I’ve bought from Bell Forest Products, Cooks Woods, and a couple Etsy stores. Any recommendations on websites or Etsy stores for good prices on kiln dried bowl blanks or cheap green bowl blanks?
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Got wood ( turningblanks.net is a great place to buy from, their customer service is second to none, if you don’t see it on their website give the a call, i need a couple 6x6x24 Bradford pear to turn a pineapple and they milled it for me. https://www.turningblanks.net/
It depends on what stock the have available. But they should have thicker blanks. A quick check in their bargain bin section shows they have some 3 and 4 inch blanks.
Genuinely curious, but is it not standard practice in the UK to scavenge from arborists/downed trees? With the exception of exotic woods, I find all my turning stock free on the side of the road, or am tipped off by neighbors who have trees coming down.
Pretty much my experience, but I think there can be pretty big regional variations on how easy it is to come by. Weirdly where I live in London, a quick walk after a stormy night will give loads of freebies, but less trees less options. There's some pretty sparse areas for woodland about.
I saw this shop on Etsy for a UK based shop and was going to buy something from him, but I sat on it in my cart for too long and was gone by the time I was ready. It even lists free shipping to the US so I was surprised.
Not a wild selection right now, but its one I was interested in.
I've had great luck with Exotic Wood Zone. Very reasonable prices, and they offer by-the-pound boxes of defects. I have yet to get something I couldn't use as a bowl.
I have not had any real luck or consistency with Cooks (especially with their pen blanks, but then again they are not numbered blanks you can choose from). I have not ordered a bowl blank form them and doubt I would after my last couple of purchases.
Unless the site numbers each blank (like most Esty shops do) I'd never buy anything exotic online in anything over pen blank or maybe bottle stoppers or small spindles. Actually I dont think I'd even order a pepper mill blank online unless it was numbered. I have had really bad luck with this.
https://www.bellforestproducts.com/bowl-blanks/ Uses stock photos, so you don't know what you are going to get other than the size is correct... Okay source for blanks under $10. Again I would not buy anything over $10 per block from them unless they could give me some options with additional photos
https://www.tehwoods.com/ They even number their packs so you see multiple pieces you will get. Just be aware that if there isn't a number on each piece its going to be a crap shoot on what you actually get. Ordering 2 pieces of Paduk I got one with a beautiful sap wood edge and another that was about as plain and straight grain as you can get. At the least give them a call and ask if they can send some photos of individual blanks. The Paduk is a prime example in my opinion. If I order from them again, I will either ask if they can pick something with sap wood or figure or send a photo. $20 per blank is frustrating if it turns out to be simple straight grain without any character, but that just my opinion
If I buy a blank, Cook Woods is my go-to. Thankfully, I don't need to buy blanks often - one of the benefits of being a member of a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners. We have a member who doesn't turn but does work locally in forestry. He will come to meetings with a pickup truck full of wood, and leave with it empty.
I just got some logs and branches from a neighbor's tree trimming. I hope to make some bowls and pens. I'll have to learn to keep them in good shape before I can make use of them.
I recently got a truck load of green wood and decided to process all of it into round bowl blanks and some square spindle blanks. It was way more work than I imagined haha. It took me quite a while to cut and seal everything. Definitely won't be doing a truckload next time
If you are close to Central IL, drop me a private message. I have a vendor's booth in Hoffman Estates, IL near Chicago next weekend too. Lots of super figured maple, elm burl, up to 8" thick and all kiln dried.
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