With my boards and platters I’m always on the lookout for good quality hardwood planks. A visit to the timber yard or Bunnings can provide what I need, but the cost seems to be getting higher and higher.
If I am not looking for a specific timber species, I have found that a great source of material is Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. I don’t look specifically for timber, but for old furniture that with just a bit of work (disassembly and sanding) will provide what I want.
A lot of reasonable quality dining tables and coffee tables are imported from Asia (often Malaysia in particular) and are made from finger jointed Hevea (Rubberwood). This is a nice, fine grained hardwood that is light in colour and provides an excellent surface for my laser engraved boards. I have been able to source a number of these tables for absolutely nothing, I just have to pick them up.
There are also occasions where furniture made from specific species of wood are available at quite cheap prices. As an example I recently picked up a small Jarrah bookshelf for $20 which will give me enough material for at least 8 boards or platters.
I’ve also picked up a lovely thick Oregon table for free – not a hardwood, but certainly a nice timber I can use for some of my projects.