: You'd think it'd be relatively easy finding some lumber in a town
: the size of Chicago, but I am having no such luck. Can anyone
: recommend a place for me?

It's nice to have a couple of long (full length) strips per side at the sheer, but they can be easily scarfed. Shorter strips are much easier to work with and the wood is easier to find in shorter lengths, specially clear stock. The stock the lumber yards have varies from season to season, have to call around. Schmeling Lumber in Rockford sometimes has excellent stock as well as Hardwood Connection in Sycamore, IL. L. L. Johnson in Michigan (also has a South Bend yard normally stocks WRC as well as anything else. They deliver to Chicago btw, though not for free. Clear WRC isn't cheap.

www.woodfinder.com sometimes helps.

Btw, I'm in Rockford, happy to help if you need it.

Bill H.