Thread: Quarantine and the Import of Wood Products

Originally Posted by Green Woodchips

Hey guys.

Have any of you ever had problems importing used tools with wooden handles (like drawknives, chisels, planes)?

A friend of mine said he once had trouble importing an old drawknife because it had wooden handles. I've imported new stuff and never had a problem, but I'd be interested to know what your experience has been with vintage tools of mixed provenance.

Cheers,
GW

Returning from overseas a couple of years ago, Customs in Melbourne had a long look at an oil finished pack of wooden coasters I picked up in Canada. Asking why so interested they responded that some exotic species of timber carry bugs that could threaten our timber industry. Isaid they were too late...the Greenies were already here... They let me keep the coasters. They were just as vigilant about animal products (skins etc). I also had an adult harp seal skin.

So ... haven't any of you other blokes imported used tools with wooden parts? Keen to hear your experience, whatever it was!

GW

Originally Posted by Green Woodchips

So ... haven't any of you other blokes imported used tools with wooden parts? Keen to hear your experience, whatever it was!

GW

my parents wont let me buy from overseas

I haven't imported old tools but I did import raw wood. It was already planed and jointed so I didn't get any problems, however I do know that if you tried to import a piece of wood that might have bark material in it or if its spalted in any way then they fumigate it before releasing it to you, usually at a cost of around $80 to you.

Hi GW,
I always try to get a bit of interesting wood from new countries I end up in (as part of the job). A few years ago, I was in Sri Lanka, so just had to get a bit of Ebony. Getting it was a story in itself, but the main point here is, that the chunk I acquired was a bit rough and grubby on one end. I stayed overnight at a friend's place before departing Colombo, so took the opportunity of cleaning it, and put it out on the porch to dry. Next morning, I grabbed the wood, wrapped it in a plastic bag, and shoved it in my suitcase. I duly declared it at customs/quarantine, and was asked to haul it out for inspection, which I did with a great flourish, feeling mighty pleased with myself for having cleaned it so thoroughly.
The quarantine bloke I struck that day looked like he had had something disagreeable for breakfast. He curled his top lip a bit at this chunk of potential masterpieces and demanded to know what I wanted it for, so I gave him my usual flippant answer that he wouldn't want to know if I told him the truth, so let's just call it an ugly bookend. (I don't feel like explaining what a marking-gauge is, and how you turn a chunk of raw wood into one, after spending all night in the back of a flying cattle truck!). He gave me a jaundiced look, and started squinting at it very closely - next thing he whipped out a pocket-knife and dug a caterpillar out of one of the cracks at the end. The damn thing must have crawled in there when I put it outside to dry in Colombo. Well, I had to do some quick talking and grovelling to prevent my cherished (expensive!) chunk of ebony from heading to the burning bin! In the end I managed to convince him that it was NOT a wood-eating monster, and would not threaten our forests (it was just a plain little looper) so he let me have it, but I could see he wasn't too happy - I think he just didn't want to have to deal with this loony old git any more...

You wanted to hear about other people's experiences!

The truth is, I have had very few problems bringing in my chunks of raw wood (mostly pieces about 300 x 30 x 75), as long as they look clean and have no bug-holes. Most quarantine people seem quite unconcerned about them, and are much more interested in my shoes when I tell them what I do, and that I might have been near farm animals. But it's certainly good policy to declare it - that seems (usually!) to put the quarantine people in a much better mood from the start......

Cheers,

Thanks, Ian.

I'm thinking more along the lines of buying secondhand tools from o/s and having them posted into the country. Has anyone had any issues with customs / quarantine by doing this?

GW

Goto this AQIS site. It outlines requirements for importing wood products.

It should tell all that you need know.

http://www.daff.gov.au/content/outpu...ntType=outputs

Robert34

Thanks, Rob. Appreciate that.

GW

I've also had problems with importing some items due to the packaging. What I do now is make sure I tell people to pack things appropriately so it conforms to the Australian quarantine laws and provide this link for their reference:

http://www.affa.gov.au/content/outpu...72742F91BED3E5

I bought a vintage plane off ebay from a seller in the US about two years ago, and recently a couple of other tools that included some wood. Both times they were shipped and came through customs and most likely quarantine without any issues.

Quarantine may well open mail items depending on description and inspect items that contain wood. In most cases for tools the wood is without bark (bark is a problem) and is only small in volume and is usually sound (ie no visible borer holes etc) then its generally ok.

Quarantine is more likely to have issues with large blocks (for turning) particulalr if the have bark, it will also depend on the country of origin as to the risk and likely hood of inspection.

If in doubt ring the AQIS regional office as per the link in the previous post to DAFF.

Packing can potentially be an issue now days due to the ISPM 15 regulation (wood packaging) particularly if packaging material contains actual wood. My items came in standard cardboard and bubble wrap which should have no issues.

Regards
Stephen

Couple of points to add:

1) Always go for the 'declare' line at Customs, much, much shorter queue
2) My son having just returned from a years Rugby in the UK, shipped some stuff home cause he was over the baggage limit. This included a couple of pairs of Rugby boots. Naturally, being a useless teenager he omitted to clean them. Hence two pairs of muddy and very smelly boots were intercepted by own border protection finest. Three million phone calls, faxes and threats to burn them, plus bills, Thuggo finally got his boots back!

I recently got an old wooden plane from NZ through the mail, and it was inspected by AQIS and Customs. No worries, they passed it through.

I've been informed that if a declaration of kiln drying, or copy of the kiln notice is included in any overseas sent shipping of timber then it'll get through. I have not confirmed this.

Other than that wood souveniors have been inspected on return from Indonesia, and so long as the timber has some sort of varnish, wax, paint its got through, although one item that had seed pods was taken and the offer of getting it irradiated and fumed by AQIS for $80 was made.

Hope it helps, but I'm sure decisions are made on a case by case basis and it might be best to seek advice from AQIS first.

I recently sent a new chisel to Nuggett. I just wraped it in paper and droped it in an envolope. He had it in under a week. I dont think there were any problems with the wooden handle.
I just wrote "chisel" and gift on the customs description.
Cheers. Gary

I've imported wood from Canada and USA without any problems. Havent had any parcels even opened by Customs.