Tom Checketts Lumber

05/29/2026

***CARVING WITH MY GRANDSON***
My grandson, Daxton and I have been taking a design carving class with Chris Hammack https://www.facebook.com/chris.hammack.9 , https://www.chrishammackart.com

It is a five day class and we just finished up day 4. By the end of the day tomorrow our carvings will almost be finished. This class has been awesome. I have been carving for almost 30 years, but carving with Chris this week has been an incredible experience. I am so impressed with how easy it is for Chris to look at a block of wood and visualize the finished project.

Dale Green https://www.facebook.com/dale.green.7921 https://www.dalegreenwoodcarving.com is hosting the class in his carving shop. The carvings on the shelves in the background of some of the photos are Dale’s work.

05/28/2026

***AN UNUSUAL WALNUT LIVE EDGE SLAB***
What would you make with this piece?

This piece is 21-1/2” wide at the widest and 11” at the narrowest. It is 2” thick and 76” long.

This slab has some unique flaws that make it real interesting and at the same time would make it hard to work with. In the center it has end grain from the cross cut section of a branch. Above the center of the end grain is a crack that goes all the way through the slab. The void towards the bottom and the live edge gives it a lot of character. The front side has a lot of sapwood which will contrast well against the heart wood.

What would you make with this piece?

05/23/2026

***UNUSUAL BOOKMATCHED WALNUT***
I love the unusual odd pieces I get. I posted pictures of these two slabs a year and a half ago. I forgot I had them until I was cleaning up and rearranging the lumber in one of my storage units. Odd and unusual pieces of lumber make interesting projects.

These two pieces are 81” long, 2-1/2” thick and approximately 19” wide.

05/20/2026

***LOTS OF TIME CARVING***
This week I had to miss my regular carving session with the North Ogden Woodcarving Group to attend the Rocky Mountain Carvers Roundup in Midway, UT, and to make a quick run to St George, UT to visit with the Washington County Carvers and deliver some carving woods to them.

I will be back at the Roundup in Midway tomorrow and Friday. Starting Monday, my grandson Daxton and I will be taking a 5 day carving class from Chris Hammack in Salt Lake City. The first week of June, I will be teaching a beginners carving Class at the Community Woodshop in Salt Lake City.

There are so many carving groups and events but too little time. I can’t complain. If I am selling carving blocks, watching people carve, carving with friends, participating in a carving class or teaching a carving class….. life is good!

If you have an interest in carving, I would be happy to answer any questions you have, and if I don’t have the answers I will do my best to put you in touch with someone that will.

05/18/2026

05/17/2026

***TWO SETS OF BOOKMATCHED WHITE OAK SLABS***

At 11 feet in length and averaging 17” to 22” in width two of these 2-1/2” thick slabs are perfect for a good sized dining table.

05/13/2026

***FLATTENED SHORT CHERRY LIVE EDGE SLABS***
I don’t understand why cherry isn’t used more. In my opinion of all the domestic lumber it is the prettiest. These pieces have been flattened and are beautiful. I hate the idea of putting them in the storage unit. I don’t want them to get dirty or scratched.

Zoom in for measurements and prices. These board foot price for these is a little higher than my other cherry slabs to cover the flattening fee.

Since I took these photos the middle slab has sold.

05/08/2026

***WALNUT POSTS?..BEAMS?.......***
I’m not sure what to call these. Posts doesn’t seem like a correct term for walnut and they are not quite big enough to be called a beam. They would work great for thicker table legs, smaller mantles or cut them up for turning stock.
These are 4 of about 20 pieces that are of similar size and shape. They range from 3” thick to almost 6” thick and lengths are from 4 ft to 6 ft and longer. A few have cracks but most are pretty clean.

05/04/2026

***SATURDAY WAS REORGANIZING DAY***
It was getting to the point where we couldn’t get to the lumber rack without tripping over the live edge stuff. It is amazing how much more room I have when things are organized and neatly stacked……neatly is my definition. My wife still thinks it is a mess.

This unit is almost all black walnut. Lots of choices and now it is easier to see.