I now know the minimum size I need. Now where should I buy from. I have a few catalouges, Penn State, Woodcrafters and Grizzly. I have also found some people selling on @#$%&.

Anyone care to share their sources for wood? Anyone have any good/bad experiances buying wood off of @#$%& (a hint as to who you bought from would help)

Billy, I don't know if this works for you, but I don't buy wood. There are a few sawmills in my area and I have found they are most willing to give scraps and end pieces that they can't make lumber from. Generally the pieces require squaring up on a table saw. I have gotten pieces of solid walnut, beautiful cedar, and just recently something the guy called California Walnut. Generally this wood has much more character than any I have seen offered by retailers. If you have a mill in your area, give it a try.

www.eisenbran.com

Best place I have found in over 25 years of doing this.

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Billy, If you haven't already,,try sawing a piece of common, nondescript walnut, maple (or) across the grain and turn it on your lathe. You will need a bunch of sand paper to get a smooth finish but you may be surprized at the results. Walnut is particularly nice grained when sawed that way. Oh and BTW,,saw mills are a good source for burl. They seldom salvage it.

Tom & Don - thanks again. Not that I've checked, but I don't think there are too many sawmills in Brooklyn. I'm already scheming on some old furniture that I do not need to practice on - not sure what it is though. It seems like each time I buy a piece of equipment, I need something else! I get a wood lathe, now I need a grinder and a band saw or a table saw. Does it ever stop? LOL!!

Billy -

I have had EXTREMELY good luck with stabilized wood from Mike Ludemann at Wood Stabilizing Specialists, Inc. I can't say enough about the quality and consistency of the wood I've gotten from WSSI. He will stabilize wood you buy and send to him if you'd like, but the stuff he has shipped me has never been anything short of dynamite.

If you don't want the look and/or weight of stabilized wood this may not help you, but I've tried every stabilized product I could find and I feel very comfortable saying that his is the best. He will be at the Guild Conclave in a few weeks and I know he's bringing (and donating to the @#$%&) a bunch. You can find him on the web at:

www.stabilizedwood.com

I hope this helps.