Ok gents, and ladies.  I am embarking on rocker number two.  I am having one hard time finding some slab walnut in my area that is reasonably priced.  I have a budget of 4 to 6 hundred for a nice slab or slabs totaling about 40 dft 8/4.

I have found some beautiful slabs in that price range, but they are out of state, throw in the shipping, and the deal blows up.

I love American Hardwoods. But because of the lack of any in my area, I have been forced to look into exotics.  And to my surprise, I am really warming to the idea of building a chair from some nice exotic slab material.  You would think that the exotic woods would be way more expensive then my favored Domestics.  But in my area it is quite the contrary.  I can pick up a slab of Jatoba Crotch for 10 bucks a bdft. Or how about some Parota for 10 bucks bdft.  And, the best part is they are about an hour from my home.  They have a ton of stuff to choose from, and a big sale going on for the month of October.

My question to you gents is, what exotics have you worked with, and what exotics just make your jaw drop in furnishings?  Thanks for you help.

You can follow this link to the place I am referring to, Tropical Hardwoods of Latin America. (The American Woodworker is not affiliated with this retailer in any way).

And, they offer free shipping for the month of October for you outta towners.

Thanks for any input on this.

John, I don't know a great deal about exotics except the Blood Wood. Here's what I've leaned. First and fore most (in my opinion) make darn sure you know the woodworking characteristics of the wood you choose. Had I known what I was getting into with the Blood Wood I may have chose something else. A lot of exotics are very hard and heavy and some are strong but brittle.

For example, if you were to build a rocker out of Blood Wood I doubt very much you or anyone else could/want to pick it up because it would be so dam heavy. In you rockers there's a lot of hand tool work. Make sure it works well with hand tools. So far I've been through 3 sets of planer blades and still have 21 drawer fronts to make and I'm sure I'll be changing the blades again before it's over. I usually make my face frames with pocket holes. The Blood Wood is so hard I couldn't drill the pocket holes, the drill bit would just get hot and start smoking. I ended up using loose tenons using my domino. The domino cut the wood real well, figure that one out. There was to much resin in the wood so I couldn't my wide belt sanding because resin would get hot and gum up the belts in no time. On the other hand it sand just fine with an ROS as long as there was no deep scratches. Take a card scraper to it and it peel of shaving beautifully. Put a plane on it and you can't hardly push the plane, go figure again. I could go on but I think you get the point. Know you wood before you commit.

Thanks for your informative reply Richard, your advice is sound, know your lumber before you buy. You brought up things I hadn't even thought of. Machining, hand working the wood, wear and tear on equipment, weight. All very important aspects of deciding which wood to choose. Frankly I had not thought of most that you mentioned, I was just ready to go off my rocker and start making sawdust. And speaking of dust, I bet I should know about toxicity of some exotics, because this project is very very dust heavy.

Thanks Richard.

I built a table with some Purpleheart. It is a lot like Richard was saying about the Blood Wood. It was the hardest stuff I have ever tried to put a screw in. I drilled pilot holes in the bottom to mount the top and broke at least a half dozen screws. I even went and got stainless steel and twisted them off as well.

I also experienced that I could use a card scraper on it but forget the hand plane. When sanding I did experience some burning it was so hard.

For cutting boards it seems to be great cause it is so hard you aren't going to cut t with a knife.

The Bubinga worked pretty good although I did experience some chip out when running it through the planner. I did quite a bit of scraping on it to get a good finish.

It too is heavy as well as the Purple Heart.

Zebra Wood is also hard and heavy and smells like a wet dog when you cut it. It does seem to work pretty good although I haven't built anything big with it yet.

If you find out any more let us know though.

Gilroy San Fransico area! I am in So Cal. It's been tough finding the stuff.

Gene Howe said:

How far are you from any Claro?

Hey John,

I have 8/4 black walnut that I can send you @ $4.50 per board foot and 40 BF would be $180 plus shipping.

I'm trying to locate the shipper in TX who will ship it for $105.00 from my location to your front door.

Ralph

John,

I forgot to mention that I will personally choose the wood for you and it will be FAS kiln dried black walnut and all from the same tree. FAS lumber here in Ohio is 831/2 % clear and the MC will be less than 8%.

Ralph

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Hey John,
I have 8/4 black walnut that I can send you @ $4.50 per board foot and 40 BF would be $180 plus shipping.
I'm trying to locate the shipper in TX who will ship it for $105.00 from my location to your front door.

Ralph

Hi Joshua,

I am not sure where you live but, I have been shipping good quality Cherry and Black Walnut to several locations for i have a trucking firm in TX who is very reasonable.

Should you need a trucking firm here is the one I use. Keith@saveonfreight.com

Ralph

Joshua D. Rollins said:

John, I don't know where you have checked but have you checked craigslist around TN? I've seen a lot of cherry and walnut for around $3 a bdft. Most of them have been people who have small mills. My thought is that if you could find someone that would cut slabs to a minimum length, guessing I would think that 5' would be long enough for your work, you could maybe get them shipped cheaper.

Just a thought, if you did find someone close to me I would be happy to cut them down and ship. I'll keep a look out for any good deals. I love exotics for boxes and turnings, but I can't really picture that chair in anything but cherry or walnut.

John, what happened to the sawyer that's not to far from you? I thought you said he had some walnut for 4.00 a board foot.

Yes he does Richard, I still am going to hook up with him, his wood is green though. He is going to slice up a log he has had drying for some time now, but it will still take about 9 months or so before it is usable. I am just waiting on his call before I go out take a gander. He also has some figured Eucalyptus I want to look at.

