Ralph Taylor Lumber

About Ralph Taylor Lumber — Hardwood Lumber in Memphis

Ralph Taylor Lumber stands as Memphis’s trusted source for premium hardwood lumber, serving furniture makers, cabinetmakers, fine woodworkers, and DIY enthusiasts throughout the Mid-South region. Located on Erin Drive, this specialized lumber store combines decades of expertise with an extensive inventory of domestic and exotic hardwood species.

The showroom features carefully selected hardwood boards available in rough, S2S, and S4S formats, sold by the board foot with transparent grading from FAS to #1 Common. Customers can browse through popular species like red oak, white oak, cherry, walnut, and maple, alongside exotic options including mahogany, purpleheart, and zebrawood, all properly kiln-dried and stored for optimal moisture content.

Unlike big-box retailers that stock limited construction lumber, Ralph Taylor Lumber focuses exclusively on hardwood quality and woodworking expertise. Their knowledgeable staff understands grain patterns, figured wood characteristics, and can provide custom milling services to meet specific project requirements, ensuring every board meets professional standards.

Memphis’s rich furniture-making heritage and growing maker community create strong demand for quality hardwood lumber. The city’s central location makes it an ideal distribution point for premium lumber, while local woodworkers appreciate having access to specialty species and grades that simply aren’t available at general hardware stores.

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Location & Directions

What to Expect When You Visit

Visiting Ralph Taylor Lumber feels like stepping into a woodworker’s paradise, where the rich aroma of various hardwood species fills the air and expertly organized lumber racks showcase the natural beauty of each board. The staff takes time to understand your project needs, whether you’re building a single jewelry box or outfitting an entire cabinet shop, helping you select the right species, grade, and dimensions.

Expect to spend time examining boards for grain patterns and color consistency, as serious woodworkers often hand-select each piece. The team can discuss moisture content, milling options, and even provide insights about working characteristics of different species, making this a learning experience as much as a shopping trip.

Products & Materials

Ralph Taylor Lumber’s inventory spans the full spectrum of hardwood species, from classic domestic varieties like red oak, white oak, hard maple, cherry, and black walnut to exotic imports including mahogany, teak, purpleheart, and zebrawood. Each species is available in multiple grades following NHLA standards, from premium FAS (Firsts and Seconds) down to economical #1 Common, allowing customers to match quality and budget to their specific project needs.

Boards are available in rough-sawn, S2S (surfaced two sides), and S4S (surfaced four sides) formats, with thicknesses ranging from 4/4 to 8/4 and beyond for specialty applications. The lumber is properly kiln-dried to furniture-making moisture levels, typically 6-8%, and carefully stored to maintain stability.

Beyond standard lumber, the facility offers custom milling services including ripping to width, crosscutting to length, and specialized profiles. They also stock hardwood plywood, turning blanks, and figured wood pieces perfect for accent work, plus essential supplies like wood glue, finishing materials, and basic hardware items.

Who Shops Here

Ralph Taylor Lumber attracts serious woodworkers who understand the difference between construction lumber and furniture-grade hardwoods, including professional cabinetmakers building custom kitchens, furniture makers crafting heirloom pieces, and hobbyist woodworkers pursuing fine woodworking projects. Contractors specializing in high-end millwork and restoration projects also rely on their quality inventory and expertise, alongside woodworking instructors and students who need reliable access to various species for learning different working characteristics.

Serving the Memphis, Tennessee Area

Memphis’s woodworking community thrives on the city’s historical connection to furniture manufacturing and its modern maker movement, with several woodworking clubs, community workshops, and artisan furniture makers calling the area home. The city’s location at the confluence of major transportation routes historically made it a lumber distribution hub, and today’s craftspeople benefit from this legacy through suppliers like Ralph Taylor Lumber who understand the local market’s demand for quality hardwood species and professional-grade service.

Tips for First-Time Buyers

• Bring your project plans and measurements to get accurate board foot calculations and species recommendations from the knowledgeable staff
• Allow extra time to hand-select boards, especially for projects requiring grain matching or color consistency across multiple pieces
• Ask about moisture content and acclimation time needed in your shop before machining, particularly for wide panels or critical joinery
• Inquire about their custom milling services if you need specific dimensions or profiles that could save time in your shop
• Check availability of figured wood or book-matched pairs if your project calls for special grain patterns
• Consider bringing a moisture meter to verify lumber conditions match your project requirements

Woodworking Clubs & Resources near Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis area woodworkers can connect with the Mid-South Woodturners Association, a local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners that meets regularly for demonstrations and skill sharing. The Woodcraft store in nearby Cordova provides both supplies and classes for woodworkers of all skill levels, while Southwest Tennessee Community College offers woodworking courses through their continuing education programs. MakeMemphis, the city’s premier makerspace, features a well-equipped woodshop with both hand tools and power tools available to members along with regular workshops.

Find a local woodworking guild →  ·  Find an AAW chapter →

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