I visited three different lumber yards. It did not go well.

I went to three different lumber yards in Los Angeles to search for the right piece of wood for a project. To put it simply, it did not go smoothly. Still, I hope this video is helpful for some and gives some insight into my process of lumber selection.
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please consider supporting my channel by subscribing and hitting that notification bell. It really helps small channels like mine.
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[@zionosphere]

I am glad you made this video. It's not what you set out for, but neither was the wood selection. You get in a client discussion point for aesthetics for the how after the previous discussion of the what. Christie makes for an excellent client and fellow student for you to explain some specific aspects of the craft. You taught that going to a lumber yard is better for furniture making than a big box store (a no-brainer) but even that won't guarantee that you will get what you are looking for. Given the limitations, plywood is a viable option for something simple like cabinets. I look forward to how you are going to use the different grain patterns for the shelves. You clearly have a high standard for how to get and use grain patterns. Did you get a board of ply cut to 4" sections to get it into the car? You seem an expert on knowing that a car doesn't have to be a limit on making things.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Yes, I had them cut the ply to 2’x4’ sections to get it in the rental car. A little pre planning so I knew where to make the cuts and it cost less than $10 to get it chopped up 🤙

[@smogelh99]

My go to lumberyards in SoCal are Austin Hardwoods in Santa Ana, or Reel Lumber in Anaheim.

[@xtjoy]

Those were on the list but with the freeway closure from that fire, it said it would have taken over 2hours 1 way and we wouldn’t have made it in time 😢

[@sgsax]

As someone who does not have a local hardwood supplier less than an hour drive away, I appreciate this struggle, and the suggestions for working around it. Thanks for sharing!

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks for watching!

[@diyhuntress]

Coolest play date, ever.

[@ENCurtis]

You should be out here, too. Then it would be an epic play date!

[@xtjoy]

He didn’t put in the clip of me skipping in the hardwoods and playing the: guess which type of wood is this? Lol

[@carlson.douglas.w]

After 15 years of woodworking, i finally have developed a RELATIONSHIP with a local hardwood supplier. I'm buying 200 board feet for a Roubo and to minimize waste, i need specific widths. He's pulling ideal sized pieces for me and setting them aside. As s hobbyest, I'm small potatoes for most lumber yards and they don't want to waste time on me. Having a relationship with a supplier is HUGE. Fit example, I'm buying 12/4 stock for the slab and he's going to joint and plane it for me for free, as my tooling is just a bit small for anything that size.

[@MichaelCoolidge]

I used to live in Los Angeles. I now live in Colorado. I fully get the difference in lumber stores. I am able to do so much more here.

[@Clintotron]

Your channels continues to be the highest value for me. While KZbin is free, my time is of value and your information and willingness to answer comments is immeasurable at this time. Please continue making this world class tier content.

[@ENCurtis]

I deeply appreciate that my friend 🙏

[@paco_vazquez]

Oh dude, you were in my neighborhood lumber yards. The Rockler store closed few months ago. Love the show

[@214rwoz]

As always, thanks for all your time and effort. I'm still learning after all these years.

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks for watching!

[@funkypotamus]

Love these videos. The philosophy of wood working. It's great to hear these concepts from an expert.

[@johnshipps441]

You’re a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for sharing your experience even though it wasn’t quite what you set out to do. Your description of the various types of plywood faces at the end of the video was all new to me. 🙏🏻

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much and I’m glad you learned something!

[@JeffFontecchio]

Thanks for bringing us along on this adventure!

[@ENCurtis]

Yessir!

[@thomasweller1321]

It's good to see somebody on your level struggle like some of us on our level. You can articulate why you don't see something that you want to use, and we don't like it, but we don't know why. Keep making something..

[@ENCurtis]

We all struggle with it from time to time. It’s not easy being so particular about lumber 😂

[@LeeWeiler]

Great episode, Erik. Love the honest nature of the lumber hunt, the pivots and walking us through some basic timber jargon. Looking forward to the next one!

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@MrsEarth-pf4cr]

Aww I like Kristy, she seems really sweet. Thnx for sharing the journey, can't wait to see the outcome of everything. xo

[@ENCurtis]

Christy is the best!

[@deisead1]

Thanks for that video. It’s good to have that reminder that it’s okay to walk away! Really looking forward to seeing what your lumber yard experience is in Philly. Mine hasn’t been so great so far…

[@ENCurtis]

I’m definitely going to get that video out in the next few months!

