Looking for some Starting Advice

[Bit By the Intarsia Bug]

Good Morning,

This is my first post, having just joined this group this morning. I have recently been bitten by the Intarsia bug, and plan to teach myself Intarsia. I have a DeWalt 788 scroll saw coming in the mail as well as a Bosch 1274DVS belt sander. I bought 3 books, one on learning to scroll saw and two on beginning Intarsia. I am very excited to be getting into woodworking and hope to get to know some of you in the process.
Last night my wife and I visited our local home improvement store to look at lumber. It's clear to me I'm not going to find the shades I'll be needing. They had light and light medium but nothing I would call medium and certainly no walnut-type dark shades. So, my question is where do you folks get your wood? I live in Eden Prairie MN; general answers or answers specific to my area would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

[Mike Crosa]

Good morning Scott and welcome. I think you are going to like it here.
Here are a few sources for wood.
http://www.heritagewood.com/
http://www.ocoochhardwoods.com/
http://www.sloanswoodshop.com/
These will get you started and I am sure others will pipe in.
I also have gotten wood on E-Bay. Do a search for scroll saw wood and you will be overwhelmed with items.

Good luck.

Mike C

[workin for wood]

There has to be alot of lumber places in MN. Or is it all prairie land over there? Check your local tree people. They can tell you where the mills are, and some of the tree cutting people also run lumber mills. What is it you call light and light medium? That's where confusion sets in. Light could be maple, but then if I show you a piece of holly, you would say maple is light medium. It's all subjective to what you have at hand. Try and think beyond just the shades of colors and into real colors. Thinking light and light medium is like watching a black and white movie. There's great colors available..reds, yellows, greens, blacks, whites, browns..etc.

Do an internet search on exotic woods minnesota. Internet purchases are great, but if you can find an exotic lumber place within an hour or so of your location, even better. It a bonus to visually see what you are buying.

Remember, some exotic lumbers could be in your own back yard too.

[f250]

Scott,

My mother also lives in Eden Prairie MN and I used to live near there for 18 years. You have a Rockler store only a few miles from you. You can get all the shades and colors that wood provides there at Rockler. Go to www.rockler.com and locate the store.

From there talk to the guys and cutomers at the store and you will find more than you dreamed of. There are many good places to buy the wood you are looking for.

Tom

[Kevin12]

Welcome to the forum, Scott! You're going to like it here.

I particularly like the idea of going to Rockler if there's one near enough. Woodcraft is good, too. Like Jeff said, there's nothing like actually looking at the very wood you're going to buy (although the on-line places are fine, too). Jeff did leave out purple and orange for colors, and also, Scott, don't forget striped (eg Zebrawood) and spalted (eg maple) wood. Those you really do want to look at "live".

But again, welcome.

[ubgoofy2003]

Scott, you are luckier than I am, when it comes to having a place to purchase wood. I live in Yuma, Az. & wood is scarce here. Only for building contractors. You should have a good supply of wood there in Minn. You already have some good info from the group, so check into your wood supply there. Hope you enjoy the new toys & scrolling !
Larry in Yuma

[ragiarn]

Try the following: the miles are distance from area cod 55347

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware #14 Minnetonka MN (7 miles)
Woodcraft - Bloomington, MN Bloomington MN (10 miles)
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware #81 Minneapolis MN (11 miles)
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware #12 Burnsville MN (12 miles)
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware #13 Maplewood MN (24 miles)
Courtland Hardware & Hardwoods LLC Courtland MN (56 miles)
Hartzell Wood Stock Lime Springs IA (115 miles)
Sebastian's Specialty Hardwoods, Inc. Seneca WI (168 miles)
Scandinavian Woodshop /Sawmill Somers IA (176 miles)
Ancientwood, Ltd. La Pointe WI (190 miles)

Doc

[Don Williamson]

One of the foremost experts, Judy Gale Roberts, seems to rely on cedar because of (1) its variation of colors, and (2) it is soft and easy to shape. Suggest you look for western red cedar for your first project, and remember it is absolutely essential to have your blade square to the table when doing intarsia.

[Forester21]

Woodfinder: Lumber, Veneer and Sawmill Services is your friend! plug in your zip code and it will list places close to you.
Theresa

[Big_red_S]

I recently found out there is a lumber yard about 2 blocks from my house.