Great Spirit Hardwoods was founded by the knowledge that there was an obvious need for a higher quality hardwood product in the local market. The founder, as an experienced furniture maker, had found that there was an obvious lack of trusted hardwood suppliers which had effected productivity, efficiency along with lost profitability due to "waste" during the production process. Our opening of Great Spirit Hardwoods as an official, stocked retail store in 2014 was the answer and we now have 12 years of serving the Chicago area woodworker and furniture / cabinetmaker. Since our founding, we have upped the game of both local and national furniture and cabinet makers and have greatly increased and expanded our product offerings.
As a company mission, we offer only high-quality Hardwood and Softwood products that increase our clients efficiency, ease of production and profit margin. Our solid wood products and lumber are sourced from ethical national and international wholesalers, "the wholesalers of the local wholesalers", which allows better than standard pricing while assuring absolute quality. Our stock includes Black Walnut, White Oak, Pennsylvania sourced Cherry, Sapele & African Mahogany, Ash, Hickory, White and Natural Maple along with other hardwoods in various nominal thicknesses. Other hardwood and softwood species can be custom ordered in quantity in specific nominal and dimensional thicknesses.
Call 224-484-8323 for information, pricing or a custom quote.
Learn more about some of the hardwood lumber species that we stock in our wood store. This list of hardwood characteristics and stocking information offers some basic information regarding some of our stocked wood species.
Stocked in 4/4, 6/4 & 8/4 and available through 16/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. WHM is renowned for the brilliant white of its sapwood, Maple is identifiable with its dramatic cathedrals, linear grain and close, fine texture. White AA Grade is the premier color and grade choice Maple, displaying only the clear, soft white of its sapwood. For a premier visual pattern, choose this hardwood for its light, highly desirable color and woodgrain pattern. Hearty and extremely durable, Maple combines unmatched visual excellence with resilient utility.
Stocked in 4/4 and available through 8/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Renowned for the brilliant white of its sapwood and contrasting with the light brown tones of the Heartwood, Natural or Brown Hard Maple is identifiable with its dramatic cathedrals, linear grain and close, fine texture. Natural Maple, displaying the clear, soft white of its sapwood along with its darker Heartwood offers alluring contrast in a stable, dense and very workable hardwood. For a premier visual pattern, choose this hardwood for its highly desirable color and woodgrain pattern. Hearty and extremely durable, Natural Maple combines unmatched visual excellence with resilient utility and affordable board foot pricing.
Stocked in 4/4 & 8/4 and often 12/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Synonymous with luxury, Walnut is widely popular among architects and designers for high-end cabinetry, millwork, and furniture. Walnut has captivating heartwood, drawing the eye into its sultry, chocolaty depths. Plain Sawn, the grain forms classic cathedrals, giving Walnut a refined and poised visual quality. Using the NHLA Oak Grading Rules ensures improved widths, lengths, and a higher yield of clear cuttings over standard Walnut grades. Strong and easily worked, Walnut is the ideal choice for projects that demand elegance and reliability. Black Walnut is alluring and in constant demand for furniture, cabinetry, architectural woodwork, doors, column wraps and cladding. Walnut combines durability with classic beauty. Walnut's rich allure makes it a popular choice for architects and designers. It can be seen in the most high-end and luxurious designs.
Stocked in 4/4, 6/4 & 8/4 and available through 12/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Classic and richly red, Cherry is historically used in high-end furniture and millwork. Its light reddish-brown deepens with exposure to the sun (and light), ripening into a complex deep red hue with a golden luster. Awash with brilliant light waves of sapwood that accent the seductive red and brown heartwood, Cherry seems to capture the very essence of sun rays across its tantalizing face. Easily workable and finished, Cherry is the ideal wood for a classic and luxurious application in interior millwork, cabinetry, furniture, and doors. Choose Cherry Hardwood for its durability and classic beauty. Our "Pennsylvania Red Cherry" is the finest color consistent Cherry and is used exclusively by renowned furniture makes such as Thos. Moser, Stickley, Baker and our sister company Spiritcraft Furniture. Pennsylvania Cherry is your only logical choice for beauty, consistency and for minimal waste.
Stocked in 4/4, 6/4 & 8/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Recognized for its dramatic cathedral pattern, Prime White Oak is an increasingly popular choice. Naturally light-toned and neutral, this beautiful lumber complements the aesthetic and functional demands of contemporary design. White Oak is prized for its strength and moisture resistance. It is often chosen for its workability and finishing ability. White Oak is offered here in the Prime Grade, which is designed for long and clear applications. Combining its traditional cathedral pattern with durability, Prime White Oak is the modern choice for furniture, tabletops, cabinetry and architectural millwork. White Oak is also very rot resistant as opposed to Red Oak which is not.
Stocked in 4/4, & 8/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Known for its stunning medullary rays, Quarter Sawn White Oak is the increasingly desired choice for modern design. This straight-grained cut imbues any application with its unique figure which lifts off the radiant face of the board and imparts a gorgeous sparkle. Like sun rays, White Oak’s pronounced fleck pairs timeless beauty with tested durability. Strong and moisture resistant, White Oak is also easily finished and workable. Offered in the Prime Grade, White Oak is designed for long and clear applications. Its brilliant figure and dimensional stability make Prime Quarter Sawn White Oak the optimal choice.
