East-Tennessee Sawmillsand

Other Resources for Woodworkers

The most frequent complaint among woodworkers on the Internet seems to be about the scarcity of good wood and the high prices. Ifrequently advised people in rec.woodworking and at the now-defunct Badger Pond Forum that their best option is to simply locatetheir local sawmills and to buy there. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn’t. It certainly seems to be easier in the eastern part ofTennessee than in many other areas of the country. As an aid to woodworkers in the Knoxville area, I will list the sawmills and othereconomical suppliers that I know of ranging as far as the bordering counties of our neighboring states.

If you have comments about this listing, the sources, the quality of service and material available, or if you know of other sources notlisted, please contact me. I hope to get out and scout for some more suppliers but your leads could save me a lot of blind driving upand down the “hollers” looking for sawmills.

John McGawKnoxville, TN

webby@johnmcgaw.comhttp://johnmcgaw.com

Last updated February 2006

a&m Supply

1805 Jackson Road

Knoxville, TN 37921

865-558-5017

This company included for sake

of completeness. They are a

STRICTLY WHOLESALE

operation catering to the

comm ercial cabinet and

furniture market. They sell

virtually anything these

businesses might need. As such

they don’t take too kindly to a

hobbyist dropping by for a sheet

of plywood or a few sticks of

lumber. They are willing to

handle orders for reasonable (by

their comm ercial standards)

quantities from members of the

East Tennessee Woodworker’s

Guild however.

(The com pany was formerly

know as Alliance Supply.)

Reasonably easy to locate a couple of blocks off of Middlebrook Pike.

Cole Building Supplies

749 Andrew Johnson Highway

(Hwy. 11-E)

Strawberry Plains, TN 37871

865-933-7231

What looks like a regular little

hardware store has surprises.

They sell furniture hardware,

kiln-dried oak and poplar

lumber, and shop grade

plywood. Good prices on

plywood but it pays to inspect to

find out why it was downgraded

to “shop”.

Very easy to find. Drive north on route 11E from Knoxville toward Strawberry Plains.

The store is on the left side im mediately before a Clayton mobile home sales lot.

Cooper Sawmill

164 Tudor Hollow Road

Andersonville, TN 37705

615-494-6939

A small circular mill that

presently offers no dried wood

although Mark, the owner, says

that he is close to taking the

plunge and building some drying

sheds. Offers the typical oak,

polar, pine, and cedar – and

claims that the prices will be

low.

Finding this one can be a trick, to say the least. I found it only by accident while on a

ride on a fine winter’s day. Probably best approached from the Andersonville, route 61

side. Follow Dark Hollow Road toward the southwest and make a left onto Tudor

Hollow Road. There is at least one other way that is shorter but I am at a loss to

describe it from memory.

Glen DePorter

229 Myers Hollow Road

Seymour, TN 37865

865-453-9708

I finally met the owner while

leading a “sawmill tour” for the

guild and have actually bought

some lumber there. A nice guy

and he sells nice lumber. He

obviously loves his wood and

knows a lot about it. If you

should want persimmon wood –a

real domestic exotic– this is the

place to go.

This is a bandmill and air-drying

operation. He has some

exceptionally thick stock that

would probably make excellent

mantles (this is what I bought

for myself).

Head south from Knoxville on route 441 until you come to route 411 North and follow

that toward Sevierville. Just past mile 7 you will need to keep a sharp look out for

Myers Hollow Road which angles off to the right. This is a narrow dead-end road and

is very easy to miss. On the right side a steep driveway leads up to a house and several

outbuildings, the uppermost being the sawmill.

East Tennessee Wood Products

Company

Ron Dixon

5581 Sevierville Rd., Rte. 411

Seymour, TN 37865

615-977-7069

A m id-sized circular saw mill

which sells local hardwoods in

the rough and green. They don’t

stock huge amounts of sawn

wood but their stock of logs is

immense. An interesting

operation, and one you should

ask to see, is their “back room”

where they produce quartersawn

white oak for cooperages around

the world.

