S3S Hardwood Lumber
Domestic hardwoods surfaced on both faces with one straight-line ripped edge (S3S), sold by the board foot in random widths. Walnut, cherry, white and red oak, hard and soft maple, hickory, poplar and more, regularly stocked at our St. Peters store.
Black Walnut
Hard Maple
Rift White Oak
Red Oak
Cherry
White Oak 4/4 S3S
Poplar
Alder
Birch
White Ash
Walnut
Hickory
Soft Maple- Aromatic Cedar
- Basswood
- Beech
- Birdseye Hard Maple
- Cottonwood
- Curly Hard Maple
- Curly Soft Maple
- Cypress
- Douglas Fir
- Grey Elm
- Knotty Pine
- Locust
- Mesquite
- Natural Maple
- Pecan
- Pecky Cypress
- Pine (Moulding Grade)
- Sassafras
- Yellow Pine
Domestic species we stock
Our Hardwood Lumber range covers the domestic hardwoods most furniture, cabinet and trim work calls for:
- Walnut, from 4/4 up to thick stock for tabletops and benches
- White oak, plain sawn, quarter sawn and rift sawn
- Red oak, including quarter sawn and wide stock
- Cherry, in 4/4 to 8/4 and as thin stock
- Hard and soft maple, plus figured birdseye and curly maple
- Hickory, including rustic grade
- Poplar, the usual choice for paint-grade work
- Alder, knotty and clear
- Birch, white ash, beech, basswood, cottonwood, grey elm, locust, pecan, sassafras and mesquite
We keep a few softwoods alongside them because woodworkers ask for them: cypress and pecky cypress, Douglas fir, knotty pine, yellow pine, moulding-grade pine and aromatic cedar.
Looking for sapele, wenge, padauk, teak or another imported species? They're on our Exotic Lumber page. Need boards surfaced on all four sides to a set width? See S4S Lumber.
Thickness, grade and how it's sold
Thickness in quarters
Hardwood thickness is counted in quarters of an inch, measured rough. 4/4 ("four quarter") is roughly an inch before surfacing; 5/4, 6/4 and 8/4 give you stock for legs, benches, stair parts and thick tops. Surfacing takes a little off, so ask us for the finished thickness if your joinery depends on it. Many species also come as thin stock in 1/4" and 1/2", sold by the square foot, for boxes, drawer bottoms and small parts.
Grades
Grade tells you how much clear wood you get out of each board. We stock FAS (firsts and seconds, the top hardwood grade, with long clear cuttings) or select and better in most species, and shorts in several: shorter boards that make good sense for small parts. Some species also come as wide stock, and a few in character grades such as rustic hickory and knotty alder.
What to bring
A cut list, or even a sketch with sizes, is the fastest way to a good answer. If the job also needs sheet goods, we stock hardwood plywood in matching face species, so the cabinet boxes and the solid face frames come from the same yard.
Hardwood lumber questions
Where can I buy hardwood lumber near St. Louis?
At our store in St. Peters, in St. Charles County, about two miles south of I-70 on Mid Rivers Mall Drive. It's roughly 25 minutes from Chesterfield or Maryland Heights and about 45 minutes from downtown St. Louis outside rush hour. Plenty of people search for us as St. Charles Hardwoods; it's the same yard. Directions and hours are on Contact Us.
What does S3S mean, and how is it different from S4S?
S3S means surfaced three sides: both faces are planed and one edge is straight-line ripped. The other edge is left as it came, and widths are random, so you rip to the width you need with little waste. S4S is surfaced on all four sides to a set width and thickness, ready to use as is. It's sold by the lineal foot; see S4S Lumber.
How do I work out board feet?
A board foot is a piece 1" thick, 12" wide and 12" long. Multiply the thickness in inches by the width in inches by the length in feet, then divide by 12. Hardwood is measured by its rough thickness, so a 4/4 board counts as 1" even after surfacing. Add extra for cutting around knots and defects. Send us your cut list and we'll help you with the total.
Do you sell rough-sawn lumber?
Our hardwood lumber is sold surfaced, S3S, which suits most furniture and cabinet work. If you need rough-sawn boards, ask us.
Can I order a species or thickness you don't list?
Often, yes. Tell us the species, thickness and roughly how much you need, and we'll let you know what we can order or make for you. The same goes for thick stock and longer lengths.
How do I get a price?
Prices are furnished on request. Add the species, thickness and board feet you need to your quote from the list above, then send it from your quote. We reply within 1–2 business days, or call us at (636) 926-2000.
Have a cut list?
We'll help you turn it into board feet.
Send it with your quote, or bring it to the counter in St. Peters. We reply to quotes within 1–2 business days.
