where to buy various wood planks for grilling?

Is there a good store for buying wood planks (cedar, alder, various fruit woods) for grilling in Chicago? I would like to get an assortment. I know you can get fancy-shmancy cedar planks at Williams-Sanoma, but I was hoping there might be a shop that has a wider variety at better prices. Thanks in advance for any help.

-Doug

prices and varety may be thw same, but Sur La Table has the planks also.

I think you'd be amazed what you'll find at Home Depot, Lowe's and Menard's. Cedar, oak, poplar, walnut etc.

Geo

If you purchase wood from Home Depot, etc, be sure to ask if the wood has been treaded in any way. Do not assume that because it has not been pressure treated, that it has not been sprayed with a fire retartant, or insect repellant.

Me I would not do it.

I also seem to remember seeing some at Costco, for about half the price of Williams Sonoma.

Good point. However, if you go to the 'luxury' custom wood dept, those planks--so far as I know--are just that: planks. I've used redwood, poplar and oak for tasks in winemaking, and, in each case, after being told that the wood was untreated, found that the wine showed no observable effects (nor did I or other of my drinker-friends :^) over the years.

Geo

We have purchased cedar planks from Costco in the past.

Saw cedar plank (single plank, about 4" x 10") in River Forest Jewel near "Neptune's Cove". 'Bout five bucks. Assume that other Jewel stores would also carry 'em.

Have you thought about trying a basic hardwood dealer? Owl, in Des Plaines (926 S. Graceland), Lombard (620 E. St Charles) and Oak Lawn (4655 W. SW Hwy), as well as Wood World (2901 N Elston, Chicago) would all have cedar, as well as hickory and many, many other woods suitable for cooking planks. It's unlikely any are treated, but if you're nervous about it, you can always ask. They sell by the board, so you might need to use a saw to get them down to appropriate lengths (or they'll probably saw them to size for you on premises). They may also need a little sanding. They'll also have a section of shorts, at reduced prices, that might be perfect. Prices are bound to be far less than cookware stores, and far more variety.

Owl Hardwood should have most of what you want, and they do millwork if you need the planks cut to your exact specifications. My guess is that, including any millwork charges, the custom-cut planks will be less expensive than anything sold specifically for cooking...

I would stick to their domestic hardwoods, though, because they can tell you which ones are untreated.

Dumb question: has anyone thought about going to a place that sells logs for fireplaces, getting some apple or cedar/juniper logs, and splitting them into planks? (most "cedar" sold in the US is juniper)

Mark

If you want just plain cedar i buy mine from Domnicks. $5 for two boards about half the price of the fancy kitchen stores and even cheaper than Costco.

As far as the other wood go to one of the wood stores mentioned above.

OWL also has lots of scraps/oddball sizes that you can pick up pretty cheap. Much moreso than Wood World, which makes you buy everything in 8 foot lengths.

If you take this option, you'll need to know the formula for "board feet", which is how everything is priced in woodworking-land:

Thickness (in inches) x Depth (in inches) x Length (in feet) / 12

For example, a 10 foot, 2 x 6 plank = 10 board feet