Q.
Is there a minimum amount of wood I have to order?
A.
No, there is never a minimum at
www.exoticwoodsusa.com. Feel free to order as
little (or as much!) exotic wood as you'd like.
Q.
How do I remove the protective wax that's used to seal many of
the woods?
A.
If you're going to be turning the wood, the wax will come off
naturally while turning. Otherwise, the wax can be removed by
using a paint scraper or razor blade.
Q.
Have the woods been air dried or kiln dried?
A.
Most of our woods have been air dried (for varying lengths of
time). Some of our woods have been kiln dried � if so, we try
to note them as being such. If you receive any woods that have
been entirely coated with wax, rather than just being sealed
on the ends, you should assume that the piece is fairly wet.
Q.
Have the woods been impregnated for stabilization?
A.
No, they haven't. There may, however, be an exception here and
there, which will be clearly noted.
Q.
Why do certain photos show a particular wood more vividly than
others?
A.
Some or our woods are waxed and/or
sealed on their ends only. Others are entirely waxed. If a
piece has been entirely waxed, it will appear similarly to
being finished (see example on right below). Whether a
particular piece of wood has been waxed or not, though, your
final product will look the same.
|
UNWAXED
& WAXED PADAUK SQUARES |
|
 |
Q.
Will the wood that I receive be the same exact piece, or pieces,
shown in the photo(s) on your Web site?
A.
If we show a photo of a certain block of wood and it's marked
as a "unique piece," then we guarantee that the piece
you receive will be the specific one shown (see the Buckeye
Burl piece below). For other pieces that we stock in multiple
quantities, we only show a sample photo (see the Katalox
pieces below). Some woods do have a range of different looks,
so the piece or pieces you receive may vary somewhat from the
photo shown.
|
SPECIFIC VS. SAMPLE PHOTOS |
BB-008 |
Katalox-005 |
BB-008
4.7" x 6.75" x 6.9"
4.5 lbs.
1 in stock
(unique piece)
$69.50 |
Katalox-005
3" x 3" x 12"
4.75 lbs.
8 in stock
$13.00 each |
|
If you were to order Buckeye
Burl piece BB-008, the photo shown is of the exact piece
you would receive. |
If you were to order Katalox
piece Katalox-005, the photo shown merely represents the
type of piece or pieces you would receive. |
Q.
Do the pieces generally contain sapwood? Can I request that a
particular piece of wood either has sapwood in it or doesn't
have sapwood?
A.
Some of our woods, such as Burmese
Blackwood, Mun Ebony, and Tambootie, tend to contain more
sapwood than others. We try to show which woods are likely to
feature sapwood in the sample photos we provide. Yes, you can
request that a particular piece either contains sapwood or is
generally sapwood free for any specifically sized pieces that
we stock in multiple quantities. Based on the pieces we have
available at the time, we will do our best to meet your needs.
For all "unique pieces" � which we only stock in quantities of
one and which are usually accompanied by a photo � well, "what
you see is what you get." Note: Some boards/planks, such as
Cocobolo and Tulipwood, sometimes have more sapwood on one
side than the other. In these cases, we try to provide
additional photos.
Q.
Will the color of some woods change over time? What can I do to
prevent this from happening?
A.
Certain vibrantly colored woods � particularly Padauk, Pink
Ivory, and Purpleheart � have a tendency to become a duller,
brownish shade over time. Just how long this process takes to
occur depends on the specific piece of wood and how much
exposure it has to sunlight. Although there are a number of
UV-resistant finishes available on the market, these
"solutions" will only delay the inevitable, not completely
prevent it. To retain the color of any particular piece of
wood for as long as possible, use common sense � don't bring
the piece outside for any great length of time and try to
avoid exposure to sunlight indoors wherever possible.
Q.
What if I order a piece of wood that's damaged or actually out of
stock?
A.
Upon receiving the woods you've ordered, be sure to inspect
them immediately. If you've received any
damaged or defective items,
please notify us within three days to request a replacement
piece, credit, or refund (minus shipping charges and a
15-percent restocking fee). For returns of non-defective
pieces, you'll have 30 days to request a credit or refund. Any
wood being returned to us must remain in its original state;
pieces that have developed checks or cracks subsequent to
being shipped, or that have been cut, sanded, or altered in
any way, are not returnable.
Please make sure to include a copy of your invoice with any
return. Prior to shipping, if we notice that a particular
piece is damaged, we will inform you right away. If there's a
suitable replacement piece in stock, we'll offer you that. If
there is no replacement piece, or the wood you ordered is
actually out of stock, we'll give you the option of having us
back order it or simply not charging you for the piece.
Q.
Can you provide the moisture content for a specific piece of
wood?
A.
If a particular piece of wood
hasn't been entirely sealed with protective wax, then, yes, we
can provide a moisture content reading. However, if a piece
has been completely sealed, then it's nearly impossible for us
to obtain an accurate moisture content reading.
Q.
Are any of the woods hazardous to
work with?
A.
Toxicity levels vary from wood to wood. To be on the safe
side, though, it's recommended to ALWAYS take precautions to
protect one's eyes and breathing when working with any wood.
Q.
Do you offer custom-sized cuts of your woods?
A.
No, we do not � although we may offer custom-sized cuts in the
future. The only sizes we have available presently are what
you see on the Web site.
Q.
What type of finish should I use?
A.
Most woodturners use an oil and then a wax for finishing.
There are numerous works available for this purpose. Some
of the most commonly used finishes include: tongue oil,
linseed oil, mineral oil, macadamia nut oil, walnut oil, salad
bowl finish, rubbing lacquer, and resin.
Q.
What shipping
options do you have available?
A.
Our standard shipping method for all domestic packages �
excluding those being sent to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or
other more remote U.S. locations � is UPS Ground. We generally
ship within two or three business days of receiving an order.
Once your package has been shipped, a UPS tracking number will
be e-mailed to you automatically (provided that you've
supplied us with a valid e-mail address).
Q.
Can you use a cheaper shipping
method for packages being sent to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico,
or other distant U.S. territories?
A.
Yes. Packages being shipped to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico,
Guam, etc., are sent via the U.S. Postal Service. Please note
that this shipping exception requires us to calculate the
postage for such shipments manually, so you'll have to contact
us first before placing an order.
Q.
Do you ship internationally?
A.
Yes, we ship worldwide by Priority Mail International from the
U.S. Postal Service, which is significantly cheaper than the
major shipping companies. You can see exactly how much the
shipping charges come to (prior to being asked for any credit
card information) by starting to place an order online. If it
seems too costly, simply stop and the order will not go
through. We usually process international orders within one
week; delivery typically takes another six to 10 days. Once
your package has been shipped, we will e-mail you the U.S.P.S.
tracking information.
Q.
Do you have a catalog?
A.
No, we do not have a printed
catalog because our inventory is continually changing and
expanding. Our entire stock, however, is listed on our Web
site.
Have A Question That Hasn't Been Answered? Send Us An E-Mail:
info@exoticwoodsusa.com
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