So they have stopped bulk pick up here in phoenix a while back. Now it is by appointment only. I used to be able to go around to the areas that were scheduled for pick up, and come home with all types of wood. Now i cant do that, and i am running out of my supply. Buying turning blanks is expensive. Where do you all find your wood at.
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Finding wood
- Thread starter Michael Scussel
- Start date
Make friends with a couple of tree services. You'll have all you can handle.
Tree service guys. Use the beer economy if necessary.
Yup the tree guys are your best friends 
Tree service, by all means. My neighbor has a sideline tree service. Scored some Bradford pear this spring.
Edit: Does your county or city have a parks department? Sometimes they trim trees or cut up downed trees.
Edit: Does your county or city have a parks department? Sometimes they trim trees or cut up downed trees.
Besides the tree services, you might check with the local road maintenance people. I stopped when I noticed some trimming trees on the highway right-of-way and told them what I was looking for. I had a good place for them to dump so they started bringing me good logs. (Besides woodturning, I have a sawmill.) Eventually I got more than I could use and asked them to stop.
I also contacted several tree service companies. When taking down useful trees they would call me and I'd come with a trailer if it was wood I wanted. They would load chunks or logs on the trailer (A boom truck can work as a crane). Again, I started getting more logs and chunks that I could use.
Around here, of course, there are many great tree species - cherry, oak, walnut, maple, persimmon, cedar, sweetgum, holly, ash, bradford pear, etc. (I have such trees on the ground now.) Don't know what's common and useful in your area. One friend drove her station wagon from somewhere without good hardwoods just to haul some back.
I also contacted several tree service companies. When taking down useful trees they would call me and I'd come with a trailer if it was wood I wanted. They would load chunks or logs on the trailer (A boom truck can work as a crane). Again, I started getting more logs and chunks that I could use.
Around here, of course, there are many great tree species - cherry, oak, walnut, maple, persimmon, cedar, sweetgum, holly, ash, bradford pear, etc. (I have such trees on the ground now.) Don't know what's common and useful in your area. One friend drove her station wagon from somewhere without good hardwoods just to haul some back.