Although generally a renewable resource, woodworkers everywhere face increasing difficulty obtaining quality woods from sources where responsible harvesting is taking place. Many of the tone woods take a generation to grow and are becoming more difficult to find. Some of the exotic trees like Brazilian Rosewood are so scarce that it's wood is like ivory and illegal to export. Substitutes will have to eventually be used. I strive to use quality materials and try to use most of what I purchase; smaller pieces going into bowed psalteries, thumb pianos, zithers and finally into hammered dulcimer playing hammers. What doesn't end up in an instrument usually warms my shop in the winter.

I encourage you to become informed about the economics and politics of the use of this resource. The key word is sustainable. The issues are many. I would also suggest you donate time or money to organizations that preserve, protect, or promote responsible use of our international resources. My favorite organizaton is the Nature Conservancy Planting a tree and limiting consumption won't hurt either.

If you have any questions regarding your choices, please e-mail or call me. I have a lot of experience to draw on.

If you'd like to learn a little bit more about each of the woods, click on the sample. Your click will take you to a Wikipedia article on that particular wood or a brief description I've put together

Stained w/Jet
Mahogany