The following idea is a long shot and likely to end up being a pain in my butt. But here goes.
For those of you signed up to take my class on building a campaign chest in May at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, one of the biggest challenges is coming up with wood that is worthy.
Frank David at Midwest Woodworking in Norwood, Ohio, has a good stock of wide stock (including hineyloads of mahogany) that is gorgeous, old and fairly priced.
If I can get enough people interested, I’d be happy to try to arrange a visit to Midwest on the Friday before the class begins, May 3. You can pick out the stock that suits your fancy and your budget. You’ll get to see the very awesome Midwest Woodworking lumber stores. And, if you’re not too weird, we can all go to Gordo’s afterward for a great burger and an even better beer.
I promise you that you will be glad you made the trip.
Yeah, I know that this might be impossible for some students who are coming from long distances.
No, I can’t pick out wood for you. I can barely even pick out wood for myself.
Yes, you can come and purchase wood even if you aren’t signed up for the class.
No, I can’t pick out your wood for you and bring it to the class or drop it off at your house.
Yes, you can bring your truck and buy all you want (bring cash. American dollars).
No, I can’t send you photos of some of the boards and purchase them for you.
Yes, you can eat a hamburger from Gordo’s with goat cheese and grape compote and still call yourself a man.
No, I can’t transport your lumber to Indiana for you (I have only a little car).
Midwest is a jewel of a place. If I had any sense I’d never talk about it on the blog, never tell any of my friends about it, and deny it even exists. But I’m an idiot. So come take advantage of my idiocy.
If you are in, send me an e-mail at chris@lostartpress.com.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. Honestly, I can’t buy lumber for you. Or transport it. Or store it. Or cut it. I can barely wipe myself. If you need wide mahogany for the class and can’t find any, call Wall Lumber in North Carolina. Or Irion in Pennsylvania.
If you could reschedule my wedding anniversary, I’d be there. But alas, the laws of space, time, and a good marriage don’t allow it to happen.
Your anniversary happens every year for the rest of your life (Lord willin’) but this opportunity… yeah, you’re probably right. 😉
Can’t make the class; love Midwest Woodworking, thanks you; I’m in for Gordo’s!
Careful, you admitted to being able to wipe yourself; there are surely people out there who can’t …
You’re killing me Chris. It’s bad enough that I can’t go then you go and throw lumber in my face and say, “hey look what you could build with.”
I saw the title in my email and thought this was going to be about selling my kids for good lumber.
Ha! Me too
So you not only talk openly about your honey hole, you invite the community to show up and “be themselves” on a day set aside by your good name. This is the nature of true courage.
If you think skin stalkers are bad, wait until you tangle with a wood stalker.
I found a local wood shutter factory that sells slabs, cast-offs, reclaimed Doug Fir, etc near me and I briefly considered openly defaming them online (with no good cause) just to increase my chances of finding The One True Board each time I go.
Too bad I emptied my wallet (and then some) last week on a bunch of cherry, jatoba, sapele, walnut and maple last week. This sounds like a great opportunity that now I cannot afford!
Weird people are some of the most fun people to have beers with… Why exclude us… Uhhhhhhhh…. I mean them?
You know, if you hadn’t gotten into jounalism, you’d have made one heck of a marketing consultant. That pic alove has a definate drool factor and if you’re fishing for wodworkers, it’s a great lure.
“I can barely even pick out wood for myself.”: heheh, the eternal dilemma. 🙂
So wait….I’m confused…are you saying you MIGHT be willing to pick out wood for others? Kidding, kidding…..stop pulling your hair out!
Chris. Check out some local burgers while you’re here in Melb making me hungry now. I hear Grill’d is really good. My cousin works at one. They have a few locations and good reviews http://www.grilld.com.au might be one near Box Hill. I assume you’re staying somewhere near there. Hope there looking after you at the guild and you’re not too home sick.. Can’t wait to meet you on Saturday or at the seminar later this month. I want a burger now!
Oh how I envy you folks in tree country. What with your big forests, big rivers, big cities, and 2 (somtimes 3) centuries of commercial history. All kinds of wonderful old boards must be waiting around for the right woodworker. Out here on the Great Plains it can be a hassle finding nice wood to work with. Gotta make a trip with a big u-haul on of these days.
My “local” shutter factory is in Stillwater, OK. Talk about a place devoid of big timber… But they have a sale once a month and sometimes good stuff arrives.
Having worked at OSU in a previous life, I’d have to say that Stillwater is a place devoid of…everything. It’s the least college town-like college town I’ve ever seen.
Chris:
Will you help me lift my wood? I have problems with long, wide and heavy things. Also, is this wood rough sawn? If so, I will need help jacking my wood…
that will be discussed in a later blog, “an Indecent Proposal to get some amazing wood”.
Chris, could you pick out the boards and then transport them back to your shop, make me a campaign chest, crate it and ship it to me and then meet me at my house to help unload it? If it’s not too much trouble. By the way, I might not make it home in time to unload it, so if I’m not there, don’t be shy about starting without me. And don’t skimp on the hardware either.
Serious comment – Wall lumber is great, nice stock at really good prices, highly recommended
Clearly you are not a fisherman. They never reveal their hot spots. 🙂
Or he is a very crafty fisherman and sent us to A spot, but not THE spot (of which he tells no one about). We may never know.
I’m not interested in the wood but I’d love to meet you at Gordo’s for a burger and some beer. I’ll be the weirdo wearing nothing but a leather shop apron and sipping a lovely wheat while thumbing a copy of ATC.
Sadly, that happens.
“. . . I can barely wipe myself. . . ” It’s comments like that, which keep me coming back to this blog day after day. 😀
Love you, Chris. Keep being you.
bE
…you can take a beautiful photo of said wood and transport the file into my living room and I thank you for that.
Chris,
I visited Midwest Woodworking yesterday and the owner is hospitalized, so there is no one at thewarehouse to sell lumber. Shaun is working on projects, but not able to price the lumber. You might recommend that people call ahead before visiting, 513.631.6684.
Keith