The club enjoyed a fun and incredibly thorough tour of Austin Hardwoods on Saturday, February 13th. Guided by Randy Hass, we got a full tour of the Austin Hardwoods facility and the products and services they offer; from planing, to custom moulding design and milling, to profile sanding, to the most immaculate boards I've ever seen.
What was even more surprising is that unlike many other suppliers, Austin does not pick through their stock and bump up the price of pieces with premium figuring, such as Bird's Eyes and Burls. As a customer, you will never pay more than the standard board-foot price if you find these gems! We also passed a stack of 8 ft. quarter-sawn maple that looked like blank sheet music... gorgeous parallel grain and not so much as a single knot!
It was clear that Austin takes the wood industry very seriously, and the lengths to which they go to maintain quality & consistency, as well as minimizing waste are nothing short of admirable. From being on a first name basis with every one of their suppliers, to refusing to lower their product standards for a couple of extra dollars, to investing in precision, waste-reducing technology, Austin's integrity is their highest concern.
I once heard someone remark that Austin was "pricey", but after witnessing first-hand exactly what I'm getting for my money; an unwillingness to compromise quality & consistency, not to mention a wealth of knowledge and familiarity with every single product they offer, it's going to take some pretty heavy convincing to get me to buy anywhere else.

To Randy Hass, and the rest of the Austin family, our thanks for a fantastic tour, and we'll see you soon!

Joshua Ellison - Shop Director
COMMUNITY WOODWORKING