Replies

1. 
   RDNZL | Mar 06, 2008 06:39am | #1

   I'm constantly amazed at how difficult it is to find retail hardwoods here in the heart of the eastern hardwood forest.....

   That said, I deal mostly with Baker Lumber of White River Junction - good selection, both hardwoods and sheetgoods, and usually reasonable quality. They also deliver around VT once a week - call them (802-291-9102) and see what day they're in your area. If you want to travel and pick your stock, they're right near the VA hospital, just off I-91 (89?)

   VT Hardwoods in Chester is another option - pickings can be slim.

   I'd be interested in any other sources you may turn up - let me know +/or I'll keep watching here.

   Good luck!

    

2. 
   GRW | Mar 06, 2008 02:52pm | #2

   I'm in the northern half of Vermont. I get my sheet goods In Essex Jct. at Morse hardwoods. Better rates for pros, and deeper discounts over 10 sheets of any one kind/thickness. I think they MAY have a branch further southeast of Essex Jct.

   Hardwoods can be found at Tom Lathrops (sp?) or A. Johnson's both in Bristol. That may be too far north for you. A. Johnsons has pretty good bulk rates for bundles that around 500 BF. Now and then they have smaller bundles. Not often. These locations handle a few typles of wood, but mostly maple and cherry. A.Johnson's takes an additional 2% off for cash/check on bundles (2% off wholesale) or 10% off retail.  Tom Laythrops is a smaller operation and may do more specialty work for you. They are both on Rt. 116 in Bristol near the intersection of Rt 17.

1. 
   tuolumne7 | Mar 06, 2008 04:07pm | #3

   Thanks, keep them coming.  I can find hard maple, cherry and softwoods easily; there are even some small local sawmills, but they usually only have one species of any quanity.  I have a resource for abundant elm at a good price, but I'm not sure I have a place for it.  How is elm for flooring?

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Mar 06, 2008 04:25pm | #4

   Not sure how close these folks are to you, but have you tried Northend Hardwoods in Lyndonville?  I called them and they sent me a fax of their pricelists.  They have both solid wood and plywoods.  Not sure how their prices compare to others.

    

   http://www.northendhardwoods.com/index.html

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   GRW | Mar 06, 2008 05:03pm | #6

   Bob,

   Northend Hardwoods prices are much higher than other retailers in my area. I have been to their Williston VT. location. I have bought some exotic woods from them that other locals don't stock. But generally I save about 35-40% making a 45 min trip (Instead of 15 min) and getting wholesale rates.  I've been using about 1000 bf/year not including veneered plywood. So my bulk purchases have saved me hundreds of $$ on wood, and time running around.  I might think differently if I bought less wood.

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Mar 06, 2008 05:40pm | #8

   Thanks.  I was thinking their prices were a bit high.

   Unfortunately where I am they are about the closest supplier of any wood that even closely resembles cabinet/furniture grade lumber.

   I have been trying to convince the local Ethan Allen furniture factory (10 miles from me) that they could supplement their income by selling some of their wood.  

   Would you believe that their biggest concern is competition!   Meanwhile they're sales are declining rapidly and with the economic outlook what it is, they will undoubtedly decline even further.  A friend of mine works in the rough mill and you wouldn't believe the wood they through into the chipper!  It would make you sick.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   GRW | Mar 06, 2008 05:55pm | #9

   Bob,

   I know at least one Ethan Allen factory in Vt has closed.  I looked in their show room a couple of years ago. They (as others) have starting to cut some corners in their products. As I see it, that usually means the begining of the end.

3. 
   saschafer | Mar 06, 2008 04:52pm | #5

   "I'm in the northern half of Vermont."

   I never realized that Vermont was big enough to have a "northern" and a "southern." ;-)

   -Steve

    

1. 
   GRW | Mar 06, 2008 05:10pm | #7

   Steve,

   Oh ya, we have a northern, and southern Vermont.  Here's how it's measured.

   Take a pee of the back porch. What you can't reach is the southern half. It works the same in the south except you need to pee off the front porch.

2. 
   JohnWW | Mar 07, 2008 12:51am | #12

   Actually for weather reports we have north, south, and central regions and in the "Greens" or not. We also have the Northeast Kingdom, the Banana Belt, and the Islands. We also have Burlington, where 80% of the population lives, but they're hardly part of Vermont anymore.Mud season starts soon and then "You can't get there from here." won't just be a joke.John White
   Rochester, VT

1. 
   VTAndy_ | Mar 07, 2008 01:34am | #13

   Hey, John, there's plenty enough Yankee cheapness in Burlington to go around for the rest of the state!!! Anyhow, I thought that other flatlanders weren't supposed to make the comment about Burlington being "barely part of Vermont"!
   Anyhow, I wanted to second the recommendation of Lathrop's in Bristol. It's one of my favorite places to buy local wood, and they always have what I'm looking for. I've found Tom's prices to be very fair.
   -Andy, at home in Queen City, where _we_ didn't vote to indict the president as certain southern towns did...