[@jimrosson6702]

Great video as always something different in the lessons but still a lesson thanks for sharing

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks!

[@scottdenis]

I learn a LOT just by watching these videos.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you EN. ah the adventure of new places

[@ENCurtis]

Always an adventure my dude…

[@terrytopliss9506]

Thanks for the video Eric, I feel your pain.👍👍

[@ENCurtis]

The struggle was real 😂

[@LHistoireProject]

I always enjoy your practical, yet artistic, approach to woodworking. As an amateur woodworker on the East Coast making things seems to always be subject to the weather. My shop is a one car garage that spills out onto the driveway when the weather is warm. Although I might be described as an experienced amateur, I'm learning new things with your last couple of videos. I'd never heard of slip matched veneer, for example. I've got a whole new outlook to take to the lumber yard! Thanks.

[@ENCurtis]

I remember the constraints of the small garage shop well. Keep on keepin on friend and build what you can when you can!

[@LesterBricks]

I watched in reverse order (saw the cabinet build first) but enjoyed the format of you building for friends. Lends itself to some good problem solving plus some explanation due to the "clients" questions that comes up while filming that you may not think of since you've been at it for a while. Keep up the great work!

[@MtlCstr]

Christy is a gem. She plays well on camera, she's bright and funny, and such a cutie.

[@joseescoto9069]

Dang! Right next to Rockler and Ganahl is Hudson and west. They’ve got vaneered goods and a great selection of hardwoods.

[@ENCurtis]

Dag nabbit where were you a couple days ago man! 😜

[@RYwoodview]

I think it would still have been educational to hear as you pick through lumber why you find those choices inadequate. But looking forward to another trip.

[@SWA-Projects]

Cheers from Denmark 🇩🇰 I remember in the last video where I voted for you to make the cabinet build video. I was expecting a build here. But I actually learned a lot of unexpected things just by going with you to these places. The foreshadowing, the choices and all that, will definitely make me think more about the materials in the future, and that’s quite awesome to have become aware of. So thank you so much for sharing! 👍 I believe that this video had more value than just the build, and I look forward to watch what you come up with next👍 and to see the actual build. I’m excited!

[@ENCurtis]

Glad to hear that my friend! And the build is coming soon 👊

[@SWA-Projects]

@@ENCurtis Awesome 👏

[@woodshopsquared3183]

Nor cal is where the beautiful scenery and the best walnut comes from

[@williammaxwell1919]

Hay. You need an indistructable "travelling mug" that has a moulded face to surprise your hosts

[@ENCurtis]

I could not agree more!

[@victorreyes7704]

Ok, as someone who lives in the valley/ LA area, here’s a few lumber yard recommendations: Bohnhoff Lumber CO., GL veneer, Valencia Lunber, Phillips Plywood, Forrest Plywood La Mirada and Swanee hardwood. These are just a few. And if you’re in a crunch and tired of the backyard workshop, I have a two car garage with all the tools you’ll need to get down and dirty

[@b.8972]

Incredibly nice of you to offer your shop. Such a great reminder there truly is still good people in this world... even if you are from LA... lol I'm kidding of course

[@ENCurtis]

That is a very kind offer and I really appreciate that!

[@CommercialForest]

Swaner is Home Depot’s hardwood & slab supplier (check the labels). I bet they have a nice selection available in Burbank…great family business, too!

[@briancollins2230]

Well I got to this video much later than I would have liked. So no coffee for me while watching. But it was no less entertaining. So thank you.

[@ENCurtis]

I’m glad it was still valuable for you, even sans coffee ☕️

[@JimfromIndy]

Your partner seems like a delightful young woman!

[@ENCurtis]

Christy is a fantastic human and an even better friend!

[@B.A.Bassangler]

Feel'n you bro...that sinking feeling when you realize you just struck out, lol.

[@ENCurtis]

It happens to the best of us from time to time!

[@christopherharrison6724]

What did we learn from this sometimes this is how my day goes too

[@ENCurtis]

We all have those days sometime later my dude

[@philaandrew100]

Gotta love the big box stores... NOT. So glad I have the choice of 3 or 4 specialty chunks of tree suppliers here on the West Coast of Australia...

[@ENCurtis]

Finding a good dealer you know and trust is a HUGE luxury!

