Brazilian Rosewood Squares FS

[QMAKER]

UPDATED FEB 4th @ 10:45 AM West Coast time

Here are 4 pics of part of the latest shipment of BRW. Some of the pieces
are marked "MG" for Master Grade. These pieces are exceptional. All were
reclaimed from old millwork that came from the INSIDE of houses.

As a side note: This shipment barely missed the new rules for exporting BRW out of Brazil regardless of how old it is. The new rules require "value added work" to be applied to the wood. In other words--no more lumber or turning squares--unless it has been turned into a craft product. BRW has become so scarce they want to keep it in Brazil to enhance their woodworking industries (can't blame them for that). The bottom line for us is that any shipments coming out of Brazil, as turning squares, will have 25% surcharge added on.
This shipment was posted on Dec 24th so it missed the surcharge.

I have about 15 more pieces I will post later. Bob​

 

[LVBallBreaker]

I have been tempted but I am not sure I entirely understand your story about how this wood is entering the country. My understanding is that reclaimed wood is accepteable but my question is what was this wood used for in homes in Brazil? Most all the wood was used for planks in barns and flooring was 4/4 not 6/4 so I doubt the authenticity of the story. Exactly what part of the home required 6/4 and was available in such quantites that you are selling here. I'm not trying to rain on your parade but we are dealing with a regulated product and I don't want to deal with the feds for illegally imported wood. Can you shed more light on the story and legality of the importing? I'm not sure I completely understand this story and how and why 6/4 is available.

Here are 4 pics of part of the latest shipment of BRW. Some of the pieces
are marked "MG" for Master Grade. These pieces are exceptional. All were
reclaimed from old millwork that came from the INSIDE of houses.

As a side note: This shipment barely missed the new rules for exporting BRW out of Brazil regardless of how old it is. The new rules require "value added work" to be applied to the wood. In other words--no more lumber or turning squares--unless it has been turned into a craft product. BRW has become so scarce they want to keep it in Brazil to enhance their woodworking industries (can't blame them for that). The bottom line for us is that any shipments coming out of Brazil, as turning squares, will have 25% surcharge added on.
This shipment was posted on Dec 24th so it missed the surcharge.

I have about 15 more pieces I will post later. Bob​

 

[digdug]

Pm sent Thanks

 

[QMAKER]

I have been tempted but I am not sure I entirely understand your story about how this wood is entering the country. My understanding is that reclaimed wood is accepteable but my question is what was this wood used for in homes in Brazil? Most all the wood was used for planks in barns and flooring was 4/4 not 6/4 so I doubt the authenticity of the story. Exactly what part of the home required 6/4 and was available in such quantites that you are selling here. I'm not trying to rain on your parade but we are dealing with a regulated product and I don't want to deal with the feds for illegally imported wood. Can you shed more light on the story and legality of the importing? I'm not sure I completely understand this story and how and why 6/4 is available.

My reputation speaks for itself and you don't have one so lets leave it at that.

 

[GBCues]

I have been tempted but I am not sure I entirely understand your story about how this wood is entering the country. My understanding is that reclaimed wood is accepteable but my question is what was this wood used for in homes in Brazil? Most all the wood was used for planks in barns and flooring was 4/4 not 6/4 so I doubt the authenticity of the story. Exactly what part of the home required 6/4 and was available in such quantites that you are selling here. I'm not trying to rain on your parade but we are dealing with a regulated product and I don't want to deal with the feds for illegally imported wood. Can you shed more light on the story and legality of the importing? I'm not sure I completely understand this story and how and why 6/4 is available.

Frank,
With only 13 posts and zero iTraders, it's hard to know whether you're genuinely concerned or just breaking Bob's balls (as suggested by your screen name). Bob has been selling high quality wood here for a long time. I have bought from him on a few occasions and what you see is what you get - great, high-quality wood.
Now, as for the question about "exactly what part of the home required 6/4", how the heck is he supposed to know? And if he were trying to slip by customs or CITES with contraband wood, why would he even mention the new regulations?
If you're interested, then purchase. If you're not interested, then don't come in here badmouthing a product you haven't even seen, touched, or turned (per the forum rules, I might add).
My 2 cents,
Gary

 

[LVBallBreaker]

My reputation speaks for itself and you don't have one so lets leave it at that.

I am sorry if I did not know you were a world famous celebrity whose reputation was above reproach and is not able to answer my justifyable concerns about possible illegal importation about wood you are selling here. My questions was simple and if you cannot answer it then I will pass on your offering. The only reputation you seem to have is on here as I never heard of you but that does not matter. You never heard of me either but my concerns are quite valid so regardless if I do not have a reputation on here it is up to you to answer legitimate concerns with items you are trying to sell especially highly regulated wood.

I got my answer and I will pass on this wood. Thank you for your revealing reply.