Simple to find. The mill is located about three miles south of the junction of 441, 338,

and 411. Take 411 south from that point and the mill will be on your right.

Full Cycle Woodworks, Inc.

1600 H ighway 70 N orth

Rogersville, TN 37857

865-272-6003fullcycle@sustainablelumber.com

The original “certified

sustainably-managed” hardwood

operation in Tennessee. A large

supplier of kiln-dried

Appalachian wood, they also

offer finished wood products up

to and including furniture. They

also support other manufacturers

by prefabricating wooden parts

for their products. The annual

Earth Day gathering and wood

auction is not to be missed.

Drive northeast on route 11W past Rogersville and turn north on route 70. Follow this

for a few miles and you will come to what used to be an old school on your right. The

building is well-marked. You can also drive up I-81 and then cut west to Rogersville.

Although a bit further it often takes less time.

Gambill Sawmill and Lumber

Route 2, Rocky Fork Road

Smyrna, TN 37167

615-459-6794

Obviously this isn’t all that close

to Knoxville, Nashville is more

like it. I’ve included it because a

regular at Badger Pond reported

it as an extremely cheap source

of air-dried local hardwoods.

Like good cherry at $1.50/bf!

From Knoxville, head toward Nashville on I-40, south on I-840, northwest on route 41,

west on route 102 (Nissan Dr), northwest on old Nashville Hwy, southwest on Kent

Dr, northwest on Tedder Blvd, then southwest on Rocky Fork Rd. At this point you are

on your own – but the road isn’t that long. Good luck!

Garland Hardwoods, Inc.

Tony Garland

126 Bacon Branch Road

Jonesborough, TN 37659

423-753-4921

423-753-8670

A mid-sized operation selling

the standard local hardwoods,

mostly green. The owner says

that he does occasionally have

kiln-dried wood in stock but that

it is spotty. Had a good amount

of steamed/dried walnut the day

I was there.

Off of route 353 not too far from Telford. Beyond that you’ll probably be better off

calling and asking to make sure since this is another that was found by accident and not

properly researched and recorded.

Jerry Hayes

1409 Dogwood Road

Rockwood, TN 37854

865-354-9662

An old circular saw mill Jerry

admits that he is “pretty much

out of the business” although he

occasionally saws some logs

when they become available. He

says he has some stock of air-

dried oak, poplar, and pine that

he can part with though.

This is pure conjecture since I have never been here. I’d try turning south on route 299

from I-40 and then take route 70 west, looking for Dogwood Road on the left.

Jeffries Fine Lumber &

Millwork

8807 Valgro Road

Knoxville, TN 37920

865-573-5876

Som etimes cheap isn’t the whole

story. Jeffries is a family-owned

retail supplier of fine wood.

When you just must have a

certain piece of wood and can’t

afford to hunt around the hills,

head here.

Heading south on Broadway (route 441) from Knoxville’s center continue until you

see a huge cemetery on the left with the huge Valley Grove church in the distance.

Turn left and drive past the church. This leads to what used to be the old Camel tent

factory but which is now a sort of industrial park. Follow the signs to Jeffries.

Holtsclaw Lumber Company

Wayne Holtsclaw

Route 3, P.O. Box 22

Roan Mountain, TN 37687

615-772-3472

A circular saw m ill that seems to

sell all the standard local

hardwoods. I wasn’t able to get

much out of the owner to be

honest so I don’t even know if

the wood is dried or not. Perhaps

I shouldn’t have shown up in the

Miata with the top down – a

dead giveaway that I must be an

outsider. Take your pickup if

you go and maybe you will

blend in better.

Located to the south/east of Roan Mountain on route 19E about three miles before the

North Carolina border. Sits back off the road on the east side but is clearly visible

when traveling in either direction.