[@philaandrew100]

@@ENCurtis Sure is. All of these suppliers are within 20 KLM of me here in Perth but there are a few more in regional Western Australia that I buy the more exotic Native WA timbers from. Kinda spoilt really. My collection of tree chunks is rather large as a result😂

[@marcbarash6045]

Thanks Eric

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@michaelmounts1269]

my father built boats...and we once spent two days finding white oak planks 12ft long for staves. Red Oak is dirty word to boat builders in Woods Hole /Buzzard Bay area. It actually sucks up sea water and rots very quickly. White Oak apparently does not

[@justinthames940]

I second bonhoff lumber in Vernon because they are incredible people but also I love peterman lumber in Fontana. They often beat the prices of rough sawn lumber at bonhoff but it's S3S.. either way they are both two hours from me so I have to travel quite a ways for good lumber here on soCAL. Can't wait to get back to the south! 9:45

[@ENCurtis]

I’ve heard lots of Bonhoff suggestions. I’ll try that next time!

[@RayFromTheHayclan]

That's the first thing I thought of when you walk through the door this is a home depot of wood

[@ndamico1]

You’re getting your tan on! Good thing, cause it’s getting cold here back east.

[@ENCurtis]

Despite my best efforts, too. No way to stop it out here 😂

[@ponyboyc]

Just did this myself I left my regular lumber yard because they just didn't have anything drove another 20min and found a really nice piece of zebra wood that's going to make a cool thing.

[@ENCurtis]

Patience pays off!

[@karl_alan]

Dang...this makes me feel privileged. I have a nice hardwood dealer in my town in OR that can get me just about anything.

[@ENCurtis]

A good dealer is a HUGE resource. And OR seems to be the best region on the west coast for a diverse array of lumber. But that’s just anecdotal observation on my end.

[@bartosullivan8050]

I'm not sure how I even got here, but I've subscribed because you A. Entertain and B. Inform and C. No BS. As someone who long ago, pre recession 08, used to dry and mill a few million bf a year, I can only empathize with today's professional and hobby woodworkers. The price of anything S4S is just stupid. I'm in western NC and our local Lowe's wants $82 for a 1x12x6 S4S piece FAS Red Oak. We live in a different world now. Your content puts a smile on my face, thanks.

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much!

[@UOTDF]

Thanks for doing it, mate! I was hoping to see you get wood… err, wait, that didn’t come out quite right, did it? But hey, you know what I mean - thanks, my man!!

[@ENCurtis]

Will definitely do another video where I pick through the stacks!

[@paint1956]

I feel your pain. You should try even finding a lumber yard where I live in south Florida. The nearest to me is a Rockler (not a lumber yard) in Brandon over 100 miles away, but hey there's always warped red oak at Home Depot.

[@davidn7945]

Bonhoff has everything you need/want. Wouldn’t even waste time at Ganahl and especially Rockler!

[@A3woodworks]

Should have gone to House of Hardwood in Santa Monica. I worked there for a couple years recently, great selection of hardwood and sheet goods. Better prices than Anderson too.

[@user-mn6jc3vm1n]

Where are you on the West Coast? If you are in Southern California, check out Reel Lumber -- they have two or three locations. Usually a decent selection of hardwood, S2S, as well as a selection of hardwood veneered plywood. They were my go to before I moved up to Northern California and became a semi-retired bum. I bought a lot of cherry, maple, paduak, white oak, mahogany, and a ton of veneered ply for kitchen cabinets/closets. All the way up to 12/4 -- larger on special order.

[@tjuricek]

Ha, this is the kind of stuff I need to see. I’ve definitely been prone to “well, I’m here, and I guess this should work” and buying wood that isn’t *quite* right. Need to develop that discipline and instinct to pick the right stuff or tweak my plans. Also, I’m starting to understand how small or niche furniture making is compared to general construction.

[@ENCurtis]

The woodworking niche is, if I remember correctly, somewhere around 3-5% of the lumber industry in the US. And that includes cabinetry. The furniture niche is a tiny fraction. Hence the dearth of hardwood dealers in any given area.

[@brycegardner6171]

Welcome to SoCal. It takes some time to find good places to get lumber for woodworking. Or to adjust your expectations. You almost always have to to get S4S unless you get a pallet shipped to you. And its painfully expensive (coming from the midwest).

