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Northern Indiana Woodworkers and Lumber Yards

730 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by LGLDSR73, Apr 18, 2022

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · Apr 16, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

I am moving to Northwest Indiana (Porter County, about 80 miles ESE of Chicago) and incredulously the closest lumber yard I can find that sells rough stock is in Indianapolis, IN - a 2.5 hour ride South.

If you're from a relatively Northwest portion of Indiana and have a particular lumber yard that you use I'd sure appreciate knowing about it.

Many thanks,

Lyman

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

therealSteveN

· #2 · Apr 16, 2022

Only thing I'm sure of is a great yard is at Union City, it's on the Ohio Indiana border, but it would be South a bit, and likely not many heavy roads running straight down, so the trip is likely going to take a few hours.

Frank Miller Lumber

https://frankmiller.com

They probably supply the place in Indianapolis. They flip a few million bd/ft a month, are the Number 1 sawmill for QS White Oak in the world, and carry a pretty long list of Hardwoods, Domestic, and Import with pretty competitive prices.

I am a member of this woodworking club, and we get a 25% discount. Nobody says you have to attend meetings. Membership is 30 bux a year. I'll let you do the math on 25% off a Thousand bux to see if you might think it was worthwhile.

https://westernohiowoodworkers.com

sbarlin

· #3 · Apr 16, 2022

It's a long drive but Knighstown, In has a lumberyard that sells rough sawn hardwoods

ibewjon

· #4 · Apr 16, 2022

Owl Hardwood Lumber in Oaklawn, south of Midway airport has 3 locations and a good selection. Probably not a terrible ride for you. And I combine the trip with a stop at Joe and Frank's Polish deli for some great sausage. There are other suppliers in the Chicago area, but are a longer ride for you.

Redoak49

· #5 · Apr 17, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

I am in NW Indiana go to Owl Hardwood in Chicago. There are also quite a few places in Michigan. I have gone to Hickory and Oak Sawmill. It is not too far from a number of winery places which makes my wife happy.

Knockonit

· #6 · Apr 17, 2022

back in 70s when i lived in south bend while going to school there was quite a few small saw mills in the sticks selling good product, along with a vendor that was near the old studebacker plant, dang if i can remember who and where.
good luck
rj in az

CaptainKlutz

· #7 · Apr 17, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

Color me Jelly. Lived in central Indiana, but 2 decades has past since.
There are a ton of GREAT lumber resources in northern Indiana. There are even more sawmills in southern 1/3 of state, if you every get near bottom portion of state.

TBH - Porter county and NW corner of Indiana is mostly industrial wasteland and suburbs. The forest have been plowed under decades ago when the area near Chicago was big into steel processing and fabrication. You will have to drive 1-2 hours to find sawmill and inexpensive lumber sources; but the results are worth every minute of the drive.

+1 Frank Miller. IME - Largest and coolest collection of QS lumber in world.

Forget all the names, but sawyers scattered around; La Crosse, Plymouth, Elkhart, and Middlebury Indiana (towards the center and center-east) part of the state.
Middlebury has several wholesale lumberyards, and if you need a 300-500bdft unit of lumber; the prices will be cheap compared to retail. And it you can tolerate short ( < 8 ft) lumber, the deals are even better.

While it might sound far away from the Indiana/Illinois arm pit; also have sawyers NE of you near Galien, and Decatur in Michigan. There used to be several small sawmills in Edwardsburg MI, just across the border from South Bend IN.

Finding these folks is easy:
Ask Google Maps, "Sawmill near South bend, IN"; then expand the map slightly, and click on 'search this area'; you will be rewarded with a plethora of saw mills in northern Indiana, and southern Michigan.

PS - The NorthWesdt wood workers Assoc, and the Central Indiana Woodworkers club are fairly active. They used to maintain a list of lumber sources, and even negotiated club discounts for members. Couple of the small sawyers in Northern Indiana used to be club members, and the member lumber price was usually too low to be discussed unless whispering in dark corner.

Best Luck.

See less See more

rtbrmb

· #8 · Apr 17, 2022

There is a Johnson's Workbench in South Bend. I have never been there but have done a lot of business with their store in Charlotte, MI.

Bill in MI

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 17, 2022

Only thing I m sure of is a great yard is at Union City, it s on the Ohio Indiana border, but it would be South a bit, and likely not many heavy roads running straight down, so the trip is likely going to take a few hours.

Frank Miller Lumber

https://frankmiller.com

They probably supply the place in Indianapolis. They flip a few million bd/ft a month, are the Number 1 sawmill for QS White Oak in the world, and carry a pretty long list of Hardwoods, Domestic, and Import with pretty competitive prices.

I am a member of this woodworking club, and we get a 25% discount. Nobody says you have to attend meetings. Membership is 30 bux a year. I ll let you do the math on 25% off a Thousand bux to see if you might think it was worthwhile.

https://westernohiowoodworkers.com

- therealSteveN

Thanks Steven! I managed to located a yard in Des Plains, IL, about 73 miles away. Owl Hardwoods, and they have two other locations as well.

