Reply To: Getting oak in the UK
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I’ve been having some success with a local supplier who I found and wanted to pass on a trick I used to find decent timbers in your area through eBay.
Do a search on eBay for ‘kiln dried oak board’, ‘oak board’, ‘oak beam’, or suchlike to start off with. The important next step is to order the search results based on ‘Distance: Nearest’. This will order the results so the ones closest to you will be at the top. Now look through the results within an acceptable driving distance and see what’s for sale. If the quantities are too large (someone selling a cubic meter of boards, for example), the price is too high, or you’re after another species or dimension, contact some sellers and ask if you can take a smaller quantity, a lower grade, or if they ever get any of the type of timber you’re after. Remember that you’re really looking for suppliers – not actual listings! If you want some walnut but can’t find any listings, search for oak instead and contact the sellers to see if they can get walnut. A lot of sellers won’t list everything they have, or have something you’re after in stock when you do your search, but will let you know they can get it if you contact them.
I’ve found two suppliers within a 30 minute drive this way. I’d never have found them through Google! Hopefully it’ll help someone else.
George.