Finding Wood II – Imported Exotics

Often, at a quilt show or craft show, people will ask where I get the many interesting and unusual pieces of wood that I use in my wooden quilt patterns. They are surprised to learn that there are so many kinds of wood in the world, and that so many are available to woodworkers. That’s the way I was, ten years ago, before I started making quilts in wood. I didn’t have a clue.

I soon learned, however, that there are more kinds of wood “than this world dreams of”, and many woodworkers use a lot of them. There is even a world-wide organization—the International Wood Collectors Society–devoted to collecting samples of the various woods. The IWCS has chapters all over the US and around the world. Our county has a very active chapter, several who have attended the annual meetings in Florida, and a few who have gone to Australia for an international meeting there. The IWCS has auctions at the national and international meetings, and those who attend from here often come home with a good assortment to add to their wood stash, though none of them do quilt patterns with wood like I do.

For those who are not just collectors—and I am not, there are other good sources of imported wood, usually referred to as “exotics”. The big chains that cater to woodworkers, like Rockler and Woodcraft, have a lot of tools and supplies, but also have a pretty good assortment of some of the more common exotics. I bought the wood for my first wooden quilt pattern at Woodcraft in Indianapolis. They always have several varieties in 1/8″ thick pieces, often 3″ inches wide by 24″ to 36″ long. That’s not the most economical way to buy wood, but if you just want to try your hand at inlay, it’s a place to start.

You can also buy wood online. I have purchased ebony online from Woodcraft, but only because it was a good sale. I would much rather see a piece and look at it in “real life” than buy from a picture. Ebony, especially some species, is usually pretty consistent in color and grain, so I wasn’t afraid so much of buying it. Later, I bought some black mesquite from the same source and was a little disappointed. One piece, the color was not as good as the other. It was usable, but not as dark as I would have liked or would have picked if I had seen it in person. (Black mesquite is not totally black, by the way, more a gray-brown with some darker thin gray and black lines in the grain.)

So be careful buying online. I bought a piece one time from an online company, whom I shall not name, and I was more than disappointed. The piece was pictured on the website, but it was hard for me to tell just what it was. It was a wood that has very red heartwood, but the sapwood is a dull gray. When I got the piece it was waxed, which is good to protect the wood. I made the mistake of not looking close enough before I ran it over the jointer to remove the wax from one side to see what I had. Part of it was gray—sapwood. I sliced a little off the end, and it turned out nearly half the piece was sapwood. I called the company and complained, but they said, “Sorry, if you cut it, you bought it.” I may buy from them again sometime, but only if I can’t get what I want somewhere else, and I will be very careful. Then again, maybe not.

I told you in Finding Wood I about the locker full of wood I bought. The old man who was the original owner was a member of IWCS, and he had some beautiful and interesting wood. It cost me, but it was worth every penny. That was a few years ago, and I am still using pieces from that stash. But unless you plan to make and sell a lot of your woodwork, like I do, something like that would not be a good purchase. Too much money if you do not plan to recoup some of your investment.

My best commercial source, here in central Indiana, is Northwest Lumber in Indianapolis. I have bought some very nice pieces there, and they have a good assortment. Exotic wood is expensive, wherever you find it. The last time I checked, the list price of good ebony was $120 a board foot for 3/4″ stock. I can get three thicknesses out of a 3/4″ piece, but for you quilters, that comes to about $200 per fat quarter. Of course, I don’t have to make 64 identical squares to complete a project, so that ebony will go quite a ways. Besides, I never pay list price if I can help it.

So happy hunting, and if you find another good source, let me know.