I found Duffield Timber last year. They are just over an hour away from me (a few miles NE of Ripon, I seem to remember), and until seeing this video I didn't have much idea how rare such suppliers are. I'm no expert woodworker, but I was interested in getting a few small pieces to get used to working with hardwoods, and possibly to make a few picture frames, and their hobby shop was perfect for what I wanted. They are indeed very friendly and helpful, and visiting them was a pleasant afternoon out.
What a wonderful stroke of luck and thank you sooo much for the tip - those hobby bins sound very interesting for what I expect to be making when I get my workshop fixed up. Of course, Duffield is bit of a way from Redruth but such is life! The North Yorkshire moors are a fabulous place to visit so maybe the trip doesn't have to be ALL about the wood! I look forward to seeing what you do with some of that lovely material.
Nice find. I recently came across two postings of "local" lumber retailers that were going out of business due to retirement. I found slab material I was in need of for a fraction of the cost I paid for the original slabs I purchased 3+ years ago. One of the under discussed skills we woodworkers have to develop is the ability to search out these businesses. Glad you found a "local" retailer. 7+ hr trip is a great excuse to make a weekend trip
Hi I’m one of your subscribers if you remember I bought your circle jig that’s my local wood shop i go there a lot shame I missed you it’s a great yard
Yes, the prices are higher than they used to be, but there are sound economic reasons for that. We woodworkers just have to pay them, and pass that on when we sell items. Good timber suppliers I know of are Yandles, in Somerset; Ockenden Timber near Hereford (mail order only); Surrey Timbers near Guildford; Timberline in Tonbridge; G&S Timber in Penrith; Brodies near Dunkeld in Scotland. Sadly, we have already lost Snainton, and Stiles and Bates are closing in March next year.
One option for you would be to splash out on a whole load of timber, and start your own Cornish supply shop. If you're right that there is a demand, then you should be able to make some money doing this, assuming you have the space. I suspect, though, that there just aren't enough hardwood users in the area to make it viable.
What a great video, so a couple of places a bit closer to you, though still a bit of a drive, Yandells in Martock and Timbersource near Shepton Mallet, and if you're there Valley saw mills, (rather limited stock), all in sunny Somerset, thanks for posting.
Great place is Duffieilds, 10 minutes away from my workshop in Ripon I'll be calling in over the next two weeks to drop off some cases of beer for the lads on the shop floor as a thank you for there assistance when I go in.
I hope that they gave you a full tour of the site after travelling all that way and didn't just confine you to the trade warehouse and hobby shop. It's really impressive and the amount of stock is mind blowing.
sounds fantastic, G! Although 7 hours is a bit of a slog … keep us posted on the more creative pieces you come up with! I’ll hopefully be able to share some of the things I’d like to build … good luck in ‘24!
I too visited Duffield Timber for the second time a couple of weeks ago. It’s a must for every keen woodworker. The long, wide boards in the Hobby Hall are just out of this world. Where else could you buy a 2” thick waney edge stab of glorious American Cherry that is 25” wide and 12ft long at what I thought was a more than reasonable price. What a 😢tabletop that would have made. I came away with a 10ft long, 18” wide, 2.25” thick board of native elm plus boards of Zebrano and figured Bubinga. The only small downside is they don’t open at weekends.
I don't live far from there, been a fair few times. There use to be a place called John boddys a few miles away at borobridge. It was amazing for offcuts, barging bins. There was a huge barn just full of exotics. Unfortunately it closed about 8 years back but duffields must have bought some of their stock because a lot of their small pieces still have john boddys stamp on them
@@davehilton8570 I went a month or so before they closed not knowing it was closing. They told me associated timber had bought the place and were opening at Brompton on swale and would be a very similar set up, so I didn't bother stocking up before it closed. Big mistake 😅
Man I wish we had a place like that in Norway!! I can get a whole bunch of different species here to be fair but it’s never displayed like that so I can just pick out the pieces I want. Plus I have to drive either 11 or 15 hours return trip to get anything at all😖
Very interesting. I’d like not to use hardwood that has come from the other side of the world but, if you want plantation grown cherry, walnut, eucalyptus etc., you have to compromise. I do prefer using native timbers but European cherry, walnut etc. are so expensive by comparison. I don’t think there is an easily available list of these type of independent timber yards. I don’t even know by what media you could make such a list so easily seen - hopefully more savvy people might know that answer.
Do not stop asking other people. US and UK are different but I keep finding more and more here over time. They were in force at a yearly woodworkers guild exposition. Keep asking friends and fellow woodworkers. Maybe a sneaky one hiding only two hours away. Footage like that, the audio is forgivable. Not an issue for me.
Glad you found some timber. Did I see in one of your vids a Dewalt 733 thicknesser as I am looking for one for my small projects. I would be interested on your views on it. Searching the internet the DW735 gets rave reviews but not available in the uk. Cheers
Hey man, love your videos your clearly super passionate about your trade. Have you got any recommendations for woodshops near Nottinghamshire derbyshire way that you’ve come across on your travels?? I did have a timber yard I went to but they’ve recently stopped supplying hard woods which is a shame
Hi Graham, what were the prices like in comparison to the online sellers in your previous video? I live north Leicestershire so not too far from Duffield so if the price is right I may have finally found my hardwood supplier!
Hi Graham, great find. I live near Duffield but not sure where the store is as internet search says Duffield Timber, Ripon. Just wondered if you had any contact s details for the Duffield location in derbyshire is Please > Many thanks.
