Kiln-Dried Hardwood Slabs for Shelton, CT Projects
Shelton woodworkers and cabinetmakers are 20 minutes from the Tougas Timberworks shop in Monroe. Black walnut, white oak, hard maple, cherry, and sycamore, all kiln dried to 6 to 8 percent moisture content and sold rough by the board foot. Figured slabs come through regularly. Contact Eric to find out what is on the floor before you drive.
A Reliable Source for Shelton's Woodworking Community
Shelton has a stronger woodworking and light manufacturing base than most towns in Fairfield County. Cabinetmakers, furniture builders, and contractors working in the area need access to quality hardwood stock that is actually dry. The moisture content on lumber from a typical distributor can be inconsistent, and that inconsistency shows up later in warped panels and loose joints.
At Tougas Timberworks, the drying process is controlled in-house. Logs come in from Connecticut tree services and private land, get milled, stacked, and loaded into the kiln. The temperature and humidity inside the kiln are managed through the entire cycle. When the moisture meter says 6 to 8 percent, the wood comes out. Not before.
Woodworkers from Shelton come to the Monroe shop to pick through the available slabs in person. That matters when you are choosing material for a specific project. Seeing the grain, the width, the live edge profile, and the character of an individual slab is different from ordering off a spec sheet. Eric will walk you through what is on hand and tell you straight what each piece is good for.
The shop also accepts lumber for kiln drying at $0.15 per board foot per day. If you have rough stock from a local tree that needs drying, that service is available. Some woodworkers in the area use both: bring their own material for drying and pick up additional species from the shop floor while they are there.
Lumber Pricing
| Species | Price |
|---|---|
| Black Walnut | $15 / bf |
| Hard Maple | $12 / bf |
| Cherry | $12 / bf |
| Sycamore | $12 / bf |
| White Oak | Varies by slab |
All lumber is kiln dried to 6 to 8 percent moisture content.
Sold rough, unsurfaced. Board footage calculated at the shop.
Inventory rotates. Contact Eric before making the drive.
Species Available for Shelton Projects
Black Walnut
Dense, dark-grained hardwood that machines well and holds detail. Popular for furniture and countertop work. At $15 per board foot, it is the top-priced species in the shop. Wide slabs come through regularly from Connecticut timber.
White Oak
Tight grain, strong ray fleck figure, and better moisture resistance than most domestic hardwoods. Cabinetmakers use it for door panels and face frames. Also a strong choice for countertops in kitchens where the surface sees daily use.
Hard Maple
Dense, pale, consistent. Works cleanly on the jointer and planer. Preferred by woodworkers who need a light-colored species that holds up under heavy use. Less dramatic grain than walnut but highly reliable as a working material.
Cherry
American black cherry with warm reddish tones that develop further with light exposure. Straight-grained and easy to work. Widely used for furniture, millwork, and smaller cabinet components where color richness matters.
Sycamore
An underused Connecticut hardwood with strong ray fleck figure and a cream to tan color range. When a slab has good figure it stands out. Woodworkers looking for something different from the standard walnut-oak-maple lineup should ask about sycamore availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can Shelton woodworkers buy quality hardwood slabs?
Tougas Timberworks is in Monroe, about 20 minutes from Shelton. The shop stocks kiln-dried slabs in black walnut, white oak, hard maple, cherry, and sycamore, all milled from Connecticut timber. Woodworkers from Shelton come to select material in person. Call or text Eric before making the drive to confirm what is currently available.
Do you sell rough-cut or surfaced lumber?
All lumber is sold rough and unsurfaced. You get the board as it came out of the kiln and off the planer pass, with the full grain and figure visible. Surfacing it to your final thickness is part of your own milling process. That also means you are not paying for stock removal you would do yourself anyway.
What moisture content is the lumber dried to?
Every slab is dried to 6 to 8 percent moisture content before it leaves the kiln. That is furniture grade, suitable for countertops, tables, and any interior woodworking application where movement after installation would be a problem. The moisture content is verified with a meter before the material is sold.
Can I bring lumber to you for drying and then buy additional stock?
Yes. The kiln drying service is available to other woodworkers and contractors, priced at $0.15 per board foot per day. Some Shelton woodworkers bring their own rough lumber for drying and also pick up additional species from the shop while they are there. It is a straightforward transaction either way.
Do you have figured or specialty grain slabs available?
Figure availability depends on what has come through the mill recently. Curly maple, heavily figured walnut, and slabs with dramatic live edge character come through periodically. The best way to know what has unusual grain right now is to contact Eric. He can describe specific slabs on hand or let you know when something interesting comes in.
Our Services
Areas We Serve
Ask About Current Inventory
New slabs come out of the kiln regularly and inventory changes fast. Contact Eric before making the 20-minute drive from Shelton.