Having trouble finding material - please help - Woodworking Talk

KMac · 04-05-2008, 10:03 AM

I'm building a kitchen table out of reclaimed wormy oak. I have the stock for everything except the legs which my customer wants to be 3 1/2" square 2 sided tapered legs in oak. Well I checked all of my usual local sources for 4 X 4 oak stock and I can't find it anywhere. I'm wondering if any of you guys could point me in the right direction - maybe a website or somewhere I could order it from? Thanks for your help in advance!

smitty1967 · 04-05-2008, 10:46 AM

KMac: why not glue up your own, and take advantage of some beautiful ray fleck in the process. Something similar to what I did with my bedroom project, below. The finsihed dimension of these posts on the bed are a little less than 3" but you could rip and laminate to any dimension you needed. Cut your own tapers as needed...would this work? Just a thought.

regards,
smitty

KMac · 04-05-2008, 11:45 AM

Smitty1967,

You know I didn't even think of trying that - I was getting tunnel vision. It'll take a bit more work but probably the best thing to do. Thanks a lot for your reply and that bed looks great!

Al Killian · 04-06-2008, 10:52 PM

Most places that saw up lumber should be able to get you what you need. You may have to wait a few week for a batch to get cut up a dried.

Handyman · 04-07-2008, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMac

I'm building a kitchen table out of reclaimed wormy oak. I have the stock for everything except the legs which my customer wants to be 3 1/2" square 2 sided tapered legs in oak. Well I checked all of my usual local sources for 4 X 4 oak stock and I can't find it anywhere. I'm wondering if any of you guys could point me in the right direction - maybe a website or somewhere I could order it from? Thanks for your help in advance!

I have to agrea with Smitty1967 I would use what you have and glue up your own 4x4. Finding a keln dried oak 4x4 would be like almost imposible. You may find a sawer that will cut youa 4x4 but it will be wet or green. you caint make anything with it until it has been dried, or it will change shape, Twist, bow, on you.

KMac · 04-07-2008, 09:43 AM

I already started gluing up the legs for this project. I am a finish carpenter that gets asked to build a table or cabinet every once in awhile so while I very much enjoy woodworking my experience is limited and I didn't consider just making the legs! I was however surprised I couldn't find an oak 4X4 - my supplier DID find a mahogany 4X4 at a lumber yard but that was it.

This was my first post on this forum and you guys are very helpful and there seems to be a wealth of knowledge to draw from here. I'll be reading through all the old threads trying to learn something! Thanks!