McCloud Lumber Company

John Graybeal

P.O. Box 128

Hampton, TN 37658

615-725-4720

A very large operation although

I didn’t get a chance to look

around. What drew my attention

to it was a semi-trailer sitting by

the road and painted for use as a

billboard. Said the place was a

“hardwood outlet” but it looked

and sounded like a sawm ill. All

the standard hardwoods, kiln-

dried, as well as dimensional

construction lumber.

Located on route 19E perhaps 15 miles before the North Carolina border. I can’t give

an exact location since I wasn’t paying close attention and found the place only by

accident. Look on 19E north of where route 173 joins it and you won’t be far off.

J.D. McCullough

465 Black Creek Road

Rockwood, TN 37854

865-354-1598

jmccull430@aol.com

This is a bandsawmill. The

owner was in the process of

building a new shelter for the

equipment as well as for drying

wood when I was there. He has a

bit of dried wood in his barn but

more should be available this

summer.

Off of route 27 southbound from I-40, watch out for Black Creek Road to the right. A

useful landmark is a huge retaining wall on the left side of 27 not too far before the

turning point. Drive out Black Creek and watch out for a barn/house/heavy equipment

on a dirt drive to the left. This is the place. There was no number on the mailbox when

I went out so that won’t help you.

Jim McNutt Hardwoods

3636 Division Street

P.O. Box 11171

Knoxville, TN 37939

865-588-6617

This is a wholesale operation

that sells “by grade” meaning

that the wood is graded FAS or

#1 Common or whatever and

you accept it as such – basically

you don’t get to pick through the

stack and choose what you want.

Although wholesale, the owner

says he will sell retail to local

woodworkers. Mill and kiln are

located in NC. North American

and exotic hardwoods are

available. You must call ahead

to make arrangements as the

owner is often out of town.

Not terribly difficult to find as long as you know where the alternate campus of

Pellissippi State is located in the Liberty Street area. Otherwise, you can follow

Middlebrook Pike (route 169) west and turn left on Liberty Street. Wood lot is located

on a steep downhill.

Lonnice Moon

156 Loop Road

Rockwood, TN, 37854

865-354-1964

A near-antique circular saw mill.

Owner cuts local woods but has

no drying facilities. He says that

the wood leaves as fast as he can

cut it so he doesn’t have time to

try drying it.

A real bear to describe how to get here. Doubly so because my mapping software is

very confused about road names out in this area – those that are given names are often

wrong. Try this: driving west on route 70 past Midtown look for a Caney Ford Church

right before the Roan County Park. Turn south between these two onto Caney Creek

Road. Follow this across a yellow bridge and then keep bearing left on the main road.

At a “T” intersection, go left and look for the Loop Road turnoff on the left side also.

Good luck!

Mountain City Hardwoods, Inc.

5105 Cold Springs Road

Mountain City, TN 37683

423-727-4442

This company is a large dry kiln

operation that handles

essentially every Appalachian

hardwood species. They also

have a smaller retail operation

that caters to local crafters,

woodworkers, and cabinet

shops. I haven’t bought there but

they have been recommended as

being good people to deal with.

No map. Cold Springs Road is equivalent to route 91 north from Mountain City and I

would estimate that it isn’t too far outside of town. As I remember, there is some

attractive scenery to be seen further up the road heading toward the state line so this

might not be a bad ride to take with the family.

MZ Enterprises

10610 Emory Road

Luttrell, TN 37779

865-687-0757mz5m tlzc@gateway.net

A small bandmill operation

which sells very inexpensive air-

dried lumber. This place can be

tough to locate, especially if you

believe the address given. Ignore

the address and look at the map

and directions!

Probably the most difficult-to-find place on this list. Not the sort of place you’d be

likely to stumble over on a Sunday drive. Heading east on route 61, look for the first

little road to the right after you cross into Grainger county. This is Zachary road even

though there is no sign to indicate it. Head down the hill and over the next rise. When

you come to the sign “Bird Farm” turn right down the dirt road and follow it up the hill

to a barn and metal building in the distance.

