where can I buy good quality hardwood boards, ideally maple and/or walnut, in smallish quantities without spending a fortune? I’m thinking maybe a couple of metres of 3/4″ by, say, 4″ board. The online retailers I’ve found are limited to larger quantities, I guess because postage is a nightmare.

Any recommendations for online places or should it be possible/better to find a local merchant? Any recommendations for West Sussex?

I’m going to have a bash at building stave drums, my first proper wood work project.

If anyone knows, stw knows.

Covers or take a trip out to Sydenhams on the A32 just North of Wickham

I’m looking for some wider hardwood board too to build a bike shelf

Online seems to be big quantities

West Sussex? You’re spoilt for choice;
EL West outside Midhurst, Covers down in Chichester, or this chap; http://www.surreytimbers.co.uk/

up near Guildford.
There’s many others though…

http://www.surreytimbers.co.uk/index.html

I’d try Inksters in Bedhampton ( http://www.logcabinsonline.co.uk )

I’ve spent many an hour trawling through the masses of odd timber bits there.

Very helpful and won’t rip your arm off like Sydenhams will.

Their website just shows the log cabins, but they have a big old shed full of wood.

Fantastic, I’m literally around the corner from covers in chi, and if that doesn’t cover it (ahem), then there plenty more options. For some reason I imagined wood worthy of drums would be a bit specialist but I’ll go take a look. Thanks.

interested to see your progression on this project..

Will you be posting some photo’s up..?

Nip into WH Smith and grab a copy of The Woodworker; back of the mag is full of ads for specialist timber suppliers to hobbyists.

interested to see your progression on this project..

Will you be posting some photo’s up..?
You don’t need to ask twice, I’ll get some pics up as I progress.
Tools are being acquired slowly, and I’ve got some serious jigs to build, so I’ll stick pics up along the way.
I’ve taken inspiration from a few YouTube vids, plus this very web 1.0 site with very good info

grab a copy of The Woodworker

Might give that a shot too.