A way to purchase pre-cut lumber in small quantities.<p>For instance, I need an 18-24" piece of 2x4 to prop up an air conditioner, and a couple 30" lengths of 1x10 to convert steam radiators into makeshift shelving. Oh, and four 36" lengths of 1/4" dowel to sew into the bottoms of curtains.<p>Obstacles to my acquiring these:<p>1) The small corner hardware stores I can get to on foot or by transit don't sell lumber, period.<p>2) I don't own a car, and hate driving (I do have a license, but many of my neighbors don't, and I can get about my daily life 99% of the time without one).<p>3) OK, let's say I take a cab to a big box store. They'll only sell me full 8' lengths of lumber.<p>4) Fine, I rent a car or get a cab home, or maybe Home Depot has finally worked out that New Yorkers will buy more if they provide delivery even for small sales.<p>5) At this point, I've already spent $100 on taxis or more on car rental just getting to and from the store.<p>6) I finally get the lumber home, and I can't cut it. I live in a New York apartment, with no outdoor space for projects like this. I own a screw gun because it's useful for assembling Ikea furniture and attaching stuff to walls, but for obvious reasons I don't own a hand saw let alone a circular saw or table saw. Neither do any of my neighbors. And even if I had a saw, no way it's getting anywhere near my apartment's hardwood floors (do you have any idea how much the security deposit was?)<p>7) By some miracle, I find someone to lend me a saw AND a space to cut the lumber in (where??) -- I have nowhere to put the scraps and no sensible way to get rid of them.