1. 
   JohnWW | Mar 07, 2008 03:04am | #16

   OK yeah, I'm a flatlander, only lived here 36 years, but Burlingtonians are all stuck up and yuppified and flaunting how they're always on somebody's 10 best cities to live in list.If I were going to live in a city again, I'd live in a real city like New York or San Francisco. If I were going to live in an urban area in VT, I'd live in Montpelier, a much classier place.As for indicting Bush, that's what town meeting democracy is all about, I love it.John W.

2. 
   pzaxtl | Mar 07, 2008 05:10am | #19

   Burlingtonians are all stuck up and yuppified and flaunting how they're always on somebody's 10 best cities to live in list.

   Yeah, isn't that funny since Burlington and the surrounding region has been dealing with a serious crime wave the last few years.  Several times each week there's a report on the evening news of a gas station robbery, a home invasion, a pharmacy broken into, a shooting, etc.  Not bad for a city of less than 50,000 people!  With any luck, the perpetrators will be caught and appear before the same judge that gave the child molestor 45 days as a sentence last year.  So much for traditional New England values and small town charm!

   Edited 3/6/2008 9:15 pm ET by pzaxtl

3. 
   GRW | Mar 07, 2008 04:44am | #17

   Andy,

   I'm not knocking the Queen City. But it is the only part of Vt. that doesn't have a mud season.  I spent 4 years there in the Green and Gold school on the hill.

   Spend a few days in the Northeast Kingdom. You'll agree. They are 2 different worlds. If you want to sell woodwork, The queen City and it's 15 mile radius is where you want to be. More $$ there... Of course there is Stowe...

   Good to see you're alive and well.

3. 
   FrankDrackman | Mar 07, 2008 02:42am | #14

   You must be a flatlander

3. 
   AndyCharron1 | Mar 06, 2008 07:49pm | #10

   For hardwood you might also try Main St. Millworks out of Springfield, MA. They run trucks up to Vermont. I'm not sure if they will sell retail and they do have minimum qty. requirements, but it might be worth a call anyway. # is 413-773-5064. Ask for Rudy, and you can tell him I gave you his name. For sheet stock, you could try Atlantic Plywood. They're in CT but run trucks up to Vermont on Tuesdays and Thursdays. # is 800-877-2759. Or you could try North Pacific out of Royalton. # is 877-263-3475. Ask for Glen. Both of them may also have restrictions on retail sales, but worth a try anyway.

   Good luck

   Andy Charron

1. 
   tuolumne7 | Mar 06, 2008 09:04pm | #11

   Thanks Andy, I hadn't thought to look that far.  I got all the sheet goods for our CT home from Atlantic. 

    

4. 
   VTNorm | Mar 07, 2008 02:51am | #15

   Wow, all these Vermonters here, who'd a thunk it?

   Rk Miles in Manchester, although a home center/lumber yard, has always been able to help get me the materials I need (through them) or point me to the local guys for specialty stuff. A good resource and worth the phone call.

   Talk to Mike Jamieson or Richard Babcock in lumber sales.

   -Norm

    

    

1. 
   tuolumne7 | Mar 07, 2008 04:45am | #18

   That's intriguing; Mike has been a great help to me throughout our building project.  I wouldn't have thought to ask them.

5. 
   PaulMassachusetts | Mar 07, 2008 05:55am | #20

   You might try:

   Kerber Farms and Mills    Rte 5

   Guilford, Vt   802 257-0614 

   ______________________________________________________

   or:In Greenfield, MA -- right off I-91 just south of the VT border,Forest Products Associates.

   http://www.forestproductsassociates.com/

   They're stronger on cabinet-making wood, but often have nicely figured wood,

    

   I havent bought from either . The first one-a small mill- had some good looking lumber,the second one was a tip in my notes from someone else.  There also is "the Woodery" in Lunenberg, Ma but that may be a bit far to go. 

1. 
   bobbronner | Mar 07, 2008 11:02pm | #21

   I also strongly recommend Forest Products http://www.forestproductsassociates.com. I currently live in RI, but discovered them while living in Brattleboro. Sue is the main person you will deal with there and she is AWESOME! They have a great selection and always enough inventory in every species. Not just maple and cherry, but many of the exotics too. Not the easiest to find, but worth the effort. Whenever I need more than just a few board feet, I make the 3 hr drive, because the quality is that good.Good luck
   Bob

6. 
   ASK | Mar 08, 2008 12:49am | #22

   Probably way too south for you but I get my hardwood from Berkshire Products in Sheffield, Ma. About a mile west of Rt 7

   www.berkshireproducts.com/

   ASK