Official Luthiers Forum!

Can anybody tell me where I can purchase Smartwood? I have found sites with info about it, but not to purchase. Thanks in advance.

Craig

I would say your best bet is to contact someone from the Rainforst Alliance Smartwood program directly, or the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) directly. They will know which operations are still in operation, and where, and who the contacts are. When it comes time to make contact directly with one of the foreign Smartwood producers, it will help if you can converse in Spanish. (Not all, but many of the Smartwood operations were in Mexico, Central America, and South America. I think there's at least one in Brazil, so brush up on your Portuguese as well.)

A number of US domestic lumber producers now have certification, but as far as I know, I don't think any of it is selected for what you would think of as high quality tonewood. (I hope I'm wrong about that.)

If, on the other hand, you're not talking about importing container loads or looking for a semi-trailer load, but rather just want a few boards, you'll have a much harder time. For example, Hickman Hardwoods and Almquist Lumber both sell some Smartwood or FSC Certified lumber, but not small quantities of select boards.

I think EcoTimber used to import Smartwood tropicals from Papua New Guinea, Belize and Costa Rica, but now only sell flooring.

AltruWood is offering some Certified Smartwood 8/4 Honduras Mahogany in 200bf increments for $6.25/bf

When I had a tiny company selling Smartwood as my only tropical lumber about 15 years ago, I think there was more energy devoted to finding buyers for the lumber, in spite of all of the headaches and logistical problems of trying to do anything on a global scale that the Smartwood founders dealt with. Now, I have a sense it is more about teaching sustainable forest management techniques, and less about producing lumber from managed forests. (I know they are of course interrelated, but hope you know what I mean.) There also seems to be a shift away from tropical/rainforest management, and towards temperate forest management. Like Martha says, "It's all good", but my heart and soul are more invested in preserving the incredible biodiversity of the tropical regions.

Sorry, that was not only long-winded, it also may not have done a very good job of answering your question. But, thank you for standing up and asking that question!

Dennis

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Isn't LMI selling FSC certified wood? I thought I remebered that from their last catalog.

_________________
Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Yes, LMI is selling several species as FSC certified and be found at Environmentally Certified.

Craig I have curly Narra and that's on the list.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Thanks for the info. Bob, are you able to get any of these...Ambay Guasu , Cancharana or Peroba? And can you get it in 3/4" thickness? I'm not ready to buy yet, but my customer wanted me to check into these.
Thanks!
Craig