Available in "Ribbonstripe" (Quartersawn) or Flatsawn. Stocked in 4/4. 6/4 & 8/4 and available through 16/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Popular among architects, designers and furniture makers, African Mahogany is the timeless choice for luxurious designs. The alluring reddish-brown color ripens with age, its hue deepening to provide a warm and classic elegance. African Mahogany is durable and stable, making it an ideal choice for beautiful and demanding designs. It is also easily machined and stained to suit a wide range of needs. Classically beautiful and reliable, African Mahogany is an exceptional choice for high-end furniture, cabinetry and musical instruments. This is also a hardwood of choice for planking on new wooden boats. Khaya is a solid replacement for Honduran or ("Genuine") Mahogany.
Available in "Ribbonstripe" (Quartersawn) or Flatsawn. Stocked in 4/4, 6/4 & 8/4 and available through 16/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Richly alluring and intensely lustrous, Sapele is the enchanting choice for high-end furniture, instruments, detailed joinery and architectural design. Especially in its Quarter Sawn variety, the interlocking woodgrain creates a magical ribbon pattern that flows across the face in iridescent waves. Like the eyes of a cat, Sapele doesn’t just reflect light but seems to glow of its own, inner radiance. Extremely dense and hard, Sapele holds detail with ease and resists rot well, making it a versatile choice for both interior and exterior applications. Readily available and responsibly sourced, Sapele has enjoyed a boom in popularity for projects requiring luxurious exotic hardwood. Choose Sapele for its reliability, ease of machining, stain-ability and alluring splendor.
One of the most economical and high-utility species, Poplar is an ideal choice for millworkers due to its closed grain and workability. Poplar’s uniform texture accepts finishes with ease. It can be stained to match other lumber products or painted to complement the aesthetics of modern design. Poplar is offered here in the Prime Grade, which is designed to meet the requirements of long and clear applications like mouldings and trim. Choose Poplar as it pairs the benefits of affordability with versatility.
Stocked in 4/4 & 8/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Prized for its strength and hardness, Hickory is a dependable hardwood well suited for flooring, cabinetry, doors, and millwork. Brown Hickory is pictured above and is specifically chosen from cuttings that showcase the reddish-brown heartwood of this timeless hardwood. Hickory is offered here in the Prime grade, ensuring clear cuttings that are free from defects. Among the hardest hardwood species available, Hickory is incredibly impact and shock resistant. For a naturally appealing and tough material, choose Hickory today.
Stocked in 4/4 & 8/4 (depending on global availability patterns) with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Purpleheart is a dense, durable exotic hardwood from Central/South America known for its vibrant violet-purple color that emerges when freshly cut and exposed to air, though it darkens to brown hue over time, which can sometimes be restored with heat or UV protection. Valued for its exceptional hardness (Janka 1860) and resistance to rot, it's used in flooring, furniture, tool handles, and decorative inlays, but it's difficult to work due to its tendency to dull tools and requires pre-drilling for fasteners
Stocked in 4/4, 6/4 & 8/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Known as a workable and highly reliable hardwood, Ash is a staple of the North American lumber industry. Crisp, sandy yellow wood contrasted with straight and uniform light brown grain imbues spaces with an easy and free atmosphere. Offered here in the Prime Grade ensures that each cutting displays a clear face that is free from large knots, mineral streaks or defects. Excellent for flooring, staircases, millwork and furniture, Ash can be stained or finished for endless design possibilities. Choose Ash Prime for a timeless and versatile domestic hardwood. Ash is extremely attractive being "Ebonized" or "Cerused" and becomes a beautiful celebration of texture.
Stocked in 8/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Architecturally significant and familiar with its dramatic cathedral patterns, Red Oak is a versatile and popular choice. Easily stained and machined, Red Oak is also a highly workable lumber. Offered here in the Prime Grade, Red Oak is designed for long and clear applications like mouldings, door frames and furniture. Hard and workable, choose Red Oak for its time-tested durability. Red Oak is extremely attractive being "Ebonized" or "Cerused" and becomes a beautiful celebration of texture.
Stocked in 4/4 with dimensional S4S, other thicknesses and architectural woodwork being special order. Soft Maple is an exceptionally versatile species found in many applications from mouldings to cabinetry. Its familiar cathedral pattern and ability to beautifully accept stain makes it a highly popular choice for millworkers and designers. Soft Maple has many of the aesthetic and strength characteristics of Hard Maple with the added benefits of lighter weight and ease of machining. Ensuring a high yield of brilliant white and clear sapwood, Soft Maple is offered here in the Sap & Better Color grade. Prime Soft Maple is designed for long and clear cuttings targeted towards millwork and moulding manufacturers. Soft Maple is a premier lumber choice.
See a few of our many examples of our quality hardwood lumber products.
Awesome customer service, awesome store, awesome services, great prices. As a female, it's so nice to talk to people in this industry that are not condescending. Sabrina is fantastic and helpful. Thanks so much...