Following are some resources available to woodworkers in our region. Please pass along your discoveries for inclusion here.
Lumber
Anchor Hardwoods, 18 Covil Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403, phone 910-343-9000, anchorhardwoods.net.
Anchor Hardwoods is a custom fabricator of high-end doors, countertops and more. They maintain a supply of some amazing live-edge stock and select quality hardwoods. They carry an expansive collection of flat stock, both 4/4 and 8/4 already planed and priced. Also stock and sell Waterlox finishes. They are friendly and very supportive of local woodworkers.
Woodies Woodshop, 3307 Merchant Court, Wilmington, NC 28405, phone 910-350-3550, woodieswoodshop.com.
Woody’s sells lumber, slabs, marine plywood, bowl and pen blanks in dozens of different species including sapele, afrormosia, wenge, bubinga, yellowheart, redheart, teak, iroko, pau rosa, pau amarillo, coco bolo, spalted tamarind, bocote, zircote, leopardwood, east Indian rosewood, chakte viga, Roman olivewood, chakte coc and others. Domestic species include a varying selection of walnut, red oak, white oak, hickory, ash, gum, hard maple, quilted maple, curly maple, spalted maple, birdseye maple, cypress, cedar and others. They also carry marine-grade okoume plywood. Call first as hours of operation sometime vary.
DCW Hardwoods, 217 Exchange St., Little River, SC 29566, phone 843-231-6767, dcwhardwoods.com.
DCW stocks more than 30 species of hardwoods, softwoods, exotics, reclaimed and specialty lumber. Homeowners, Hobbyists, Builders, Contractors, and Designers are welcome. They also have a full sawmill and do slab flattening. They have the expertise and equipment to handle needs ranging from lumber, live-edge slabs, millwork, kiln drying, custom furniture, countertops, accents, mantles and beams.
Fitzgerald Lumber, 4022 Market St., Wilmington, NC 28403, phone 910-815-2900, fitzgeraldwood.com.
They carry a large variety of exotic and domestic lumber and plywood. In addition to lumber, they sell siding, decking, flooring, etc. They say they can also locate hard-to-find species and rare widths and thickness. We specialize in Mahogany and keep vast inventory in stock.
Rugby Architectural Building Products, 3002 Corporate Dr., Wilmington, NC 28405, phone 910-794-7225, www.rugbyabp.com.
This wholesale lumberyard largely serving cabinetmakers will sell in small quantities at retail and stocks several varieties of hardwood and specialty plywood, along with Euro cabinet hardware. The Wilmington branch of this national company is located just inside I-140/I-40, northeast of Wilmington airport. The regional catalog states this branch carries alder, hickory, oak, maple, cherry, walnut, poplar, birch and basswood in 4/4 and 8/4 and numerous imported species including sapele, teak, lacewood, wenge and others. Also sells veneers and edge-banding.
Fantasy Kitchens, 2660 Ocean Hwy W., Shallotte, NC, phone 910-754-3276 (ask for Ray or Austin)
Fantasy Kitchens is a very good source for baltic birch plywood. They don’t stock it but they will order it for you and they get two deliveries a week. Not sure what grade they have, but it is cabinet quality and can be had in either 5′ square or 4 x 8′. I have purchased both sizes in 1/2″ and 3/4″. Some “football” patches but no voids. They also stock some hardwood veneer plywood as well as cabinet hardware. Austin Lyles and his father, Ray, are super helpful, will help you load and cut the sheets any way you want. They’re located on Rt. 17 behind Black’s Tires and Service on the right-hand side when southbound, just before you would make the left turn off of 17 onto Business 17 into Shallotte. (Submitted by member Dick Meyer)
SpecialWood, 3927 Blue Clay Rd., Castle Hayne, NC 38429, phone 910-675-1000, www.specialwood.com.
This massive lumber wholesaler and mill will in fact sell directly to hobbyists. They are not equipped to sell a single board as you have to write up a ticket, go to the appropriate warehouse, the forklift operator retrieves the appropriate pallet(s) of wood, you select, they write it up, you pay, then you pick up . . . so if you want to buy a goodly amount of rough cherry, hard or soft maple, African mahogany, and a few other hardwoods, the prices are good. They could also surface it down from rough with an advance order. It is not necessarily the finest grade quarter-sawn hardwood, but a superb regional resource run by friendly people. Also stock some rough timbers and slabs (which are easier to see/inspect).
Builders FirstSource, 1609 N Howe St, Southport, NC 28461, phone 910-457-6455.
This lumberyard and home center, largely supplying builders does in fact sell retail to walk-in customers. Go to the back of the showroom to the special order desk. You can also stroll through the lumber area in the back. They mostly stock building materials such as studs, construction plywood, siding, etc., but also stock some trim wood. They can special order in specialty plywood, etc., which at least gets it closer.
Woodworking Stores
Klingspor’s Woodworking Shop, 107 Edinburgh South Dr., Suite 151, Cary, NC 27511, phone 919-876-0707, www.woodworkingshop.com.
Support a North Carolina-based business which also happens to have one of the best stores around. Long known for abrasives, this shop (selling online as well) stocks every tool, supply, finish, and accessory imaginable. If you are in the region, stop by. If not, it’s worth the trip. Klingspor’s also presents a large woodworking show (free of charge!) in Hickory each October.
Woodcraft, 4317 Pleasant Valley Road, Raleigh, NC 27612, phone 919-781-1911, email Raleigh-retail@woodcraft.com, www.woodcraft.com.
Our closest Woodcraft store is in Raleigh. Woodcraft sells more than 8,000 items online and in its retail stores. It also publishes Woodcraft magazine. A great resource when you are in the area.
General Suppliers, Hardware
Ace Hardware, 8848 River Rd., Southport, NC 28461, phone 910-477-6444, www.southportacehardware.com.
Oak Island Hardware, Oak Island.
Lowes, Southport; Shallotte.
Home Depot, Shallotte; Wilmington; Carolina Beach.
Tools
Tools Plus, 4518 Park Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403, phone 910-392-2176
Independent tool shop with a remarkable assortment of hand and power tools, bandsaw blades, and more.
Harbor Freight Tools, two locations near us . . .
4600 Main Street Suite 2 Shallotte NC 28470, phone 910-946-2525
2636 Carolina Beach Rd., Wilmington, NC 28412, phone 910-794-4211
www.harborfreight.com
(Also 851 Highway 17 S, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, phone 843-272-4307)
Good assortment of tools, sandpaper, etc. Always a deal or coupon or freebie.