Thank you very much for the suggestions!

Best,
Lyman

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 17, 2022

It's a long drive but Knighstown, In has a lumberyard that sells rough sawn hardwoods

- sbarlin

Thanks Sir! I am trying to avoid he long hauls if it all possible. I have been spoiled for too many years with a large lumber yard about 20 minutes away. I did find a place, Owl Hardwoods, in IL, about 73mi away.

Best,

Lyman

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 17, 2022

Owl Hardwood Lumber in Oaklawn, south of Midway airport has 3 locations and a good selection. Probably not a terrible ride for you. And I combine the trip with a stop at Joe and Frank s Polish deli for some great sausage. There are other suppliers in the Chicago area, but are a longer ride for you.

- ibewjon

Owl Hardwoods came recommend to me, about 73mi away in Des Plains.

Thanks much!

Lyman

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 17, 2022

back in 70s when i lived in south bend while going to school there was quite a few small saw mills in the sticks selling good product, along with a vendor that was near the old studebacker plant, dang if i can remember who and where.
good luck
rj in az

- Knockonit

Thank you!

Best,

Lyman

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 17, 2022

Color me Jelly. Lived in central Indiana, but 2 decades has past since.
There are a ton of GREAT lumber resources in northern Indiana. There are even more sawmills in southern 1/3 of state, if you every get near bottom portion of state.

TBH - Porter county and NW corner of Indiana is mostly industrial wasteland and suburbs. The forest have been plowed under decades ago when the area near Chicago was big into steel processing and fabrication. You will have to drive 1-2 hours to find sawmill and inexpensive lumber sources; but the results are worth every minute of the drive.

+1 Frank Miller. IME - Largest and coolest collection of QS lumber in world.

Forget all the names, but sawyers scattered around; La Crosse, Plymouth, Elkhart, and Middlebury Indiana (towards the center and center-east) part of the state.
Middlebury has several wholesale lumberyards, and if you need a 300-500bdft unit of lumber; the prices will be cheap compared to retail. And it you can tolerate short ( < 8 ft) lumber, the deals are even better.

While it might sound far away from the Indiana/Illinois arm pit; also have sawyers NE of you near Galien, and Decatur in Michigan. There used to be several small sawmills in Edwardsburg MI, just across the border from South Bend IN.

Finding these folks is easy:
Ask Google Maps, "Sawmill near South bend, IN"; then expand the map slightly, and click on search this area ; you will be rewarded with a plethora of saw mills in northern Indiana, and southern Michigan.

PS - The NorthWesdt wood workers Assoc, and the Central Indiana Woodworkers club are fairly active. They used to maintain a list of lumber sources, and even negotiated club discounts for members. Couple of the small sawyers in Northern Indiana used to be club members, and the member lumber price was usually too low to be discussed unless whispering in dark corner.

Best Luck.

- CaptainKlutz

Thanks for the great input and information, much appreciated. I'm going o start with Owl Hardwoods and take it from there. Right now, at 73mi in IL they're the closest.

Again, many thanks!

Lyman

ibewjon

· #14 · Apr 17, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

The Owl location off Cicero Ave in Oak Lawn, will be much closer. Then the next closest is west of Elmhurst in Lombard. DesPlaines is actually the furthest location from you, 30 miles further than Oak Lawn.

EricFai

· #15 · Apr 17, 2022

I stop in South Bend at Johnsons Workbench, on my way to see my daughter in Grand Rapids.

Thay have a good selection of Hardwoods and they also carry exotics and a variety of tools.

Woodmaster1

· #16 · Apr 18, 2022

I live in northeast Indiana and Johnson's Workbench is a good place to go I find there are several places around northern Indiana. The area around Middlebury. I go to Wibles you pick hardwood in South Milford Indiana excellent selection at reasonable prices for domestic hardwood and exotic wood

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 18, 2022

The Owl location off Cicero Ave in Oak Lawn, will be much closer. Then the next closest is west of Elmhurst in Lombard. DesPlaines is actually the furthest location from you, 30 miles further than Oak Lawn.

- ibewjon

Wow, thanks for the heads up! With gas at $4+ it all adds up.
Again, thanks!

Lyman

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 18, 2022

I stop in South Bend at Johnsons Workbench, on my way to see my daughter in Grand Rapids.

Thay have a good selection of Hardwoods and they also carry exotics and a variety of tools.

- Eric

Thanks Eric. South Bend is a haul for me. I think Owl Hardwoods in Oak Lawn is my best bet at this point. Thanks for the help though!!

Best,

Lyman

LGLDSR73

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 18, 2022

I live in northeast Indiana and Johnson's Workbench is a good place to go I find there are several places around northern Indiana. The area around Middlebury. I go to Wibles you pick hardwood in South Milford Indiana excellent selection at reasonable prices for domestic hardwood and exotic wood

- Woodmaster1

Middlebury is ~1.5 hours, not all that bad. I'll check them out at some point.

Thanks!

Lyman

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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