NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/talk/environm/2950

Internet Message Format | 1992-07-24 | 13.1 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!gatech!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!remarque.berkeley.edu!jym
From: [e-mail] (Jym Dyer)
Newsgroups: talk.environment
Subject: Re: Good Wood
Date: 24 Jul 1992 16:40:08 GMT
Organization: The Naughty Peahen Party Line
Lines: 278
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
References: <davidl.711359506@giaeb>
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu
In-reply-to: [e-mail]'s message of 17 Jul 92 07:51:46 GMT

=o= I'm not familiar with Good Wood.  But here's some informa-
tion from rec.woodworking that you might find useful.

================================================================
=> From: [e-mail] (Bruce J. Taylor)
=> Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
=> Subject: WARP (was: Re: Info on endangered species sought)
=> Date: 11 May 92 16:36:02 GMT

This is from my archives, to follow up on the thread about what to
do about using endangered species from tropical rainforests. I
hope this will lead you to spend the $25 to join WARP and start doing
something about this problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Folks -

I hope that we're all caught in the dilemma of ethical woodworkers: wanting
to employ all the beautiful tropical hardwoods, but rejecting the implied
destruction of the rainforest. I've recently hooked up with an organization
that may ultimately break that dilemma. The Woodworker's Alliance for
Rainforest Protection was formed last year as a grassroots organization to
give woodworkers a stronger voice in the debate over wood harvesting practises.

Here's the initial letter that I received from John Shipstad, secretary of
WARP. Note that the mailing address is at the bottom for those of you who
want more information.

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    WHO WE ARE:

       WARP is a grass-roots association of woodworkers and related
    industry representatives. It was formed in the fall and winter of
    1989/90 to address wood-harvesting issues in general and tropical
    rainforest issues in particular. The 12 founding members represent a
    broad cross-section of the woodworking community, including
    professional furniture makers, turners, luthiers, wood importers and
    suppliers, catalog and retail tool dealers, woodworking journalists and
    environmental advisors.

    WHAT WE STAND FOR:

    -- WARP works to protect the entire forest ecosystem for the benefit of
       its inhabitants, the woodworking community and future generations.

    -- WARP explores methods of sustainable timber harvest and supports
       projects engaged in such activities.

    -- WARP educates the members of its own community to act as responsible
       timber consumers and encourages them to educate their clients and
       colleagues.

    -- WARP acknowleges the non-sustainable nature of many temperate-zone
       forestry practices, but attaches a particular urgency to the
       protection of the tropical rainforest, which is being rapidly
       depleted.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

    John Shipstad, Secretary/Treasurer
    Woodworkers Alliance for Rainforest Protection
    Box 133
    Coos Bay, Oregon 97420-0013
    Telephone: [phone]

================================================================
=> From: [e-mail] (Bruce J. Taylor)
=> Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
=> Subject: WARP Newsletter (was: Re: info on endangered species sought)
=> Date: 11 May 92 16:39:18 GMT

WARP publishes a quarterly (?) newletter called "Understory," which is worth
the price of admission all by itself. Attached are my summaries of the
first three editions. If you like this material, you should join WARP and
get the full story.
________________________________________________________________

Folks -

I've just received the first issue of "Understory," the newsletter of WARP. It
is very professionally done, and printed (of course) on recycled paper.

"Murky Waters - Keeping Afloat in the Ecological Timber Trade"
Daniel J. Janzen
    Abstract: There's a lot of talk about "sustainable harvest" and
    "responsible use" of the rainforest, but it's very hard to turn
    these phrases into action when you're down in the field and face
    the true complexity of the problem.

"Tooling Up for Synthetic 'Rosewood' - Bridge City Takes the Plunge"
Scott Landis
    Abstract: Bridge City Tool Works will no longer use Rosewood for
    its squares, guages, etc. Instead, they are switching to a
    "1/28 dyed birch veneer impregnated with phenolic resin." The
    material is more stable than rosewood, and looks great. Bridge
    City projects good customer acceptance.

