Posted by BillEpstein [ 12.75.71.236 ] on December 27, 2003 at 20:14:46:

In Reply to: Re: Any advice on working with exotics? Just say posted by TC on December 26, 2003 at 10:16:50:

Veneer and plantation grown trees are the answer to the problem. But it's a big problem. The rain Forest gets cleared so land can be farmed and the big trees of Mahogany and such are too valuable to stand in an economy where annual incomes are measured in hundreds of dollars.
There are many acceptable substitutes like the ebonized maple you mention. Also tagua nut instead of ivory for inlays. And the careful use of fillers and dyes makes plantation mahogany look like old growth cuban.
It only makes sense that all wotk with Cocobolo, Wenge, Ebony, etc has to be veneer over MDF or birch plywood. And there are alternatives in quarter sawn oak and dyed quilted maple and Walnut which are easily renewable.
Too bad about the Clarinets. Maybe it's a good thing public school arts programs have gone down the tubes. Fewer bad teenage clarinetists with braces!

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