About Banks Hardwood — Hardwood Lumber in Menomonie
Banks Hardwood is Menomonie’s trusted source for premium hardwood lumber, serving furniture makers, cabinetmakers, fine woodworkers, and hobbyists throughout western Wisconsin. Located on Wagner Street, this specialized lumber store focuses exclusively on quality hardwood boards sold by the board foot.
The inventory includes both domestic species like hard maple, red oak, walnut, and cherry, plus exotic varieties such as mahogany, purpleheart, and zebrawood. Boards are available rough-sawn, S2S (surfaced two sides), or S4S (surfaced four sides) in various grades from FAS (Firsts and Seconds) down to #1 Common, with proper kiln-drying to optimal moisture content.
Unlike big box stores that stock construction lumber, Banks Hardwood specializes in furniture-grade boards with careful attention to grain patterns and figure. Their knowledgeable staff understands wood movement, can recommend species for specific projects, and provides custom milling services that home centers simply cannot match.
Menomonie’s proximity to northern Wisconsin forests and the Twin Cities furniture market makes it an ideal location for hardwood distribution. The local woodworking community benefits from having a dedicated hardwood supplier that understands the difference between construction grade and furniture grade lumber.
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Location & Directions
What to Expect When You Visit
Visiting Banks Hardwood means walking through stacks of carefully sorted hardwood boards in a working lumber yard environment. You’ll find boards organized by species and thickness, with staff who can help you hand-select pieces with the grain patterns and figure that match your project needs.
Expect to spend time examining boards for defects, measuring board feet, and discussing your project requirements with knowledgeable staff who understand woodworking. Many customers bring project plans to get recommendations on species selection, grain orientation, and total board foot calculations.
Products & Materials
Banks Hardwood stocks a comprehensive selection of domestic hardwoods including hard maple, soft maple, red oak, white oak, walnut, cherry, ash, hickory, and basswood. Exotic species inventory typically includes mahogany, teak, purpleheart, padauk, zebrawood, and other imported varieties prized for fine furniture and specialty projects.
Boards are available in thicknesses from 4/4 (1 inch) up to 8/4 (2 inches) or thicker, with widths ranging from narrow strips to wide slabs depending on species. Grading follows NHLA standards with FAS grade offering the highest yield of clear wood, Select grade for slightly smaller clear sections, and #1 Common for projects accepting some character marks.
Custom milling services include planing to specific thicknesses, ripping to width, and edge gluing for wider panels. All kiln-dried lumber is properly stickered and stored to maintain stable moisture content between 6-8% for interior use.
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Who Shops Here
Banks Hardwood attracts serious woodworkers including custom furniture makers, kitchen cabinet builders, architectural millwork shops, and hobbyist woodworkers tackling heirloom projects. Customers range from professionals running cabinet shops to weekend warriors building dining room tables, all united by their need for quality hardwood lumber that big box stores simply don’t carry.
Serving the Menomonie, Wisconsin Area
Menomonie’s woodworking scene benefits from the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s manufacturing and design programs, creating a community of makers who appreciate quality materials. The area’s proximity to northern Wisconsin forests and Mississippi River transportation historically made it a natural hub for lumber processing, continuing today with specialized suppliers like Banks Hardwood serving the regional furniture and millwork industries.
Tips for First-Time Buyers
- Call ahead to confirm inventory of specific species or thicknesses for your project
- Bring project plans to get accurate board foot calculations and species recommendations
- Plan to hand-select boards for grain pattern and figure matching
- Understand moisture content requirements – ask about acclimation time for your shop conditions
- Learn the grading system (FAS, Select, #1 Common) to balance quality needs with budget
- Consider custom milling services to save time on thickness planing and edge joining
Woodworking Clubs & Resources near Menomonie, Wisconsin
The Chippewa Valley Woodworkers Guild, based in nearby Eau Claire, serves the greater western Wisconsin region including Menomonie and offers monthly meetings, workshops, and woodworking education for members of all skill levels. The University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie provides excellent woodworking and furniture design programs through their School of Art & Design, making it a hub for woodworking knowledge and resources in the area. For supplies and classes, woodworkers in the region can visit the Woodcraft store in nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul, about two hours away, which offers tools, lumber, and hands-on workshops.
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