Q. Have the woods been air dried or kiln dried?
A. Most of our woods have been air dried (for varying lengths of time). Some of our woods have been kiln dried — if so, we try to note them as being such. If you receive any woods that have been entirely coated with wax, rather than just being sealed on the ends, you should assume that the piece is fairly wet.

Q. Will the color of some woods change over time? What can I do to prevent this from happening?
A. Certain vibrantly colored woods — particularly Padauk, Pink Ivory, and Purpleheart — have a tendency to become a duller, brownish shade over time. Just how long this process takes to occur depends on the specific piece of wood and how much exposure it has to sunlight. Although there are a number of UV-resistant finishes available on the market, these "solutions" will only delay the inevitable, not completely prevent it. To retain the color of any particular piece of wood for as long as possible, use common sense — don't bring the piece outside for any great length of time and try to avoid exposure to sunlight indoors wherever possible.

Q. What if I order a piece of wood that's damaged or actually out of stock?
A. Upon receiving the woods you've ordered, be sure to inspect them immediately. If you've received any damaged or defective items, please notify us within one week to request a replacement piece, credit, or refund (minus shipping charges and a 15-percent restocking fee). For returns of non-defective pieces, you'll have 30 days to request a credit or refund. Any wood being returned to us must remain in its original state; pieces that have developed checks or cracks subsequent to being shipped, or that have been cut, sanded, or altered in any way, are not returnable. Please make sure to include a copy of your invoice with any return. Prior to shipping, if we notice that a particular piece is damaged, we will inform you right away. If there's a suitable replacement piece in stock, we'll offer you that. If there is no replacement piece, or the wood you ordered is actually out of stock, we'll give you the option of having us back order it or simply not charging you for the piece.

Q. Can you provide the moisture content for a specific piece of wood?
A. If a particular piece of wood hasn't been entirely sealed with protective wax, then, yes, we can provide a moisture content reading. However, if a piece has been completely sealed, then it's nearly impossible for us to obtain an accurate moisture content reading.

Q. Are any of the woods hazardous to work with?
A. Toxicity levels vary from wood to wood. To be on the safe side, though, it's recommended to ALWAYS take precautions to protect one's eyes and breathing when working with any wood.

Q. Do you offer custom-sized cuts of your woods?
A. No, we do not — although we may offer custom-sized cuts in the future. The only sizes we have available presently are what you see on the Web site.

Q. What type of finish should I use?
A. Most woodturners use an oil and then a wax for finishing. There are numerous products available for this purpose. Some of the most commonly used finishes include: tongue oil, linseed oil, mineral oil, macadamia nut oil, walnut oil, salad bowl finish, rubbing lacquer, and resin.

Q. What shipping options do you have available?
A. Our standard shipping method for all domestic packages — excluding those being sent to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or other more remote U.S. locations — is UPS Ground. We generally ship within two or three business days of receiving an order. Once your package has been shipped, a UPS tracking number will be e-mailed to you automatically (provided that you've supplied us with a valid e-mail address).

Q. Can you use a cheaper shipping method for packages being sent to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or other distant U.S. territories?
A. Yes. Packages being shipped to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc., are sent via the U.S. Postal Service. Please note that this shipping exception requires us to calculate the postage for such shipments manually, so you'll have to contact us first before placing an order.

Q. Do you ship internationally?
A. Yes, we ship worldwide by Priority Mail International from the U.S. Postal Service, which is significantly cheaper than the major shipping companies. You can see exactly how much the shipping charges come to (prior to being asked for any credit card information) by starting to place an order online. If it seems too costly, simply stop and the order will not go through. We usually process international orders within one week; delivery typically takes another six to 10 days. Once your package has been shipped, we will e-mail you the U.S.P.S. tracking information.

Q. Do you have a catalog?
A. No, we do not have a printed catalog because our inventory is continually changing and expanding. Our entire stock, however, is listed on our Web site.

Have A Question That Hasn't Been Answered? Send Us An E-Mail: info@exoticwoodgroup.com