Shop Talk - All things wood - Discount Lumber Outlet - Domestic and Exotic Hardwood Lumber, Butcher Block Counter Tops, Hardwood Flooring, and more! - Discount Lumber Outlet - Flooring, Domestic Hardwood and Exotic Lumber, Trim and Moulding Source in Savage, Minnesota

Lumber Showcase - Birdseye Maple

10/4/2018

Interested in using Birdseye Maple for your next project? The name is rather self explanatory: it comes from the small markings that resemble bird's eyes. These marking are actually caused by unfavorable growing conditions. The tree attempts to start new bud growth to get more sunlight - but due to the poor growing conditions this is aborted and the marks remain.

Birdseye Maple is great to use for instruments, furniture and other small items such as jewelry boxes. Stop in to see it for yourself!

Exotic Lumber Showcase - Anigre

9/27/2018

New exotics are now in stock - including Anigre (an-i-gre)! But what is Anigre, where can it be found, and what can it be used for?

Anigre comes out of Africa (most commonly from tropical areas in eastern Africa). It has a rather standard hardness - 990lbs (4,380 N), and has a light yellowish-brown coloring, which tends to darken to a golden brown with age. As for the grain - it is straight and interlocked.

Anigre is commonly used for boatbuilding, furniture, high-end millwork, and even instruments! Stop into Discount Lumber Outlet to check out this amazing species!

Acoustic guitar made out of African Anigre.

Unique and Exotic Hardwoods

9/3/2018

We have over 30 Species of Unique and Exotic Hardwood Lumber at Discount Lumber Outlet! To think that it's not even a fraction of what's out there!

It's even crazier to think that something like Black Limba is to one country as Southern Pine is to ours.

What species have you used or seen that you really love to work with? Comment below.

Crafters Showcase

8/27/2018

We love it when you share your projects with us! It is always so amazing to see the talent that comes from our customers! Please send us any of your photos! We'd love to feature them in our blog or website. Check out our Unique and Exotic Hardwoods page to see all the different species we have to offer at Discount Lumber Outlet!

Keep making sawdust and keep the photos coming!

Happy crafting!

Bob P.

Item: Recipe/Book holder
Species: Granadillo and Walnut

Item: Serving Tray
Species: Walnut

Brant D.

Item: Serving Tray
Species: Maple and Granadillo

Item: Fly Fishing Lure Box
Species: Granadillo and Maple

Mitch M

Item: Coffee and End Tables
Species: Zebrawood and Thermally Modified Ash

Item: Snare Drum
Species: Zebrawood and Walnut

You Did What to Poplar?

8/20/2018

The chefs left the Poplar in just a little too long with this one. It's actually a good thing though. Europe has been doing this for 20-30 years. What happens is the wood is kiln dried to near the point of combustion. This caramelizes the cellulose in the wood and turns it a deep brown color. Supposedly this renders it Pest and Rot resistant...Whether this is true or not we don't care. We just bought it because its super cool to use in our projects!

Come check it out today!

Did I mention it smells like coffee when you cut it?

Baltic Birch Plywood

8/13/2018

Baltic Birch Plywood. ..You've never used a ply so nice as this. We brought in B-BB Grade Baltic Birch Plywood a couple of weeks ago and it is SO nice to work with! One side is a very clear to perfect face, great for cabinets and other projects, the other side may have a couple of patches. The layers in between are very firm! No pockets or voids! This stuff is GREAT to work with!

Stop in and get your 60X60 sheet of 1/4", 1/2", or 3/4" today!!

60X60 sheets too big for you? We can cut it to size for you if you'd like!

Now Selling on Amazon

8/9/2018

Not everyone lives near our store Discount Lumber Outlet in Savage, Minnesota. This is why we've brought out lumber straight to you! Even better, you don't have to go anywhere! You can order right from your phone, tablet, or computer in the comfort of your own home! If you're within the 5 state area [Minnesota, Iowa, North or South Dakota, or Wisconsin give us a call and maybe we can ship to you without using Amazon.

