Woodturning a fast growing hobby, jump on the bandwagon!

Woodturning is one of the most popular hobbies now.  With that new expansion in awareness that woodturning is fun, rewarding and a great artistic outlet comes an increasingly sophisticated group of  turnery devotees.   It has been fascinating to watch the development of so many of our customers from not knowing the difference between walnut and lignum vitae to becoming very aware of all the types of exotic woods.  Many people are now pursuing artistic vocations that use exotics as a full time business.   By studying books such as "Wood for Woodturners" by Mark Baker you can begin to appreciate the vast array of colors, density and uses of wood for woodturning and other woodwork.   We have seen a great increase in people using wood for other interesting projects, such as sunglass frames and body jewelry.   Send us an email if you'd like to try a new exotic and are wondering what we may know of its qualities and workability. 

---

The "Green" Question: "Where's the Beef"

Many of us are becoming aware of the ecological question of sustainability of many of our habits, from the type of car we drive, the way we get energy for our homes, and of course, where our exotic wood comes from.  The goal is to make sure that future generations can enjoy clean air, water, and exotic wood!  Like every issue, the one of exotic wood use is not as simple as many think once some research is done.  In a recent Documentary Channel documentary about the state of Para in Brazil, it was mentioned that 80% of the lumber being harvested was due to a need to clear land for cow pasture.  Of that, 95-98% of the wood cut in that area is used within Brazil for native uses (not exported). 

It is a surprise that cow grazing is by far the biggest issue when it comes to tree-cutting in Para Brazil.  In other words, if most of us become vegetarian we could save 80% of the trees?  While it is not that simple, the fact is that it takes at least 3 times as much land to produce meat from cattle as it does to produce the same amount of food energy from vegetarian sources.   While we'd never suggest what people should eat, it is an interesting fact, and is one of the greatest impacts on timber worldwide. 

---

---