Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 26, 2007 03:51am | #1

   Pawlawski's in Houston, PA (Just South of pgh past Southpointe on I-79)

   Lots of red oak and maple. Last I was there, he had some cherry from his own lot. Good guy.

   There is also a nice place just south of Cooper's Rock, WV, about 1-1/2 or 2 hrs south of Pgh. Also a nice guy. Lots of red and white oak, cherry, walnut, etc. If you feel like travelling that far, give a shout and I'll look up the name for ya.

   If I don't feel like travelling, there's always Brookside -- red oak, some cherry on occasion and maple. s-4-s & probably not local, but usually nice stock and this is a great yard.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   ubc | Oct 27, 2007 12:59am | #2

   I'll check them out.

   BTW what kind of work do you do? I'm mainly into finish carpentry myself.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 29, 2007 02:49pm | #4

   "BTW what kind of work do you do? I'm mainly into finish carpentry myself."

   My woodworking is pretty eclectic. I developed a love for ww-in with hand tools years ago when I tought for a while in the woodshop at Old Economy. (I couldn't afford a shop back then, so hand tools fit me pretty well.) I still have all the parts to a cherry Queen Anne lowboy that I made as a demo back then sitting on my bench -- 30+ years old and never finished! Hand tools only and now waiting for hand sanding, so I guess it'll never get done. LOL

   I got into carpentry and renovation after that, so ww-ing shifted to primarily power tools, 2-bys, trim and cabinetry. The house I'm living in/re-doing now is A&C (sort of), so I've been doing a lot of that lately. Lots of trim, built-ins and furniture.

   Attached is a pic of an addition-in-progress. White oak from the WV dealer I mentioned for the railings in the power tool department. The pergola is post & beam constructin via hand tools.

   Here's what is currently creating dust in my shop -- a built-in A&C vanity, also white oak from the guy in WV. Cab is in, currently doing doors & drawers, mostly by hand -- just because. Not particularly "fine" ww-ing, but I like how it's turning out.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

   
1. 
   ubc | Oct 30, 2007 12:32am | #5

   Nice work Mike. I was wondering how you designed the handrail? Are they half lap joints? Also, what's the plan for the treated post in the center?

    

   Regards...

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 30, 2007 01:05am | #6

   Yep. The crosspiece is half-lapped. There's also a channel under the bottom rail for recessed rope lighting. Attached (Rail2) is a photo of one of the sections being assembled by My Lovely Assistant. As for the uprights, we were going to paint them green to match the cap, but decided they looked kind of nice natural (well, as natural as ACQ can be) to match the pergola, so we may leave 'em that way. See Photo titled Rail3.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

   
2. 
   ubc | Oct 30, 2007 02:43am | #7

   I like craftsman style touches like that. It's simple but yet classic. Nice job.

3. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 30, 2007 03:43am | #8

   Thanks. My BI thinks I'm nuts -- not used to seeing details that can't be bought at the local HD. ;-)

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

   Edit: Where in da 'Burgh are yunz? What sort of construction do you do?

   Edited 10/29/2007 8:45 pm ET by MikeHennessy

4. 
   ubc | Oct 30, 2007 11:34pm | #9

   "Thanks. My BI thinks I'm nuts"

   BI?

   I'm north of the city about 12 miles. Mostly I stick to finish carpentry - interior/exterior doors, cabinets, crown, waintscot... you get the idea.

5. 
   MikeHennessy | Oct 31, 2007 02:12pm | #10

   BI = Building Inspector

6. 
   ubc | Nov 01, 2007 10:55pm | #11

   Duh...me be a moron. LOL!

2. 
   tomone | Nov 02, 2007 03:30am | #12

   West Elizabeth Lumber is another source besides Brookside.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Nov 02, 2007 02:19pm | #13

   Yep. West Eliz is good too -- a pretty extensive selection of the more exotic stuff. The only prob with them is that their hours are not particularly user friendly.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

2. 
   Tony Z | Oct 27, 2007 02:19pm | #3

   I live in DuBois, about a hundred miles north of Pittsburgh.  There are plenty of small mills up here, but, I generally order my lumber from a few places including Graf and Graf from near Lancaster, Penn Hardwoods, Niagara Lumber, to name a few.

   I've found I've had far better results with buying lumber kiln dried (whcih these places do) versus buying from a local mill and having to air dry.  Plus you have surfacing options.  Price, selection and quality wise, I'd give my preferential nod to Graf and Graf.