Any woodworkers?

That’s a tough one if you’re looking for larger pieces. You’re in Washington where I assume there’d be tons of specialty shops like that.

 

I have never ordered any wood online.

I am lucky enough to have a cabinet supply shop local to me. Visited today.

 

Down by Seattle sure around 120 miles. But I have not checked Mt Vernon, which is about 40 miles or so south. Even then, not as much exotics as you might assume. Low walnut or any east coast type tree.

What kinda woods do they have?

This place has a nice scrap and ends shed: https://smithandvallee.com/

 

Alder, walnut, cherry, maple hard and soft, white oak, and birch are almost always in stock. Sometimes they get some beech, Purple Heart, and other stuff.

 

I ordered from these guys, but the freight $ would kill a buzzard on a tipped over portacan.To their credit, they ship immediately.

https://www.bairdbrothers.com/Default.aspx

 

@Pablo8 it might be worth chatting with some local contractors and see where they source their wood from. I found my local wood shop from chatting with a buddy who does cabinetry

 

Woodcraft has stuff in store or check craigslist. Ebay has some stuff but can be pricey.

When i lived in idaho I found a guy in spokane that his side hustle was selling hardwood boards. It was always good price.

 

If your location is correct, I have an aunt and a cousin that live in Everson, WA. Beautiful part of the country. My cousin is more of a DIY construction oriented guy, but I will ask him if he or anyone that he knows has a place the next time that we talk.

You are close to the Bellingham Grizzly showroom. I spent a couple of hours in that place the last time I was in your part of the country. I am sure that some of the staff there could likely provide you with some information about local suppliers and hopefully be able to point you in the right direction.

The place that I get my materials from does not always have the best variety, but they typically have enough of the domestic species on hand for any project that I am starting. They also don't have any issues we me going through the lumber that is out on the rack and selecting the pieces that I think will work best. They have fair prices and give me what they say is "contractor's" pricing since I am in the often enough to get recognized. I just pulled out my receipts over the past year or so and here some of the prices that recently paid" $4.51 a bf for 4/4 s2s Cherry, 6/4 S2S Alder $4.96 bf, 8/4 Alder $6 bf, 4/4 S2S Birch $4.06 Since it is the only show in town, I get all of my hardwood there and am happy to support them. This place does not carry any exotic species. I typically get stuff like that from the Woodcraft in Sacramento. My sister lives in the area and I typically go by there when I am in the Sacramento area visiting.

When I was in there yesterday, I talked with the manager about sourcing about 100bf of cherry for a future project. He told me when he thinks his next order of cherry would be in an and that he would be happy to order me a couple of sheets of cherry plywood if needed.

 

Wow. Small world. I live in the county area, not in the town of Everson proper, but Everson address. ALL great suggestions!!

Now if I want a cedar or doug fir slab - easy peasy!

 

maybe make it a shadow box? there's no going back with epoxy. where as a shadow box can preserve the item and have it still be accessible. less risky IMO

 

I will look at shadowbox designs. I am seriously reconsidering my plans because I worried I was indulging "experiment with a technique" over "doing a meaningful task". Fortunately my many centuries of living has made me cautious enough to limit spending and irreversible action when I am not sure.

Thanks for the input.

EDIT: The reason I started thinking "encasing" is because the flower is fabric/ribbon thet obeys the law of gravity and will fall where it wants. Some support for the fally-bits will be necessary if not encased. But time to rethink that ...

Simple solution ... small shelf inside with slightly raised edges to hold it flat ... sliding back top half to access if required. Too many ideas ...

 

Rarewoodsusa.com
Place is about an hour and a half from me so I visit if im up in the area but am lazy and just order usually.
I dont bother with the local Rockler and the nearest Woodcraft is over an hour and doesnt have near the selection.

 

I was thinking the same thing. You can control the size of the "box" and the width the two pieces of glass are apart from each other to "pin" the object in place so it does not move around then with the glass on both sides someone can see the entire object front and back with it being completely protected. And if that didn't work you could always take it apart and go the epoxy route.

 

Actually I am already on a new bent to give the display more elegance than a simple shadow box. I just cut an outline of the flower that I can carve into hard-styrofoam, about 3/4 inch deep ... that will hold flower in place. Options after that:

> I can acrylic or epoxy to lock the styrofoam shape and apply a dark-red flocking (picture below for the dark-red flocking). If I put the wedding invitation into the same large styrofoam it will be a vertical holder ... thin/invisible craft wire/cord/thread can hold the flower in the indentation and the invitation above it. Use Zebrawood for the box frame, plexiglass for the faces. Maybe buy pre-cut "strips" of purpleheart for the frame
> Use the hard-foam cutout to make a positive (negative?) image that can form an epoxy/clear stand that sits in the box, allowing viewing both sides. Maybe buy pre-cut "strips" of purpleheart for the frame.

I have to watch that I make it proper for them without going crazy with stupid "experiments" just for me.

 

Made two large panels today. Going to be a plant stand similar to my TV Console. Think rectangular mitered box with continuous grain / “waterfall”. Also worked up a picture frame while waiting for glue to dry.

 

Made a trivet prototype, double sided. May just do one side next piece once i get my template. I used chop saw for this

 

Plant stand case is dry fit and sanded to 220. Hopefully glue up later today, apply finish, and attach legs tomorrow.




Art frame has a Roman Ogee added to the outside edge and is sanded to 220. Will spray on a finish tomorrow once it warms up.

 

Where did you buy your branding iron at?

 

Next project

 

Neither the finish nor the legs were delivered today. Spent a little time final hand sanding.




Spent a few minutes in my custom spray booth putting finish on the maple frame.