Q. Do the ID numbers that you assign to the woods have any significance?
A. Yes, they do. Beginning in September 2009, when our business relocated to Jersey City, NJ, we implemented a numbering system that reflects not only the size of a particular piece, but when it was added to our inventory. For example, a 1.5" x 1.5" x 24" piece of Zebrawood that was added to our inventory in, say, April 2010 would have an ID along the lines of Zebra-151524J0410. The "151524" represents the size of the piece, the "J" is for the specific blank in question, and the "0410" is for April 2010. This way, our customers can quickly see precisely how long an individual blank has been in stock (and drying). For woods that have been in stock since prior to our September 2009 move, we include the letters "PA" (BrownEb-2218HPA, for example), which simply stands for "previously added." Finally, for our burl woods, which usually have non-standard dimensions, we just include an ID letter and the month/year a particular piece was added to our inventory (Coffee-0210J, for example).

Q. Have the woods been air dried or kiln dried?
A. The vast majority of our woods have been air dried, for various lengths of time. A few of our woods, such as Birdseye Maple and Curly Maple, have been kiln dried. If a particular piece of wood you've purchased seems somewhat "wet," we'd recommend rough turning it initially and then setting it aside for further drying in an airtight bag (preferably with some of the shavings) for a month or more before resuming work. If you're especially concerned about dryness, a moisture meter can supply you with a fairly accurate idea of a piece's moisture content.

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 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 a wood's color 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 receive wood that's defective or just not satisfactory in some way?
A. Upon receiving your order, be sure to inspect the woods immediately. If you're not completely satisfied with any of the pieces, please inform us within 30 days and we'll offer you one of our three compensation options. See our Money-Back Guarantee for additional details.

Q. What happens if I order a unique piece of wood at precisely the same time as another customer?
A. Although exceedingly rare, coincidental ordering has happened on occasion. In such an event, we honor the first order we receive and offer the second customer a replacement piece, store credit, or full refund. We generally try to mark pieces as "SOLD" on the Web site as soon as possible after the sale.

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. We ship domestically by either UPS Ground or Priority Mail from the U.S. Postal Service. As we're based in Jersey City, NJ, Priority Mail will generally be cheaper for customers in the Northeast U.S. If you reside on the West Coast, or a good distance away from New Jersey, UPS Ground will most likely be more economical. Anyway, 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 generally ship within two or three business days of receiving an order.

Q. Do you ship internationally?
A. Yes, we ship worldwide by Priority Mail International from the U.S. Postal Service. 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 three business days; delivery typically takes another six to 10 days.

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