"Ecology Surtax - Raising Money and Consciousness"
Silas Kopf
    Abstract: Kopf is a professional woodworker in Northampton MA. He
    uses tropical hardwood veneer for marquetry in his pieces. He marks
    up the materials cost of the tropical hardwood 100% ($50-$250 per
    piece) and contributes the surtax to a conservation group. He reports
    that customers understand, and are willing to pay the difference.

"Certification Hits the Trail"
Scott Landis
    Abstract: "Smartwood" and "Green Cross" are two agencies setting up
    a certification system for tropical hardwoods. Using two very different
    techniques, they certify sustainable harvesting techniques for
    individual logs. The notion is that consumers will be willing to
    pay more for certified lumber than for strip-mined stock. Interesting
    review of difficulties and plans.

"Substituting for Greenheart"
Richard Jagels
    Abstract: Greenheart is a tropical hardwood with fantastic resistance
    to rotting and marine borers. This makes it much valued for pilings,
    ship construction, etc. Jagels has spend some years identifying other,
    less endangered species with equivalent properties, and promoting
    their use.

"Plane Speaking (periodic column)"
Peruvian Woods - Early Results
David Welter
    Abstract: Students and faculty at College of the Redwoods experimented
    with alternative, "trash" peruvian hardwoods: chontaquiro, tornillo,
    turupay, requia, almendro, quina-quina, caimitillo, tacho negro. The
    article presents partial results on drying, weight, workability,
    stability, grain and porosity, etc. Interesting technically - apolitical.

"Green Connections (miscellaneous column)"
Health Hazards Revealed
    Abstract: An article by Richard Jagels in the American Journal of
    Industrial Medicine outlines the health hazards of woodworking with
    natural and treated wood. Sounds like good, but grisly reading.

Manufacturers Wanted
    Abstract: Group of Equadorian Amazon native people are searching
    for manufacturer to use a very dense local palm tree in some product,
    possibly flooring.

Office Equipment Needed
    Abstract: WARP is looking for donations of good used office equipment.

Handbook Available
    Abstract: The Center for Resourceful Building Technology has a book
    describing their 2400 sq ft. energy and resource-efficient house.
________________________________________________________________

Folks -

I've just received the next issue of "Understory," the newsletter of WARP. It
is very professionally done, and printed (of course) on recycled paper.

"Ebony in Retreat - Update from the World Conservation Monitoring Center"
   There are 475 species of trees loosely called "ebony," mostly found in
   tropical areas (though our persimmon is a variety). These now range from
   "vulnerable" to "endangered". Some countries have legally protected their
   stock of ebony. The world stock can be expanded through seedling planting
   and protection, harvest of lesser-known varieties, and more effiecient use
   of harvested trees.

"Meeting the WARP Challenge - Marin County Woodworkers Lead the Way"
   Interview with Kathryn de Laszlo, chairman of West Marin Woodworkers
   Association. They staged a show of "ecological" pieces this year -
   selected from more plentiful, lesser known species, harvested in
   "ecologically preferred fashion, mostly by small (one-man) operations.
   The show was a success, and they feel that ecologically sound furniture
   can make money.

"Ebony - the Black and White of it" - Richard Jagels
   Ebony is pretty much essential for musical instruments because of its
   density, but there's really no other application which cannot use an
   alternative wood or a dense hardwood stained to match ebony.

"Equitorial Itaghre - British Cabinetmaker Explores the Boundaries of Lesser-
 Known Species" - Lucinda Leech
   Details of how she designed a modern cabinet (picture given - really nice)
   using alternative woods supplied by the Ecological Trading Company. Woods
   included turupay and tornillo. Techniques included solid and laminated
   construction, turned pieces, planes, and sweeping curves. She complains
   about how frequently she had to sharpen chisels, and warns to use lung
   protection during turning and sanding.

