Shopping for Wood

The weather has been gloomy lately. Too muddy to work on the landscaping and so I decided to go shopping for wood. I started in Berkeley thinking I could also grab lunch at one of my favorite jaunts right across the street fro Mac Beath. After an uneventful drive I found a whole lot of nothing there. There was one beautiful piece of wenge. The problem was that I drove the truck that day and really needed a van for this massive board. Another issue was the cost, a whopping $500. I passed on it only to find that my beloved tofu house was gone and gone forever. Luckily Berkeley in packed with scores of great places to eat.
Heading north, I totally forgot to check with Handloggers in Richmond. Years ago I would find nice Tulipwood there. They have a nice operation and specialize in wood flooring.
I made it back to Windsor and he guys at Mount Storm seemed to be in good spirits. Only problem was I didn't find anything there either. But they mentioned a shipment coming in soon was expected to be big.
This is the dance I do every few months. Sometimes I come home with a huge load of wood. Other times nothing.
This inventory problem is another sign of a bad economy. Retailers in every category are in a pinch. Trying to sell existing stock while attracting buyers like us is difficult to juggle. For now, I'll call first to find out when shipments are coming in and re-check to see if they actually arrived. But in the end you never know what's going to be there until you see it. Fortunately for me I started seeing this pattern of shortages last year. So I keep a big supply of lumber in the shop. Right now I have enough wood to keep me busy for a couple of years, but cant wait to find some more.

Tip of the Week: If you know exactly what you're looking for, call the retailers and ask a lot of questions including how much things cost. You'll avoid sticker shock and wont be surprised by shortages.

Shout Out of the Week: Thanks to David at Woodcraft in Santa Rosa. This guy is energetic, knowledgeable and helpful.