[@ENCurtis]

Yeah SoCal doesn’t seem to be the friendliest market in that regard. Maybe I’m just spoiled being in PA though!

[@markyboy4777]

I imagine I would have a wasted journey to a lumber yard too if I went.

[@jb510]

TY for the video. Next time reach out to your followers though. We could have saved you a lot of time. Rockler has way to small a selection for wood. Best is Petereman Lumber in Ontario (California not Canada). Large, high quality, and good prices considering the market. Reel Lumber and Austin Hardwoods are also both good, albeit a little smaller than Peterman and tend to be a little more expensive.

[@xtjoy]

Due to the time restraint we had, it wouldn’t have been feasible to go to either of those spots. It was Saturday so most of those are closed on the weekends or have such a limited window or too far/long to get there. I’ll definitely check those places out though for next time :)

[@jb510]

Gotcha. Just fyi Peterman is open Saturday mornings (7:30-11:30 AM) and which is awesome…. Don’t know anyone else that mostly sells to pro trades that is.

[@daviddru942]

It absolutely can be a struggle when it's not just production lumber shopping. Especially in towns where home building is off the charts busy and the entire industry is set up to cater to it. The places that do have architecture grade lumber wont even deal with someone unless you have a business account and that's where the stuff is you want or at least see. Difficult for the little guy for sure.

[@inmyimage1081]

Don’t know where you are but you should definitely call around. I’m in central indiana and have talked to several mills and distributors who would work with me but when trying to get metal i definitely had to call around because half of the dealers won’t sell to the public. Point being, don’t assume or give up but some areas are definitely better than others.

[@Gothicwoodcraft]

Austin hardwood in Orange County is decent. Been going there for 20 years

[@barryomahony4983]

It looks like you were in Torrance (I was visiting down there for Thanksgiving). Besides Ganahl and Rockler you could have tried Hudson and West, also nearby. Like Ganahl they also sell mostly to builders and contractors rather than furniture makers, but it's another close-in option.

[@scottandsher]

Another great and informative video. 🌳🪵

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@Fusion_Woodworking]

Ganahl lumber is nice, big, a lot of options, but not cheap. I picked through piles there and got no trouble at all. The SoCal big store location. Also been to the Pasadena store, fewer options than the main store. bohnhoff has rough sawn stuff to pick from. A lot cheaper. I got hardwood from it for 2-3 projects so far. Funny you mentioned Anderson plywood. I just got back from a tool meet at Anderson plywood. House of lumber has a lot of options for plywood as well, but they don’t provide cutting service at all.

[@xtjoy]

I wanted to go to that tool meet that Saturday, but he and I were swamped trying to finish the cabinet that same day.

[@Fusion_Woodworking]

@@xtjoy I am glad it's all come together nicely. My shop and tools can be used if needed.

[@supergimp2000]

Dude. When you were at Ganahl you were a few blocks from me regular hardwood dealer that does cater to furniture.

[@MrTuggins]

A1 is a sauce, you can't fool me.

[@ENCurtis]

😂

[@DaveW74TVN]

I have more Southern Yellow Pine growing on my property than I'll EVER be able to use.

[@fvsRaiderFloyd]

When you're back in SoCal check out Cherokee Lumber in Upland.

[@oldtop4682]

I notice that you placed the suspicious pattern on the ply down in that last segment lol. That first store though - holy crap that place looks huge, and probably a place I could spend far too much time and money in.

[@TheMonkdad]

Most people have no idea of the exorbitant cost of hardwood lumber. They think it’s abundant because there are trees everywhere. I never realized how much goes into a piece of hardwood until I purchased a lumber mill and I had been a woodworker since the 80s.

[@johnparker7945]

trivial, thank you for saying splinter, not sliver!!! actual comment: Having just traveled to the lumber yard/sawmill to find some cherry(trying to up my game from CDX plywood). I can vouch that it's difficult to find good wood. I even ended up with a piece that completely won't work. Thanks for the video!!

[@DeveloperChris]

In Australia we call s4s, DAR. Which means dressed all round, In other words all surfaces planed.

[@lipestyle813]

FYI for anyone in Los Angeles, you can find the type of lumber he was looking for at Bohnhoff Lumber.

[@butterflywoodworks2374]

Bohnhoff is the best yard in LA, been using them since the late 80s.

