Old_Rednek_Workshop

I am a big fan of visiting home building sites and showing up with a box of donuts for the crew, and you would be amazed at what they will give you for "Scrap."

I have also found that talking to the local power company/tree trimming companies is very helpful. The tree trimming crews are more than glad to get rid of some of the bigger pieces. Most of the time, if they are working in the area of where I live, they will stop by in the afternoon and deliver it for free. A great source for mulch too. This has been a really good source of aspen, red elm, alder, sassafras, oak and hickory, just to name a few. Also, after ice/snow storms in the winter and thunderstorms in the summer, many trees will be blown over on the power lines, and again, these guys are more than happy to get rid of the logs. I also get and use alot of cedar this way too.

I spent a couple of hundred dollars and bought a chain saw mill, and rough out alot of logs into dementional lumber. I also spent another $75 and bought a really high quality resaw blade for my 18" bandsaw, and made a sled and resaw some of the smaller logs, and also most of the lumber that I mill out with my chain saw mill. It takes a little time, but I have a large supply of lumber for only pennies.

I have also found that going to funiture mills is a very good way to get alot of smaller scraps. They are usually glad to get rid of it, and even load my truck for me. I have found that pallets are a good way to get hard wood lumber as well.

I will at times take a weekend ride out in the rural area where I live and find old barns and sheds that are falling down and many times the owners are glad to give me all that I want. There are alot of good lumber in many of the sheds, and the old barns are a gold mine. I have gotten ALOT of cheasnut this way. I will bring the larger pieces to my shop and resaw them down to usable sizes. Out of 2 large beams alone, I built a new bedroom suite for my daughter out of walnut. Also, I have found that an engine hoist ($200) works great to handle many of the larger pieces and acts as a "hoist."