Specialty Lumber
Boules, and Wood Flooring
A “boule” (I thought you’d never ask!) is a whole butt – or base – log that has been sawn into boards or slabs, and stacked sequentially in the sequence they were cut. A few mills will sell them like this, rather than sawing the logs in whatever way produces the most lumber. “Who cares?”…
Read MoreNeed Walnut? We’ve Got It!
Ever since I started in construction in the mid 1960’s, there have been many trends in the use of various woods for interior finish. When I was converting a Back Bay townhouse into condos in 1973, all the existing doors and trim had long been painted white. Some of it was poplar, which was meant…
Read MoreSLABS!!!
A “slab” is generally described as one piece of wood, the width of the tree from which it was sawn, with or without “live edges” (the natural shape of the tree sides), and usually quite thick. Barney and Carey has been selling slabs for years, while always seeking new sources for them. We buy them from…
Read MoreShorts, Cookies, Discs, and Hardwood Oddities
As written here in a previous blog, about eight years ago I took on two partners and decided to make a radical change at Barney & Carey. The location in Sharon had functioned pretty well as a small, “full service” lumber company, but had really outgrown its tired facility. Both Barney & Carey and my…
Read MoreUnveiling the Holiday Spirit: Welcome Holly Wood!
Hey there! Guess what’s happening at the lumberyard? We’ve got something new in the mix, and we have no doubt it will sprinkle a bit of holiday cheer into your woodworking projects. Introducing Holly Wood, the latest addition to our lineup. This one’s sure to bring a touch of festive magic to whatever you’re creating. …
Read MoreYou’ve Never Seen a Shipment of Hardwoods Like This Before
I have mentioned many times how difficult it can be to source high quality hardwoods. We have been diligent at keeping a good inventory of them—both domestic and exotic—in stock. However, sometimes, I just can’t find what is needed. Recently, one of our three owners, Dovi, told me that we were pretty depleted in a…
Read MoreA Treasure of Exotic Hardwoods
As the old saw goes, “some days ya just get lucky!” Well, that is exactly what happened to me recently. A little background, first. As woodworkers, craftspeople, woodturners, etc., we have been intrigued with using some exotic hardwoods in our projects. Yes, many of these woods are very expensive and often hard to obtain, but…
Read MoreBarney & Carey Co. Inc. Honored With Membership in the LBM Century Club
Barney & Carey Co. Inc., of Avon, MA, has been named to LBM Journal magazine’s LBM Century Club, in recognition of the company’s 100 years of service to its community. “We’re honoring lumberyards with a century or more of service to their communities and to our industry,” says LBM Journal Publisher and Executive Editor Rick…
Read MoreThe (Un)Usual Suspects: Really Unusual Walnut Slabs
I am always on the hunt to buy wide hardwood slabs from our network of small sawmills, but it gets harder and harder to find them, as demand is high. Walnut is always scarce, because there just aren’t that many Walnut trees here in New England. Tree companies come across them occasionally when a homeowner…
Read MoreMore Than Just Little Pieces of Wood, Because It’s More Than “Just a Hobby”
Most woodworking hobbyists don’t need long lengths of hardwood, especially if they are crafting a small project. Unfortunately, most hardwood companies are geared toward being strictly wholesale, with few exceptions. They don’t look kindly upon the person who asks if they will cut a two-foot piece of 8/4 x 10 Mahogany, or a one-foot piece…
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