Reply To: lumber yard!
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In the future, if you’re building something that must be durable and pleasant to work and you don’t want to spend a lot, I’d recommend poplar and alder. I’m building a cigar box ukulele and, since the idea is to make it for cheap, I’m using poplar for the neck and interior bracing. The grain is subdued and easy to work. It has a greenish hue – if you don’t like this I’d recommend alder. It has a similar grain with a blonde-red hue. Neither would win a beauty contest – they are plain – but they are ideal for me as I build my hand tool skills. And if the design and execution of the project are well done it will still be pleasing to the eye. Also, both grow like weeds in the Northwest so I know they are local and plentiful. Walnut is easy to work and is nice to look at. If I thought my project demanded a beautiful grain I’d consider walnut. It carves nicely and I love the smell of the shavings! Maple can be beautiful too but is harder to work. You could always get some pallets – they’re cheap and often free – and carefully remove the nails. They’re usually built of pine or oak. Good luck : ).