Private Stock Material....the best of the best!     Surfacing & Sanding Services Available For Our Wood

We occasionally get material that has truly exceptional figure and uniqueness which we classify as Private Stock Grade. Because I've seen so much figured material in the 42 years in the business you know without taking a second look what is and what isn't exceptional. This material conservately represents only 2 to 5 trees per 1000 trees of the total maple cut. It is no easy task to search out this material but we do it because, like you, we always admire the natural beauty of exceptional wood. This material is not inexpensive but then what is.....if you are seeking a rarity of beauty.

Because we are frequently asked for the best material, I've decided to make a listing of this material as I come across it. It is priced individually according to it's character and species and is just the thing for any project that requires exceptional figure and uniqueness . If you are looking for something that is exceptional in width, figure or a combination of the two and you do not see it listed here, please call (570) 584-5072 or email your specifications for a quick availability check and pricing. Please mention you are looking for Private Stock material. Please read FedEx shipping restrictions.

Click the name link to view a picture of the material offered. The picture that you see is representative of the character of figure that is over the entire board. We do not misrepresent the board for something that it is not. If there is a problem with the board as far as major defects, etc. it will be noted in the graders notes otherwise refer to the notation listed below concerning sapwood and heartwood. All material listed as "sets" is taken from the same tree to insure compatibility of figure and wood quality. Occasionally, depending on the set of material, we do break up a set if someone wants less than the complete set at a 10% surcharge. If there is no board footage indicated in the "No. Board Feet" column the price indicated is the price of the item. Of course all material is kiln dried to about 6% to 8% moisture content.

Cherry material has 85% to 100% heartwood one face with heartwood and sapwood the other face unless stated otherwise. Maple material has 100% sapwood one or two face and is Eastern Red Maple unless otherwise stated.

Since we are dealing with Nature's beautiful creations there may be minor defects such as edge wane, knots etc. but all private stock material is custom picked to minimize all defects. For you that do not know the meaning of the term "wane" it is an area of the material that has bark or lack of wood. Certainly not all rough lumber has wane but when it is present it is normally found at the edge of the board and just about without exception on one face only. For the sake of brevity in the "Graders Notes" it is understood that all material over three foot in length may have some minor wane present. If knots are present they will be indicated in the Graders Notes description. Small selections under three foot in length will be considered to be wane free material unless otherwise stated in the Graders Notes description. If you want to verify the fact if material over three feet in length have any defects please contact me.

More and more we are being asked about the terms outlined in the "Graders Notes" concerning surfacing. I feel that an explanation is in order because of the many different terms and outcomes of the operations involved.

When the "Graders Notes" indicates that the material........

1) is surfaced on one face, the material is really "surface jointed" using a spiral headed jointer to eliminate hear-out not merely run through a planner. If it is described as partially surfaced then obviously some of the surface did not clean up. This operation not only exposes the figure but more importantly helps to straighten the board. This obviously is a greater advantage to you than just running it through a surface planner. It is done at a much greater time and expense to me but the end result is worth it for my customers.

2) is surfaced two face, the board is first surface jointed and then run through a spiral headed planer to make the board parallel to the surface jointed face and eliminate tear-out. This operation may or may not present a partially surfaced result but will be noted in the "Graders Notes".

3) is roughly surfaced it usually means that the surface is not necessarily exactly parallel to the opposite surface jointed face. This happens to some material that has been previously surfaced at the mill. Again this may result in a partially surfaced result but will be noted.

In all cases the whole idea of surfacing is to present to you a board that is as flat as possible and yet retain as much original thickness as possible. I do not need to surface the material for my own purpose. In 40 years in the business I know what the figure will look like before surfacing. I do this for my customers because I know this will help you see the figure and make your subsequent work much easier.