Official Luthiers Forum!

What's the knock on plantation grown woods? Occasionally this term comes up in discussions but it seems like they're considered a second class wood next to the woods grown in the wild. Why?

It's just our desire to live on the wild side.
Why don't you start a Koa plantation?John How38370.5459953704

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

There is nothing wrong with Plantation grown hardwoods and as a way of preserving species that have otherwise been overharvested are a very good way to maintain sustainable supply.

The only downside to most plantation grown hardwoods is that they are new growth and typically grown faster and more uniform than would occur in nature in a forest. In general this would indicate less dense growth rings and because the trees are optimized for uniform, predictable growth will have much less interesting grain but higher yield per tree. The economics of tree farming is around how fast can trees be grown to a marketable size without hurting the qualities desired from that species.

WE have to do something to protect our forests. Yet we want to be able to use the wood harvested for building and other interests. And I would say that is the way to go. Seeing as the human way is to use until it's gone . I would have to say this is the way to go. I hope the new trees will have some of the properties (growth ring spacing and so on) that the old ones do. Of course this is determined greatly in the wild by natural forces. Weather being cold,hot,rainy,drought,fires, pests and condition of the forest determines the wood usability.
So if there is proper management the wood could be the same.

If a tree is grown in an environment that is both light and nutriant poor, but not so poor that the tree won't grow at all, it will grow very slowly. The wood from such a tree will be denser that the wood that is grown in a nutriant rich, well lighted environment.

A tree farmer has to see a return on his investment that makes his operation worthwhile. If he can get a significant markup on slower growing wood than on fast growing wood, he will set up slow growth condition on his farm. However, waiting an extra 100 years to realize the return on your investment is asking rather a lot from any business.

Well spaced trees not only grow faster, but they also are easier and safer to harvest. I've read at least one article that stated that the environment damage to aan old growth forest caused by dragging the tree out is far greater than that caused by cutting the tree in the first place. Plantations are going to have well maintained access roads and therefore faster growing trees.

John, a friend of mine is doing just that. He told me in 40 years or so he can start havesting some nice wood. 40 years from now I'll be 85. Since my goal is to retire by at least 82 I'm looking into quicker and more lucrative sources of income such as luthier.

John, a friend of mine is doing just that. He told me in 40 years or so he can start havesting some nice wood. 40 years from now I'll be 85.
     It's good to know that someone is thinking about the future though.

Since my goal is to retire by at least 82 I'm looking into quicker and more lucrative sources of income such as luthier.
      I want to retire next week but I'm not sure about the lucrative luthier part yet. Do you need an assistant? Maybe room & board.

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.