Book Review - "The Wood User's Guide", Pamela Wellner and Eugene Dickey,
          Rainforest Action Network, $10.00 paperback, 68pp.
   So-so review, praise for the authors' realistic stance on use of
   tropical hardwoods. Pans for authors' advice to use chipboard, particle
   board, etc. - they are also ecologically destructive.

The Cutting Edge - short subjects
   - American Institute of Architects is paying attention to ecological
     affects of building design and decoration. Hurrah!
   - Sen. Albert Gore (D-Tennesee) has introduced bill S.1159, the
     "Tropical Forest Consumer Information and Protection Act of 1991."
   - Ersatz Ebony called EBON-X is chemically treated walnut, gets high
     marks for workability, looks, density as an ebony substitute. Source given.
   - WARP directors are touring the country getting the word out; already
     appeared at the AIA (Washington), and Association of Stringed Instrument
     Artisans (Pennsylvania).
   - Lee Valley Tools continues to lead in responsible packaging -
     burlap bags this time.
   - "Green" forestry projects in Mozambique and Peru seek buyers for
     lesser-known species.
   - Like it or not, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is promoting a boycott
     of tropical woods throughout the US.
________________________________________________________________

Folks -

I've received the next installment of "Understory," the WARP newsletter.

"Slice it Thin - Resawn Veneer Goes the Distance"
David J. Marks

Marks talks about how he re-saws tropical hardwoods for custom-matched
veneering, including a beautiful inlayed floor illustrated. He gives
recommendations on how to tune a bandsaw for re-sawing. Briefly, he
recommends: =" 6tpi hook-tooth blade, "Cool Blocks" instead of rollers,
truing the wheels, and new tires. He describes how to set your fence so
the blade follows a line accurately.

"Certification Update"
Green Cross and Smart Wood are making "modest headway" in certifying
well-managed timber supplies. Most of the certified sources are community-
managed lumbering projects from the Yucatan. They also certify a lumber-core
plywood from Brazil - sold by Georgia Pacific, of all people.

"Ultralight Sawmills"
Michael Krones and Will Malloff

These guys have designed and built a series of ultralight mills, suitable
for small-to-medium lumber projects in 3rd world companies. All are portable
to allow the project to saw the log where it drops, so the balks can be
packed out without equipment. Their 2-person mill can produce 500 bd. ft.
per day - not bad. Some of their smaller mills are human-powered, or can
be fitted with a small engine. No prices given, but address is provided.

"Extince, Endangered, or Rare? - The WCMC Evaluates the Status of Tropical Timbers"
Sara Oldfield

The World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC) is compiling the latest data
on the state of tropical timber species. They will soon publish a book detailing
their states, and labelling each: Safe, Insufficiently known, Indeterminate,
Rare, Vulnerable, Endangered, Extinct.

"Turning Lesser-known species to advantage"
Scott Landis

Carolyn Gritzmaker turns beautiful lacemaking bobbins (highly decorated) from
under-used tropical species. She likes quinilla colorada, roble negro, but
reports that tacho is too brittle to turn well. Bobbins from these species
sell very well.

"Pedaling for WARP"
Next spring, New England woodworker Doug Aspinwall will bicycle across the
US to raise money for WARP. Anyone know Doug? If you want to pledge by the
mile or a flat rate, the address is given.

"The Cutting Edge"
Silas Kopf bought 6000 bd ft of lesser known species from Mexico. An earlier
shipment was satisfactory - "select and better, if not FAS." Arrived at 22%
moisture content, being dried now. Lumber from both these shipments is
available. Addresses given.

"A.S.I.A Picks up the WARP Challenge"
The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans challenges it members to
build instruments out of non-threatened species.

"Green Connections"
Several companies are looking for sources of "good wood" products to re-sell.
Contacts given. Several native lumber projects are looking for markets.
The Craft and Folk Art Museum of Los Angeles is featuring a turning show, and
notice "a shift in emphasis from tropical to domestic woods." Ditto in St.
Louis. Wood Recycling Inc. is re-processing salvaged wood into a fiber
suitable for fiberboard, and is looking for consumers.