[@ENCurtis]

Wish I had known! Maybe next time.

[@fabianmadrigal2887]

Hi Erik, such an adventure to look for lumber! haha. Makes me wonder, have you ever considered purchasing logs and getting them sawn to your specs? It can be a lot cheaper. I live in Costa Rica and typically purchase my lumber in log form, get it sawn up and dry it. And it ends up being way cheaper AND better than store bought. You choose the logs, all the colors match and you have full freedom of how you want to saw it.

[@timbotrout]

hearne hardwoods for the win!

[@ENCurtis]

Absolutely!

[@jmoery]

Oh man you were like less than a mile from Hudson & West in Torrance. You would have found so much good lumber there. Solid veneered options as well. I live in torrance and have for years had no place to ger lumber until Hudsona & West ipened about 5 years ago

[@ENCurtis]

Ah bummer man. Good to know for the future!

[@hendrst1918]

Yep. I live in Redondo Beach and Hudson & West is where I go for hardwoods.

[@AnneofAllTrades]

You need to come visit me in Tennessee, where the wood literally grows on trees.

[@ENCurtis]

I’ve heard in Tennessee, the rivers flow like wine and the beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano.

[@AnneofAllTrades]

@@ENCurtis I don’t know about that, but I do know our donkeys can be effortlessly be deadlifted

[@theelmagoo]

Welcome to Los Angeles ;p. You found the only good place I know of by hitting up Anderson Plywood (Culver City yes?), but the struggle for hardwood is real out there. One other thing to note about Anderson, they have the ability to make REALLY accurate and good cuts if you need them to while you're out there. My first project was a music recording desk I designed, and since I lived in an apartment I ordered everything cut to size and they nailed it. I don't know what they're charging now, but this was 12 to 13 years ago and it was a quarter a cut if memory serves? Now having moved to Dallas, I'm spoiled with the amount of lumber places here 🤪

[@xtjoy]

Yes!! I was so surprised on how clean their cuts were! Which works out for someone like me who does not have a truck or vehicle to get large pieces, or the muscle to carry the large pieces up a flight of stairs to my shop in the backyard. Thankfully Erik knew what he was doing and had the muscles to carry it all up lol

[@ENCurtis]

Yes Anderson was excellent to work with and only charge a few bucks to process the sheet. 10/10 would recommend.

[@leighdurrant9116]

Thanks for the ride along, but those captions blink and there gone and pausing breaks the flow 😂

[@lanceyohe6026]

Too bad you were not in the Seattle area - Crosscut Hardwoods! It really is the woodworkers candy store.

[@norkloops1759]

Thanks, this was an interesting and useful video #AlwaystrustErik

[@ENCurtis]

#thanksmydude

[@theespinozacompany2996]

Looks like you’re in my area. You may want to look into a place called “Metro Plywood “

[@1deerndingo]

But did they have sold timber to edge the ply with? Looking forward to it.

[@kevbehnke]

Phillips Plywood is the best pricing on hardwood in LA. If you buy enough, they will let you negotiate the price down. I ask for white oak 2SF and can get it around 4ish a BF 4/4. Keep in mind sometimes they have to bring it out on the forklift so you can pick your boards. Please, if anyone knows better prices in LA, let me know 🙂

[@lloydstool4708]

Believe it or not, I've had pretty good luck on Ebay. (I can hear the howls of protest all the way from Massachusetts.) It takes a lot of coffee (patience), but over the years I've acquired some spectacular quarter- and rift sawn white oak from family operations in Kentucky, some utterly perfect tiger maple and live-edge apple (!) from a guy in the Adirondacks, and a bit of sinker redwood burl from hippies who raid the burn piles where the fiends still cutting in CA. (The hipsters drag out what they want, then throw it in the nearby river, retrieving it later downstream.) Sorry to go on so, but even with the shipping, the prices can be tolerable with board-by-board bundles, and there are quite a few (or used to be) impecunious homesteader types who are grateful for the business. This sounds like a fairy tale, but it's true. Beaucoup patience and frequent checking of the new listings are the key. Christie is a treasure! (Certified non-pig commenter here.) Carry on, oh wise one.

[@ENCurtis]

I’ve heard take of good luck with eBay! Glad to know it’s still a viable source.

