Building Maple stand need inexpensive wood supplier

Three takeaways:

(1) Cheap quality solid maple is an oxymoron.

(2) You only get what you pay for .... full stop.

(3) Supplier prices for solid hardwood are intuitively very competitive and pricing differences are minimal to nil.

Have you scoped out MAPLESHADE?

http://www.mapleshadestore.com/airdriedmapleplatforms.php

I'm in the L.A. area and found a local carpenter who sources his wood from lumber yards not normally accessible to normal folk unless you know where to look. He advises to stay away from the usual places like Home Depot or Loews. Just hit up google and I'm sure you'll find someplace or someone who can assist.

All the best,
Nonoise

If it’s beauty you’re after get only grade AAA white maple. Oh, and you’ll pay for it. But an inexpensive alternative is Baltic birch ply, a rather handsome wood, actually.

We have a great place here in Michigan that supplies a wide variety of woods. I was able to order some very thick quartersawn oak for the tops of my Sound Anchor amplifier stands.

I think it is all about how you conduct your internet search.  I looked for places that supply woodworkers assuming they are likely to know where to source wood.  I looked around just a couple of minutes on the web and have included a link below that might help.  With a few phone calls, you may be able to find somewhere that can source what you are looking for.  Just glancing over the list, I suggest you start with Frost Hardwood in San Diego.
https://www.google.com/search?q=woodworking%20supplies%20san%20diego%20ca&rlz=1C1GGGE_enUS488US488&oq=woodworker+supplies+san+diego+ca&aqs=chrome..69i57j0.13006j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=32822368,-117173388,6610&tbm=lcl&rldimm=11970610243811531332&ved=0ahUKEwi5kKz1_rrZAhVD21MKHaKUBbcQvS4IcDAC&rldoc=1&tbs=lrf:!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:10#rlfi=hd:;si:11970610243811531332;mv:!1m3!1d307230.5848711836!2d-117.112376!3d32.855669549999995!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i129!2i275!4f13.1;tbs:lrf:!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:10

Thank you all. Mitch2 you read minds. I have a request in to Frost, though even 30 years ago there were no bargains to be had there. Ultra high quality however, is their watchword. 

Geoffkait,

With a nod to your missives re spring loaded mass, I was thinking of hanging the maple shelves on springs below the level of the outer metal frame , rather than placing them on top of the frames with sorbothane bumpers. Your thoughts please. 

Akg_ca

just scoped out Mapleshade.  Their prices are the reason I want to do it myself. Absolutely beautiful work. I hope I can get near their craftsmanship. 

kavakat1 OP

Geoffkait,

With a nod to your missives re spring loaded mass, I was thinking of hanging the maple shelves on springs below the level of the outer metal frame , rather than placing them on top of the frames with sorbothane bumpers. Your thoughts please.

>>>>>>Sounds like an excellent idea. I am not a big fan of Sorbothane, anyway. 

Go into the forest and cut down some trees thats pretty cheap.

ebm

Now that’s getting back to basics!

Mitch2, what’s the name and location of your wood supplier in Michigan.  Always good to know sources in the neighborhood!

Johnson's Workbench, Charlotte Michigan
Some info;

The Longest Running Hardwood Lumber Company in Michigan.
Established in 1909, we are a specialty lumber yard providing access to over 100 domestic and exotic hardwood species, and have the edge with our top-quality plywood and veneer products.
Known for offering a unique combination of hardwoods, plywood, woodworking machinery, supplies, and hardware, our customers often claim they find the resources for their projects through us they can't find anywhere else.
The summer of 2007, founder L.L. Johnson's great grandsons, brothers Mark and Tim Johnson, took over the reins to the lumber mill in time to usher the company into their 100th year of business. Their fourth generation ownership bestowed the company with another notable achievement. Only 3% of family owned businesses in the U.S. survive to the fourth generation.

The also make cuts and for my last project they joined and planed the pieces which saved me a bunch of time and made the project much easier for me to complete.

kavakat1, 
The maple you're looking for comes from the Northeast down to the Mid Atlantic region. As akg_ca noted, air dried material is preferable and surprisingly different from kiln dried. It takes at least 2 years to air dry freshly sawn 2 inch thick maple so it may be tough to find a local supplier. You might be able to find a local woodworker who bought in bulk that can help you out for a reasonable price. Failing that, the Mapleshade blocks, seem to be very well made. 
Scott

Based upon the prices I have found, I am considering another material. Basalt pavers or slabs are heavier and higher density than granite.  They are light only on the wallet. I invite your thoughts and suggestions. 

I’m a big fan of Bluestone pavers. They sound wonderful with cones or springs.

Geoff

ehats Bluestone?

Whats bluestone?

Bluestone is a blue gray paver Stone that comes mostly from Pennsylvania that looks somewhat like granite and has high mass and stiffness, very desirable characteristics for audio. I get my Bluestone at Home Depot, in the garden outdoor section. A slab about 18x18 and 2 inches thick should do nicely.

Thanks Geoff

i ll check it out.