Your welcome!

Click here to go to our product page in Amazon

We All Have to Start Somewhere.

5/31/2018

I TOTALLY agree with Steve Ramsey in this video. I also feel that his philosophy and personality describes a large majority of our DLO crafters that walk in our door everyday. The easy answer to wood working...YOU CAN! Wood working is FOR EVERYONE! We all have to start somewhere. Share your photos with us, bring your projects in and show them off! Have questions? Ask! Need help talking through your next project? Let's do it!

We all started somewhere. Remember your first wood working project? Was it anywhere near the quality of your projects of today? I doubt it...I know mine weren't.
Take this baby gate I built for my deck last week. It's made out of the Red Grandis scraps we have at Discount Lumber Outlet. I built it in less than 2 hours. I drew up the plans in less than 15 minutes.
Boy, do I wish I spent a little longer planning. Why would I notch the middle cross beam instead of do a mortise and tennon? Why didn't I surface plane all the boards prior to assembling? Why didn't I cut plugs out of Red Grandis to fill my pocket holes?
The reality is, this happens all the time when we do a project. There's always something we would've/could've done better. Just learn from it.

Courtesy of A. Davey. www.flickr.com/photos/adavey/4943010482/

Whether you're a master wood worker like this guy on the left or a beginner like the guy on the right...you're ALWAYS safe here with us. Please share your work with us, ask questions. If we don't know the answer, either find it or learn with you.

We all had to start somewhere. Now go make some sawdust! Well, come here first and buy some wood...then go make some sawdust!

Happy Crafting!

Andy

Cutting Boards, Chopping Blocks, and more!

5/3/2018

Whether you are looking to do an elaborate patterned cutting board, one in exotics, or keeping it simple with traditional domestic lumber Discount Lumber Outlet is your one stop shop for materials. But there's one major problem...we have SO MUCH WOOD to choose from! Of course, we'd be happy with you leaving with a truckload of lumber each time...but that's not always the best thing for you. .

Taking a moment to plan out your project before you come in will help you prepare your mind and your pocket book for your next visit.

CBDesigner is a great application for your desktop that can help you plan your visit more accordingly. This app allows you to enter in the types of woods that you would like to use in your next butcher block or cutting board and then helps you create a pattern. Lastly, it TELLS YOU HOW MUCH TO BUY!!! [Just make sure you design a couple dozen boards then come buy all your wood from us ;) ]

Below I have put together some screen shots showing the basics of creating a cutting board using his application. The end result sets you up with a shopping list that users can print and bring to the shop for picking their lumber.

Jay put a lot of work into designing this application...IT'S FREE!!! I'm sure it took a lot of effort to create this app. So please be encouraged to donate to his app and spread the word to all our fellow woodworkers! Thanks Jay for putting the effort into this SUPER COOL APP!! [Click Here!] CBDesigner V2.0

You have projects...we have lumber. Need to brainstorm on your upcoming creation? Maybe you want to try a new wood. Come on in and speak with Dick or Andy. We'd love to help you out.

Have you created a Butcher Block with our lumber?

Send us a pick of your butcher block! We'll feature it on our blog page! Make sure to include the species of wood used in your creation!!!

Hardwood Moldings...From Stock to Custom We Got Ya Covered!

4/30/2018

Did you know that we custom make molding out of hardwoods also!?! Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Red Grandis, Walnut, Poplar and more! We carry a stock of "Eased Edge (1EE or 2EE)" base and casing in the store and can run nearly any length needs you may have.

Something unique?
We have 100s of profiles you can choose from to see your home apart from the rest. Custom Baseboard and Moulding

Need it to match or you REALLY REALLY want to stand out and create your own?
When you absolutely, positively need it perfect and custom, we can do that too! We can match your current profile, cut the knife steel, and match your trim perfectly!