[@benh3427]

Are there any good hardwood core plywood?from the angle of the edge shot your plywood are the cheap ,thin veneer from large box store. There must be places that you can buy plywood that have different types of hardwood veneers for what you are making. Even here in hawaii we can get good hardwood core plywood for DIY usage but it cost over a hundred dollars a sheet.

[@anonymouspdg6121]

I have always thought using Veneered Ply was an interesting option but because the edges are not veneered, I've always steered away from it. It will be good to see how you design the unit to match up the different grains and how you finish off the unveneered edges? Useful video though and just shows how difficult it can be to find products locally!

[@theofarmmanager267]

I’m in the UK and we (that’s suggesting I know what every furniture maker in the UK thinks and does; which I don’t) seem to use a lot more veneered panel goods. Either with ply or mdf substrate. For me, it has no downside except where we have to edge with solid wood. It’s much cheaper per square metre than solid and, we find, only unsuitable for high wear pieces like a table or bar top. We are obviously a much smaller market and that leads to significantly less choice of timber products. But that’s just a fact of woodworking life

[@anonymouspdg6121]

It's when the build means that edges need veneering I'm interested in seeing. Or, is it better to put a solid edge on as long as it matches the veneer.

[@theofarmmanager267]

@@anonymouspdg6121”traditional” (whatever that really means) furniture making would mean veneer on top of so,etching like solid timber or, what we used to call, blackboard - that’s staves of cheap wood glued together. The edges would be veneered, usually cross banded - that is with the grain running vertically. It allowed for better veneering around curves if nothing else. Now you can buy real wood edge veneer in rolls with the option of ready glued or “raw”. Either way, you apply it with excess hanging off the edge. To pare that excess off, you can use a dedicated tool which has razor blades doing the cutting or a razor blades manually or a very sharp chisel. It’s a relatively simple process providing any internal curves aren’t too sharp I prefer to use solid wood edges wherever possible but you need to work quite hard to get a good grain match across the top. Two issues with this, particularly when you have a curved piece. First is that a solid edge around a curve will show end grain and that can lead, with Timbers such as oak, to flaking. Secondly, if you do sold wood edge around corners, you either segment the edge or waste a lot of timber when you cut back to the shape you want.

[@ENCurtis]

Veneered ply is a great option for most cabinetry. A little solid wood edging or edge banding will hide those exposed ply edges in a jiffy 🤙

[@anonymouspdg6121]

It's more about the how to do it rather than the options. I'm probably worrying making this more complicated than it needs to be as It looks like you just glue an oversized piece of edging or banding on and trim it back with a router for the banding or one of the razor cutters specifically designed for edging?

[@ericcommarato7727]

Geeze man, we can’t even find wood here in Mississippi period!

[@ENCurtis]

Oh dang man! Gotta mill up your own I suppose!

[@williamkeily6686]

Mate, you should try to buy anything other than pine over here in Denmark. It's an expensive nightmare

[@ENCurtis]

Really? That’s fascinating. I wonder why? There’s plenty of deciduous trees over that way…

[@PJRayment]

@@ENCurtis I don't know about Denmark, but here in Victoria (Australia) they've recently banned any timber cutting other than plantation timber, which means mostly pine.

[@richardmilliken9377]

Not a bad video. It’s always interesting to see hardwood forest dwellers trying to operate in an environment where the rest of us (westerners) operate. You guys use for firewood what we’d consider treasures 🤦‍♂️

[@ENCurtis]

Hahaha oh I’m absolutely spoiled in PA. Hardwood capital of the US!

[@mr2c289]

Hi from Australia Eric - I enjoy your videos (Im just a beginner hobbyist/weekend workdworker) and learn heaps from them - thanks. Bit of an "outside the square" request - who does the music in your video intros? - I would like to hear more of their stuff if you can give a name or credit them in your video?

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you! The song is from Roots and Recognition. It’s called Backroad Blues.

[@mr2c289]

@@ENCurtis Awesome - thanks heaps, I will check them out!! Again, thanks for your videos, some great insights there!!

[@enzprintco.8625]

Hey bud. Great video! I’m in NJ (I-80) like 15 minutes from the Pa. border. What hardwood dealers are out there, like 30-45 minutes from the NJ/Pa border? Do you have a favorite? Thanks dude! 🤙

[@jonathonbaron2914]

How come you guys didn’t go to Bohnhoff or House of Hardwood? Totally self-interested question-I’ve been wanting to go to Bohnhoff, but their hours are maximally inconvenient for a hobbyist; so I was a bit bummed not to get to see video of it.

