Good Afternoon!
I have a couple of projects that require some redwood or even teak. I am based out of the Chicago land area and I can not find anywhere that sells something other than the basic pine, cedar, oak… etc. Any help or advice on how to find more “specialty” lumber would be much appreciated. Thank you!
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Replies
Quick google search found this
Try
https://hardwoods-inc.com/hardwoods-chicago-illinois/
https://www.heidlerhardwood.com/inventory/item/70-teak/
Teak is pricey it’s $38/bdft locally in Hawaii hope it’s cheaper there
Hope you’ve worked with it before.
Need sharp blades, it’s waxy/oily, has silica in it and is hard on blades, I’m very allergic to sawdust use a mask for sure.
Owl Hardwoods has 3 locations in the Chicago area. Lombard(West), DesPlaines(north), Oak Lawn(south).
They carry a good variety including the ones you mentioned. The stock at each store varies. There are others around that I haven't been to but a lot of those dont let you go through and pick your boards.
There is a slab guy in Harvey the far south suburbs. Schroeder Hardwoods.
Good luck!
I have a yard about 20 minutes away but my favorite yard is 90 minutes away. Sometimes you have to travel a bit to get what you're after ;-) There are also mail order outfits.
You might want to try Redwood Lumber & Supply in Healdsburg Ca. Webpage is http://www.redwoodlumberco.com. Not sure how much you’re looking for but might be a good place to start.
Good Luck
You might want to check with hardwood dealers or specialty lumberyards in the area like Owl Hardwood, Wood World, or Keim. They often carry or can order exotic woods like redwood or teak. Also, try calling local woodworking clubs or checking Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes small-scale sellers have exactly what you need. Online retailers like Woodcraft or Rockler (which has a Chicago location) are also great for specialty lumber.