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Does anyone know where I can find a large slab of walnut for a large kitchen table close to Central Virginia? I checked out Hibdon but their prices are much higher than I am looking to pay. Any help is appreciate.

You may want to try Craigslist.

In my area (Central Ohio) there are a lot of portable sawmill guys who saw up trees & sell slabs, but they're usually not dry.On the upside, the prices are usually very reasonable.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I haven't had any luck finding anything on reasonable on Craigslist here yet. One guy wanted like $2000 for a slab and I obviously passed.

Type your criteria (zip and species) into woodfinder.com. They list everything from retail and wholesale outlets to dudes with Woodmizers.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

LL Johnson in MI has dried slabs I think they'll ship to you.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

These guys here in Baltimore usually have some nice walnut:
http://www.freestatetimbers.com/

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

I've picked out some rather nice walnut at Wall Lumber just south of Martinsville in NC.

West Penn Hardwoods moved to Conover NC, over near Hickory. Not VA, but not that far away. I've never seen so much in the way of big, tree size slabs of wood of various kinds.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I have 38in by 3in by 6 ft slabs of walnut from a local bandsaw mill operator. Google bandsaw mill perhaps you can find someone local who mills his or other folks wood

lititz pa
Hammer Creek Hardwoods, LLC
717-917-7778.
his stock is always changing ..

Shoot Steve at Colonial Tonewoods a note as he is from Virginia and I have a feeling he knows a lumber source or two!

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Oh man I was just offered a huge walnut trunk for free in Western VA but I don't have portable sawmill. IF you have one I can find out if it's still available.

I know someone you could ask. Check with John at Old World Tonewood Co in Lewisburg WV. He sources wood from some of the regional sawyers. He might know a couple you could check with. He primarily sells Carpathian Spruce and Curly Maple, but sees other stuff. He'd probably be glad to tell you. Nice guy.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I'm in Lewisburg wv and I have to agree John is a great guy a very welcome member of our community. I also have land outside of lexington va and have a walnut tree down, maybe 20" or larger, have access to a chain saw mill to slab it or John could slab it, dont know if it is large enough for your project but its there waiting for someone with time and motivation.

Dunlap Woodcrafts in Chantilly, VA
Exotic Lumber in Frederick, MD
R. S. Coleman Lumber Co. in Culpepper, VA
C. P. Johnson Lumber in Elkwood, VA
Northland Forest Products in Manassas and Troy, VA

Google for contact info, and give them a call.

http://somertonridgehardwoods.com/

Look under specialty woods tab.

I don't know your exact location, but here are a few suppliers you can google. St Pierre Woodworking and Milling in Floyd, VA. This guy specializes in slabs and seems to have a great inventory. Not sure about pricing. Steve Wall Lumber in Mayoden, NC. A great place to buy wood. Very fair pricing and helpful. I buy a lot of stuff from him. My go to domestic hardwood dealer. You might try Rusty's Custom Lumber and Landscaping in Pulaski, VA. Call. Not sue if they have large slabs, but they do saw large trees to lumber. No kiln. But prices are excellent for air dried lumber. Maple Ridge Lumber in Powhatan, VA. Not sure if they have slabs, but worth a try. Good pricing. Somerton Ridge Hardwoods out towards the coast from Richmond. They seem to have a great stock of lumber including live edge. Someone mentioned West Penn Hardwoods. They may have a lot of stuff, but their prices are way to rich for my blood. Just a few suggestions.

I will find one if it's still available. I'm in Farmville, VA and I'm sure I can track one down locally with a visit to the local pub.

I just texted the guy and am sorry to say that it will be burned up in someone's stove this winter. Been split into firewood.

Next time though I'll let you know. BTW I was just on Craigs List and searched for 'lumber' and came across a lot of walnut from across the state and in NC as well.

Sounds good. Are you searching in Lynchburg? I have looked IN Richmond and Lynchburg and found a couple guys but noting as large as what I'm looking for. I'd like ~48" wide or possibly 2 bookmatched ~24" flitches. I'd prefer a live edge solid slab though.

I'm not really familiar with how Craig's List works but I just type in a search and got hits from what appear to beat least a 2-300 mile radius as top results. I search for 'lumber' under the Materials section.

Here is an example: https://blacksburg.craigslist.org/searc ... ery=lumber

You can see one guy there who sells slabs who may be worth giving a call. 48" is pretty big though.

Chris is in the Suffolk area and has a sawmill http://www.srhardwoods.com/ He has some Walnut slabs on his site but no details.
If you're up to a trip to the Raleigh area, Scott Smith runs a great sawmill/kiln operation just south outside of Apex and either has some or can get it for you: http://www.quartersawnoak.com/