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Thread: Where to buy Ebony?

  1. #1
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Where to buy Ebony?

    Hey gang, where do you all get ebony? All of what I see for sale online and sometimes in my local places is already dimensioned for turning blanks which is not necessarily the best option for my needs. With the cost of it, I would like to minimize wasted material. I need 1/2" thickness so buying a 1.5" x 1.5" turning blank leaves me with an unusable 1/3 due to material lost from saw kerf.

    Any thoughts or recommendations?
    aka: Spencer
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  2. #2
    Registered User mandotool's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?


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  4. #3
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    Bandsaw not table saw, you could get 3 7/16 pieces with a 1/16 kerf and a good setup.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  6. #4
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill McCall View Post
    Bandsaw not table saw, you could get 3 7/16 pieces with a 1/16 kerf and a good setup.
    I did think of that, however, I prefer my Bandsaw set up with a 1/4" blade, which doesn't lend itself well to resawing... but its a possibility.
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

  7. #5
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    Okay, www.gilmerwood.com. They have 7/16 ebony bass fingerboard blanks among their listed ebony stock. If you were to buy in quantity, they probably would mill to order if you wanted that, just ask. I used to get ebony clarinet horn blanks to turn into the end plugs for basses (and extension rods) from them.

    NFI, although I have purchased wood from them for about 40 years. Nice people to work with.

    Where else will you see a cocobolo baseball bat?
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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  8. #6
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill McCall View Post
    Okay, www.gilmerwood.com. They have 7/16 ebony bass fingerboard blanks among their listed ebony stock. If you were to buy in quantity, they probably would mill to order if you wanted that, just ask. I used to get ebony clarinet horn blanks to turn into the end plugs for basses (and extension rods) from them.

    NFI, although I have purchased wood from them for about 40 years. Nice people to work with.

    Where else will you see a cocobolo baseball bat?
    Wow. That is just over the hill from me. Was looking at the website and thinking I really wish I could visit and pick and choose, then I saw the address. I hope they will cater to a rinky dink whittler who wants only little stick of this and a small piece of that.
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  9. #7
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    Quote Originally Posted by HonketyHank View Post
    ...I hope they will cater to a rinky dink whittler who wants only little stick of this and a small piece of that.
    They certainly will and have done that with me for years.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

    Arrow Manouche
    Arrow Jazzbo
    Arrow G
    Clark 2 point
    Gibson F5L
    Gibson A-4
    Ratliff CountryBoy A

  10. #8

    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    I get 10 pieces of .300" thick resawn but not planed ebony 3"w x 20" long for $150 from West Penn hardwoods

  11. #9
    Jo Dusepo, luthier Dusepo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where to buy Ebony?

    I know this is probably not the answer you wanted (sorry), but why not use a non-endangered wood instead?
    I am a luthier specialising in historical and world stringed instruments. You can see more info at my website.

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