[@xtjoy]

Mainly out of time restraint on both our end and their end 😅 but I’ve gotten their recommendation several times over from friends so I may pop in to see what it’s like 😊

[@jonathonbaron2914]

Totally makes sense! If you do, I hope I get to see video! I really wish they weren’t only open until 3 or 4 and only on weekdays 😰

[@xtjoy]

@@jonathonbaron2914 I will definitely pop in, someday. We actually just finished installing the cabinet last night and it’s beautiful! Stay tuned for that one!

[@ENCurtis]

@xtjoy took the words right out of my keyboard!

[@jonathonbaron2914]

I appreciate both of you!

[@BillMSmith]

That made me appreciate my friends at Goosebay even more. Yes, finding something in a large, strange, metropolis is always going to be a challenge. You're fortunate that your client is understanding. BTW, congratulations on the precious cargo rating. Was that a direct upgrade from cargo or was there an intermediate step?

[@ENCurtis]

😂 I think it goes cargo -> exceptional cargo -> precious cargo

[@xtjoy]

@@ENCurtisI meant precious cargo as in myself…. 😊😂

[@ajvc2233]

I was really hoping this was lumber shopping in the Philly area since that’s where I live. What spots do you recommend local to Philly?

[@billpowell1614]

Bohnhoff lumber in LA!

[@ENCurtis]

I’ve since learned! May have to visit before I leave.

[@billpowell1614]

@@ENCurtis it was the only place I bought hardwood when I lived in the LA area. Grab a crew of their pencils while you’re there. Nice fat round pencils!

[@harrisric128]

Living in San Diego it's hard out here in these streets finding good lumber for projects

[@DoodCraftGuitars]

Frost and TH&H are my gotos.

[@jdelaney7871]

I really like Bennett Crone and TH&H!

[@harrisric128]

@@DoodCraftGuitars th&h is where I go, the folks there are nice, I'll have to check out the others

[@harrisric128]

@@jdelaney7871 I'll check out Bennett 🤙🏾

[@ENCurtis]

It ain’t easy on these streets anywhere in 2023

[@jerrybyrd7778]

The trials and tribulations of trying to find good hardwood 😅

[@ENCurtis]

It’s a spiritual journey 😂

[@94Toyota]

Too bad you are are out LA. Shout out to Peterman Lumber in Fontana!

[@russellzauner]

Spend your slab money on traveling to locations, buy a firewood cutting permit, then just go grab the wood you want off the ground. In Oregon (I expect California does the same) you can get permits around 20 bucks no matter where in the state you are - if they really want the areas cleared, the fees are usually waived (following storms, etc). General rule is any downed wood within 100 yards of public right of way (roads, fire roads, service paths, etc) is fair game and flagged areas (usually a few acres or few dozen) in BLM/County/etc land; limits vary but you'll have at least several cords of tags to play with. If you have a small hoist you can grab whole pieces and dice them up at home; it's not the maximum cordage you can carry like splitting on site and stacking but you get the whole chunk. I suspect that's why most specialty wood dealers here have to keep most of their prices low, even for pretty nice slabs. If you truck it home yourself, it's probably an 11 hour drive home from Oregon if you bomb it straight through in ideal weather/traffic. TLDR - Road Trip Series?

[@ENCurtis]

Would love to do a road trip/slabbing video in the future 👊

[@bobsmith3790]

Valencia Lumber in Van Nuys, CA

[@paulcaron-wm4tk]

Dude, why do you not have a jointer. Please explain it to all of us 🤓

[@fuzzy.whumpkin]

At a minimum, any of your vids are a great source of #beardspiration

[@ENCurtis]

It’s a lifestyle choice 🧔🏻

[@user-zh1pn6zv1n]

The best lumber yard is in Des Moines Iowa. It is called The Lumberyard- where real men go to get wood.

[@kaine904]

As a fellow Philadelphian, in this situation locally where would you go?

[@ENCurtis]

I haul out to Groff and Groff or Hearne. That’s where I’ll do a video when I get home!

[@danieldube3576]

How would I describe this video?…. Bougie but entertaining 👍🏽

[@ENCurtis]

That’s how I describe myself to new clients 🤣

[@sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

Was that a dead body on the road?