Frank,
With only 13 posts and zero iTraders, it's hard to know whether you're genuinely concerned or just breaking Bob's balls (as suggested by your screen name). Bob has been selling high quality wood here for a long time. I have bought from him on a few occasions and what you see is what you get - great, high-quality wood.
Now, as for the question about "exactly what part of the home required 6/4", how the heck is he supposed to know? And if he were trying to slip by customs or CITES with contraband wood, why would he even mention the new regulations?
If you're interested, then purchase. If you're not interested, then don't come in here badmouthing a product you haven't even seen, touched, or turned (per the forum rules, I might add).
My 2 cents,
Gary

Who are you? Are you the AZ police? I asked the seller a valid question and it had nothing to do with bad mouthing anything so why don't you go back and not concern yourself with something you have no business with nor are you selling anything I want. I am very sorry that I do not live on here but I do lurk and watch. Is there anything wrong with that in that I do not contribute to your satisfaction? That is not the issue here nor is my screen name. The above party was offering wood and I was interested but needed reassurance and I would like to know where and how this wood entered the country and how it was reclaimed as he stated. If he knows that the wood was taken out of a house then he should know why they were using 6/4 and even perhaps 8/4 because he has 6/4 that is obviously planned and you need larger wood to end up with 6/4. I am sure if he does not know the answer then his reputable source would certainly know.

I am not bad mouthing anything my friend. Perhaps you should leave the offering party to answer my concerns and not butt in to an affair that I am certain he is quite capable to answer.

Now I have yet another question, why is the wood all different sizes with hardly any matching figured cuttings? in other words, if this wood was reclaimed from a house plank there would be squares that are mostly the same size and matching figure. I was buying wood like this a few years ago from a reputable luthier source in California that was getting cuttings from Brazil that were old stumps. My understanding is that this wood is no longer able to export and thus illegal and my concern was that he was getting the same type wood since it looks so much similiar.

I am not doing anything any prudent buyer would do when dealing with someone they never dealt with. The fact that there is so much resistance, I will pass and let everyone else deal with this stuff. Geesh, all I did was ask a question.

Sorry to have inquired in the first place. Good luck to all of you

 

[Guerra Cues]

Do you ask all of these questions to all the wood suppliers before you buy any wood stock?
You either like it or you don't or you either buy it or you don't. It's that simple!
Maybe there was no measuring tape to have the squares that you are not buying cut to your specs.

 

[JoeyInCali]

I'll take PC22-5. That's a cue and one knife handle length.

Thanks Bob.
PM me paypal addy.

Looks like someone with PC Anywhere setup another alias.

 

[galipeau]

Imo, the buyer had the right to ask any questions they want. They should use discretion though, and consider using a private message. Another good idea would be to look up the laws before buying....

Don't take too much offense. People are weary of users with 0 iTrader rating. Especially when their threads get knocked. Like I said, PM's are the way to go on these types of questions.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[MVPCues]

Unfortunately, the Lacey act has made his question a reasonable one. You can get in trouble for buying something that was illegal for someone else to sell. Since the wood is (presumably) already in the US, maybe Bob would be the only one in trouble. All that being said, the feds going after a cuemaker who sells a few squares is extremely unlikely.

I agree that a PM would have been more tactful and probably more productive.

 

[QMAKER]

Brw

Unfortunately, the Lacey act has made his question a reasonable one. You can get in trouble for buying something that was illegal for someone else to sell. Since the wood is (presumably) already in the US, maybe Bob would be the only one in trouble. All that being said, the feds going after a cuemaker who sells a few squares is extremely unlikely.

I agree that a PM would have been more tactful and probably more productive.

Prior to Jan 1 the Lacey Act did not, as far as I know, apply to BRW from Brazil as Brazil did not have a "value added structure" to the wood. It was controlled primarily by CITES. The BRW I sell is LEGALLY imported from Brazil and I keep on file the Brazilian Custom Declaration. It goes thru customs in Brazil, where the taxes are paid and the tax stamp is stamped on the declaration, and again thru customs in Jacksonville.
The Lacey Act, in a nutshell, states that the US will abide by and enforce,
other countries laws regarding the export of, in this case, BRW. The classic case is Gibson Guitars import of semi finished finger boards from Madagascar.
Madagascar said they were a finished product and legal for export. The
US decided to enact the Lacey Act by declaring the fingerboard blanks in violation of Madagascar law. However, Martin, Guild and other guitar makers were importing the exact same wood from the exact same source in the exact same dimensions. Nobody went after them so I surmise it was a political act.
In anybody thinks I would risk a huge fine in order to make a few bucks selling contrabrand BRW they are nuts.
The wood I import is salvaged from old buildings in the Bahia region of Brazil where the trees grew. They are not "stump" wood which now requires a "special" license from Brazil to harvest. There are two catogories I define as
"inside" and "outside" wood. The premium wood comes from beams, flooring,
window casings and stairs. Most I have cut into guitar size pieces as there is
more yield (profit) than in cue size pieces.
So there you have it. Will there be any more BRW squares available?
Maybe if they are imported as ballisters, table legs or rolling pins which of
course is going to raise the prices. Guitar size pieces are not affected because of their size (3/16" thick).