Hardwoods To Get aka TARGO Woods

About Hardwoods To Get aka TARGO Woods — Hardwood Lumber in Bellingham

Hardwoods To Get (TARGO Woods) is Bellingham’s premier hardwood lumber supplier, serving furniture makers, cabinetmakers, fine woodworkers, and hobbyists throughout Northwestern Washington. Located on McLeod Road, this specialized lumber store focuses exclusively on quality hardwood boards, offering both domestic and exotic species in various grades and finishes.

The lumber yard stocks an extensive inventory of hardwood boards sold by the board foot, available in rough-sawn, S2S (surfaced two sides), and S4S (surfaced four sides) formats. From classic domestic species like maple, oak, and cherry to exotic imports like purpleheart and zebrawood, TARGO Woods maintains consistent inventory levels and provides custom milling services to meet precise project specifications.

Unlike big box retailers that focus on construction lumber, TARGO Woods specializes in furniture-grade hardwoods with proper grading, controlled moisture content, and expert selection for grain patterns and figure. Their knowledgeable staff understands wood movement, species characteristics, and can recommend the right lumber for specific applications, whether it’s a fine cabinet project or sculptural woodwork.

Bellingham’s active maker community and proximity to both urban centers and timber resources creates strong demand for quality hardwood lumber. The city’s mix of professional woodworkers, artist studios, and dedicated hobbyists relies on specialized suppliers like TARGO Woods for materials that simply aren’t available through conventional home improvement channels.

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What to Expect When You Visit

Visiting a hardwood lumber supplier like TARGO Woods means stepping into a space designed for serious woodworkers. Expect to see stacks of boards organized by species, thickness, and grade, with clear board foot pricing and grading standards posted throughout. The atmosphere is more like a craftsperson’s warehouse than a typical retail store, with lumber stored on edge in vertical racks and plenty of space to examine grain patterns and select individual boards.

Staff members are typically experienced woodworkers themselves who can discuss the working properties of different species, recommend appropriate grades for your project, and explain moisture content considerations. Many customers spend significant time selecting individual boards, and you’ll often see people using flashlights or their phone cameras to examine grain patterns and check for defects before making purchasing decisions.

Products & Materials

TARGO Woods stocks a comprehensive selection of hardwood lumber in standard thicknesses from 4/4 (1-inch) up to 8/4 (2-inch) and beyond. Domestic species typically include red oak, white oak, hard maple, soft maple, cherry, walnut, ash, and hickory, while exotic offerings might feature mahogany, teak, rosewood, purpleheart, padauk, and zebrawood. All lumber is graded according to National Hardwood Lumber Association standards, with FAS (Firsts and Seconds), Select, and #1 Common grades clearly marked.

Beyond standard lumber inventory, the company provides custom milling services including straight-line ripping, thickness planing, and specialty cuts for turning blanks and carving blocks. They maintain proper kiln-drying protocols to ensure consistent moisture content, typically between 6-8% for interior projects. Special figured woods like curly maple, quilted maple, and bird’s eye maple are often available for premium projects requiring distinctive grain patterns.

Who Shops Here

TARGO Woods serves a diverse clientele of serious woodworkers including professional furniture makers, custom cabinetmakers, architectural millwork shops, and dedicated hobbyists working on fine woodworking projects. Interior designers sourcing materials for custom built-ins, artists creating sculptural works, and small-scale manufacturers producing handcrafted items also rely on their specialized inventory and expertise in hardwood species selection.

Serving the Bellingham, Washington Area

Bellingham’s vibrant arts community and maker culture, combined with the Pacific Northwest’s strong woodworking tradition, creates an active market for quality hardwood lumber. The city hosts numerous woodworking studios, furniture makers, and craft schools, while its proximity to both Seattle’s design market and the region’s timber industry provides both demand and supply advantages for specialized lumber suppliers like TARGO Woods.

Tips for First-Time Buyers

• Bring a flashlight or use your phone’s flashlight to properly examine grain patterns and check for defects in lumber selection
• Understand board foot calculations before visiting – multiply thickness (in inches) × width (in inches) × length (in feet) ÷ 12
• Ask about moisture content and allow time for acclimation in your shop before machining lumber
• Learn basic lumber grading terms (FAS, Select, #1 Common) to communicate your quality needs effectively
• Consider purchasing slightly more lumber than calculated to account for waste and allow for board selection
• Bring measurements for your vehicle or trailer – hardwood boards are heavy and often longer than standard lumber

Woodworking Clubs & Resources near Bellingham, Washington

The Northwest Washington Woodturners, a local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, meets regularly in the Bellingham area and welcomes woodturners of all skill levels to share techniques and showcase their work. Whatcom Community College offers woodworking classes through their continuing education program, providing hands-on instruction in furniture making, joinery, and wood finishing techniques. The closest Woodcraft store is located in Lynnwood, about 90 minutes south of Bellingham, but serves as a valuable resource for specialty tools, lumber, and workshops for serious woodworkers in the region.

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

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