
Behind the Scenes
Meet John
Learn what John does and everything involved in custom urban timber processing behind the scenes.
At John's Urban Timber, our wood sanding services bring out the natural beauty of every slab. All slabs are sourced from locally reclaimed logs — never from commercial harvesting — and are carefully sanded in-house at our Whitmore Lake workshop.
All sanding is performed right here in our Whitmore Lake shop — we never outsource. Every slab is locally reclaimed from homeowners, tree services, or supplied by our customers. We do not use commercially harvested logs.
Most slabs begin rough-sawn at 2½″–3″ thick. Through our sanding process, they are carefully leveled and brought to a smooth, even finish. We start with 24 grit, then 60 grit and finish with 120 grit. This highlights the wood's natural grain, character, and color while making the surface ready for fine woodworking, finishing, or installation.
Each slab is sanded to an even thickness, then inspected before being placed into inventory. Many customers bring in logs with sentimental value, such as family trees or storm-damaged wood, and we take special care to ensure the finished surface honors the story of the material.
While we don't keep dimensional lumber in stock, we can sand customer-supplied material or prepare boards for larger orders. If you have unique project needs, our team will work with you to achieve the exact finish you're looking for.
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Behind the Scenes
Learn what John does and everything involved in custom urban timber processing behind the scenes.

Log Preparation
Why we paint and seal the ends of hardwood logs to control moisture loss and prevent splitting.

Shop Tour & Inventory
Tour John's shop in Whitmore Lake, explore live-edge slab inventory, and learn about hardwood species.

Vacuum Kiln Drying
John explains how vacuum kiln drying works, moisture testing, and why it prevents wood checking and warp.

Reclaimed Logs
John shows off a massive urban salvaged monster log at the Whitmore Lake shop.

Tutorials & DIY
Step-by-step masterclass on pouring, sealing, and finishing live-edge epoxy tables.
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