Richard McComas said:

John, what happened to the sawyer that's not to far from you? I thought you said he had some walnut for 4.00 a board foot.

Thanks Steve, that exotics outfit I am talking about does have Osage. Most of their lumber is imported from South America up to Mexico.

steven newman said:

How far are you from any Ossage Orange? Just across your border would be some Mesquite.

Thanks John!

John Moody said:

I built a table with some Purpleheart. It is a lot like Richard was saying about the Blood Wood. It was the hardest stuff I have ever tried to put a screw in. I drilled pilot holes in the bottom to mount the top and broke at least a half dozen screws. I even went and got stainless steel and twisted them off as well.

I also experienced that I could use a card scraper on it but forget the hand plane. When sanding I did experience some burning it was so hard.

For cutting boards it seems to be great cause it is so hard you aren't going to cut t with a knife.

The Bubinga worked pretty good although I did experience some chip out when running it through the planner. I did quite a bit of scraping on it to get a good finish.

It too is heavy as well as the Purple Heart.

Zebra Wood is also hard and heavy and smells like a wet dog when you cut it. It does seem to work pretty good although I haven't built anything big with it yet.

If you find out any more let us know though.

I've always wanted to make a Mesquite something or another Gene, but as you stated, it's tough finding the stuff in big pieces. Thanks for chiming in.

Gene Howe said:

Mesquite would make a beautiful piece, but obtaining the thickness and width needed might be problematic.Big AZ mesquites are not as plentiful as those in TX.
Osage orange is also most plentiful in TX and north. Haven't seen any in AZ. Don't know about CA, though. Probably not much, if any, in So. CA deserts. Talk about heavy, Osage orange seems to be about twice as heavy as red oak.

That's a mighty fine offer Josh, and I will keep you on reserve stand by if you don't mind. Let me surf the net a bit and see if I can find some southern sawyers to work with. That is a hockey sticks of a good idea to cut those down.

Joshua D. Rollins said:

John, I don't know where you have checked but have you checked craigslist around TN? I've seen a lot of cherry and walnut for around $3 a bdft. Most of them have been people who have small mills. My thought is that if you could find someone that would cut slabs to a minimum length, guessing I would think that 5' would be long enough for your work, you could maybe get them shipped cheaper.

Just a thought, if you did find someone close to me I would be happy to cut them down and ship. I'll keep a look out for any good deals. I love exotics for boxes and turnings, but I can't really picture that chair in anything but cherry or walnut.

Ralph, thanks for your help, let me ask you this, is your 8/4 a true 8/4? I need at least 2" net. Your offer is greatly appreciated and I am seriously considering your lumber. Can you take a couple pics of the walnut before it get's shipped out? And, how wide are the boards?

Ralph Allen Jones said:

John,
I forgot to mention that I will personally choose the wood for you and it will be FAS kiln dried black walnut and all from the same tree. FAS lumber here in Ohio is 831/2 % clear and the MC will be less than 8%.

Ralph

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Good morning John,

I can have my supplier Doug Zeyer get some that will be a strong 8/4 or maybe even 9/4 and they will be random widths x 8' in length which is easier to ship for I band them with cardboard on the corners so as to not crush the edges.

Bare in mind though the 9/4 will be a bit more in cost but, not much and my trucker friend has assured me that shipping to your location in middle CA will be $105.00 door to door. I think I have some pictures of some of out black walnut.

Don't pay any attention to the fellow in the second picture who is about to clobber the cat.

Ralph

The American Woodworker said:

Ralph, thanks for your help, let me ask you this, is your 8/4 a true 8/4? I need at least 2" net. Your offer is greatly appreciated and I am seriously considering your lumber. Can you take a couple pics of the walnut before it get's shipped out? And, how wide are the boards?

Ralph Allen Jones said:

John,

I don't know why the picture didn't appear. let me try something else.

Ralph

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Good morning John,
I can have my supplier Doug Zeyer get some that will be a strong 8/4 or maybe even 9/4 and they will be random widths x 8' in length which is easier to ship for I band them with cardboard on the corners so as to not crush the edges.

Bare in mind though the 9/4 will be a bit more in cost but, not much and my trucker friend has assured me that shipping to your location in middle CA will be $105.00 door to door. I think I have some pictures of some of out black walnut.

Don't pay any attention to the fellow in the second picture who is about to clobber the cat.

Ralph






The American Woodworker said:

Here you go John,

This might be a little better.

Hopefully this will be better.

Ralph

Ralph Allen Jones said:

John,
I don't know why the picture didn't appear. let me try something else.

Ralph






Ralph Allen Jones said:

Thanks Ralph, I live in Southern Ca, just for reference, not middle. It's hard for me to see what is in that walnut. If you get a chance Ralph, can you splash some alcohol or something on it and take a pic so I can see what's going on with the grain?

Thanks Ralph.

By the way, I don't have a problem with Random widths but the wider the better for what I need. I try to make those chair seats from two boards.

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Good morning John,
I can have my supplier Doug Zeyer get some that will be a strong 8/4 or maybe even 9/4 and they will be random widths x 8' in length which is easier to ship for I band them with cardboard on the corners so as to not crush the edges.

Bare in mind though the 9/4 will be a bit more in cost but, not much and my trucker friend has assured me that shipping to your location in middle CA will be $105.00 door to door. I think I have some pictures of some of out black walnut.

Don't pay any attention to the fellow in the second picture who is about to clobber the cat.

Ralph

The American Woodworker said: