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19th March 2019, 09:41 PM #1Senior Member
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Importing small piece of timber from US
Hi brains trust.
I have a question for you. I’ve managed to get a hold of a guy in the US who is selling Honduran Mahogany from Robert Novak’s ‘the tree’. The piece is only about 300mm long by 100mm wide. Ive checked the import rules and it seems that anything by mail in very small quantity that isn’t deemed to be a threat at inspection or is treated is ok to come in. The second part of the equation is about CITES, which I understand this timber is part of.
Any experience with this? Do i need to provide evidence of the timber being felled along time ago or do you think it’ll be ok? If evidence is needed, in what form would that be? Obviously the tree and it’s provenance is well documented on the net but not sure about proof that this is the real deal, so I’m unsure of what I may need to do. To a woodie, however. it seems clear that the timber could only have come from the tree because of its very distinctive figure. A part of me thinks to just get it posted and it might sail through ok, but I’m also a bit wary.
Thanks!
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19th March 2019 09:41 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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20th March 2019, 09:21 AM #2Senior Member
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I’ve managed to get a hold of a guy in the US who is selling Honduran Mahogany from Robert Novak’s ‘the tree’.
How exactly do you know that it has come from one specific tree that was cut down donkeys ago? Surely not because someone told you so?
I'd say you're looking at import & export permits.
Do i need to provide evidence of the timber being felled along time ago
But even if you do I still reckon you're taking a punt. I suppose it all comes down to whether you're feeling lucky, punk.
https://www.environment.gov.au/biodi...-i-need-permit
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21st March 2019, 07:08 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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JW, do you specifically want that timber or do you just want Mahogany. I have a fair bit of Cuban and some Honduran Mahogony, if you need a piece.
Rgds,
Crocy.
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21st March 2019, 08:16 PM #4Senior Member
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Hi Crocy, yep interested thanks for the offer. I’ve attached a pic of a piece I was looking at. Is your timber highly figured too?
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21st March 2019, 10:32 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
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No it is as straight grained as you can get.
Crocy.
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21st March 2019, 10:42 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
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Posted twice.
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21st March 2019, 11:25 PM #7GOLD MEMBER
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In the past I used to get a lot of wood from the US. Occasionally pieces of interest are still sent to me, and rarely get held up. If I wanted it badly I would just go ahead. Ask for the sender to label it clearly eg "mahogany wood, Swietenia macrophylla," and declare it as "clean wood, free of bark, soil & insects" which is what Quarantine are most interested in. They will likely open & inspect it. If it's seized they (Quarantine) they give you the choice of "heat treating" it (often destroying it) or spraying to fumigate it. As for CITES I'm not sure how any restrictions are now applied and who does that.
FYI, I have some (small slab) from a old Mahogany, Swietenia mahoganii ex Belize when the Spaniards were cutting down trees for their king. I was told it was from a figured buttress (stump remnant) that remained after 200 yrs +, but it is smaller than the 300 x 100 you are getting. Go for it Josh. Old slow growth wood with figure is best (rich, dark, lustrous & often figured) and if it has a history and a story .. all the better.
Cheers, Euge
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22nd March 2019, 06:49 PM #8Senior Member
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22nd March 2019, 06:53 PM #9Senior Member
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Thanks Euge. Think I’ll give it a try. I see it’s in appendix II of CITES and you’re meant to have a permit. Might risk it and see what comes of it. Price isn’t sheep stations but I’m super keen to get a hold of it as it’s very unusual figure. The pic I posted before is of a smaller bit that he calls a ‘sausage curl’ but the other stuff I’m hoping is more like the tortoise shell figure or blister figure he has. While I can’t 100% confirm it’s from the tree, the figure is very unusual and distinctive of that particular tree as is the colour and width of his various planks he has. Whatever it is, it’s super impressive. I’ll find another pic of some of his longer boards to show you.
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22nd March 2019, 06:57 PM #10Senior Member
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22nd March 2019, 08:19 PM #11GOLD MEMBER
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Last trip to the US, I visited a timber shop in Oregon that had Bigleaf Maple with figure like that. I asked for a price, fainted, cleaned all the dirt off myself and drove away. I would love to know how much they want for that?
Crocy.
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22nd March 2019, 08:49 PM #12Senior Member
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It is about $1,700usd per board foot. So a few thousand for those. The piece I’m looking at is far far cheaper and actually very affordable I think.
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23rd March 2019, 09:15 AM #13GOLD MEMBER
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That is absolutely gorgeous wood JW, Wow .... but, that is a very high price to pay, even though your selected piece is cheaper and less figured.
What is shows is that the price some people want and get for FIGURE & PROVENANCE & (possibly) their HISTORY. These species as you have found, are not rare and grown elsewhere even as street tree, because they were threatened in their native homelands from over exploitation.
Euge
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23rd March 2019, 09:55 AM #14Senior Member
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I agree Euge. For me, it’s about availability. The piece I want is $60USD + the crazy cost of post from the US, so tiny in comparison to those boards. Most of the timber apparently ends up in the hands of luthiers for high end guitars and luthiers pay a premium. I agree that the price also relates to history/provenance. It’s the classic capitalism supply and demand approach.
Euge, if you have anything remotely close in figure (doesn’t need to be mahogany necessarily), I’d be interested. There is a reason for looking at particularly rare figure which I can explain by email as it’s personal.
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