normally more the province of the country sawmill type yards or fencing specialists in this neck of the woods. Hardwood, however, is and always has been, a specialist sub-trade. A specialist niche if you will

In your part of the world, although I don't know how far away they are, I did used to deal with Hexhamshire Hardwoods at one time for some stuff (and before Woody jumps in I did just Google them!) and they do appear to do small quantities, although you'd have to ask about delivery/mail order

 

[^woody^]

and before Woody jumps in I did just Google them!

I'm only interested as late last summer I was about to make some furniture and hummed and 'arred over walnut or mahogany. Got quotes etc and was about to order but I ran out of time for me to be able to make the things, and could not have the timber lying around until this year.

Anyway, a recent look online and its like WTF? the timber prices have gone up by 4 or 5x. Prices now seem to be between £2.5 and £3k

It's looking like it will have to be some CLS and a tin of Ronseal

 

[rt18]

Hexhamshire hardwoods have been incredibly helpful, thanks for the recommendation.