A problem i have been facing right now is finding wood to turn. Being in Mill Valley California there is a huge selection but I can never seem to find any. Im looking for wood that has been cut down that i could salvage ie: walnut oak maple ECT, it does not have to be clean it can be logs that I can process with a chainsaw. Also im 15 so it can be difficult to find wood. Does anyone know some mills or places to get wood? Thanks!

Luke, is there a yard where blowdown trees and scrap lumber is dumped or stored in your area? Most large cities have one, you can usually pick through the trees there.
Len

Also keep an eye on Craiglist.  Sometimes folks will post in the free section when they cut down a tree.

Ok... I know I shouldn't give you this secret for getting wood, but I'm sure no one is reading this right now.

You drive around the neighborhood and once you find a really nice tree you like,  you come back late at night with an electric chain saw and... well, you know the rest.

The good thing about it is  that late at night, it will sound like someone snoring!!!

Be careful of the timing tho... there are certain times during the night that older men get up to pee. They might hear/ see you.



Also, ask at State Parks about any tree clearing they might be doing and if you could be on their list.

As for the tree service people, for a bit of a fee, they just might even drop of the whole truckload.

I had one drop off 6 logs for $100!! A major amount of wood in  one pile!!

As for driving around looking... on weekends drive around LISTENING for the sound of chain saws. I'm sure you could get some nice stuff that way.