Oak Ridge Hardwoods

1010 Oliver Springs Highway

Clinton, TN 37716

865-435-0054

This is a BIG commercial

operation but surprisingly they

say that they are willing to deal

with sm all orders but only in

such a way as will not interfere

with their main business.

Conditions: wood is green, you

need to be careful of the heavy

equipment, and you cannot pick

through the piles looking for

your “perfect” piece of wood

(limit your searching to the tops

of the stacks!). Red and white

oak and poplar are always

available, occasionally ash,

cherry, walnut are around but

they never stay long.

Easy to find. Located on the north side of route 61 between Clinton and Oliver Springs.

Note that Oliver Springs Highway IS 61 in this vicinity.

Pate & Son Lumber Com pany

113 Highway 107

Jonesborough, TN

423-743-2233

423-753-7295

A m id-sized operation that sells

the standard local hardwoods.

They deal almost entirely in

green wood although the owner

says he can supply kiln-dried if

the quantity is sufficient to make

it worthwhile.

Located just east of the Washington county line on route 107/81 to the west of Erwin,

TN.

Max Reed

633 Whites Creek Road

Spring City, TN 37381

865-365-9331

Another sm all bandmill

operation which sells air-dried

lumber. I’ve bought some of the

best clear pine I’ve seen here at

near-giveaway prices.

Head west on I-40 from Knoxville, then south on route 27. The only landmark I use is

a big new concrete bridge on a four-lane section of the highway. Look for Whites

Creek Road right past the bridge on the left.

Rock Spring Woodw orks

Bob Walker

618 Rock Springs Lane

Monterey, TN 38574

931-445-3386

A bandsaw mill owned and

operated by a woodworker who

started out cutting wood for his

own use. He also has a vacuum

kiln but no surfacing equipment

so all wood is sold rough. M ost

local species are available as

well as quartersawing.

I have not been to this mill personally and the owner suggests that you contact him for

instructions before setting out. Contact by e-mail would be best:

rockspringswood@multipro.com

Julian Bankston

Rugby Lum ber Company

P.O. Box 10

Rugby, TN 37733

423-628-2845

This company has a bandsaw

mill and a dehumidification kiln.

It offers custom sawing and

drying of customer’s wood but

also has “a variety of species on

the yard” available for sawing.

They will sell by grade although

this will entail calling in a

certified grader which will add

to the overall cost. They make a

specialty of processing salvaged

timber from construction

clearing and beetle kill.

I have not been to this mill personally and do not have a physical location beyond the

Rugby mailing address. The owner requests that you contact him by e-mail since he

often travels.

jrbankston@nxs.net

Thick N’ Thin Sawmill

Newell Wooten

Bristol Avenue

Andrews, NC 28901

828-321-5964

I haven’t visited this one but

include it for sake of

completeness. Is a regular

supplier to Woods & Woods

which operates a kiln in the

vicinity.

No idea where this street is. Make sure you call ahead of time.

Woods & Woods Ltd.

Richard and Sean Woods

Holland Farm Road

Andrews, NC 28901

828-321-3843

I drove down to check this one

out after hearing from a satisfied

user at Badger Pond. This

supplier is not a sawmill but a

kiln operator who also acts as an

reseller for small sawing

operations in the mountains.

They operate a large

dehumidification kiln on a

farmstead. I saw some real

knockout walnut and butternut

while I was there and Richard

told me that large quantities of

many other woods are available

for the asking – including things

like 24"+ pine (can you say “six-

board chest”?)

Not difficult to find. Make your way to Andrews, NC by the route of your choice. Be

aware that going down route 129 from Marysville can be quite entertaining in a sports

car but agony in a pickup – doubly so if any passengers are prone to motion sickness!

Route 19/74 runs virtually through the tow n. Look for the rest area and im mediately

across the highway you will find Beaver Creek Road – follow that to the second left

which is Holland Farm Road – then take the first gravel drive to the right from this

road and follow it all the way up to the kiln and shop buildings. Best to call ahead and

make arrangem ents.