Actually Steve handles all the "FAQ Store" stuff that various people sell through the site here. But your real problem is probably Canadian customs problems, along with a swamped Al Canuck... SORRY FOR THE DELAY and I wish I could be of more help except to say that you WILL be taken care of and we DO appreciate the support!!! =)

-Rob

URL: http://www.seamsperfect.ca
Here's the scoop. Mahogany is an "endangered, exotic wood", according to a bunch of people up here, including all of the big lumber yard stores who no longer carry it. Home Depot is one, and there are many others as well. I used to be able to walk into any lumber yard, and buy as much asd I needed. Not anymore.

Last time I went to buy some at my local Revy, they told me they no longer call it mahogany(now called Mercanti), and it was out of stock. ALL the local Revy stores were also out of stock, as was Dick's Lumber, and everywhere else. It sucks, but it's what I deal with every day. I call these places daily, until they have it, and I buy a few sheets at a time.

The other thing is, we sell complete, custom door panels for 02's, as well as any other car that comes through our shop. We also use mahogany for parcel trays, rear trim panels on some cars, pattern making, etc. I sell the panels through the FAQ, and on my website, more as a service than a profit maker. After all the time it takes me to track the wood down, pick it up, make the panels, package them, ship them out, give Steve his cut, I make about $10/pair. That's not an excuse, but it is reality. I like to be able to help support Steve and the FAQ, so I continue to do it, despite not really making any money.

If I have the wood in stock, I can turn the panels around inside of a week. If I don't have it, it can take a good amount of time. I apologise for it, but it is beyond my control sometimes. Nature of my business, I suppose.

Al

ps - It could be a LOT worse. Richard Stern has been patiently waiting for his panels for MONTHS now. He's in the UK, and the first set was lost in shipping, and the next 2 sets were returned to me, after several weeks. Why? Postal clerk had me filling out the WRONG papers for international shipment. Arghhhh.

but is apparently a common tree somewhere (like the equavalent of yellow pine in the south).

(nt)

URL: http://www.seamsperfect.ca
(nt)

As would good spruce ply. I think the trick on any plywood product is to seal the edges with polyurethane or paint prior to installation. Edges were the problem with the cardboard and will be with any wood porblem too.

(nt)

Thin luan or birch ply is probably the best bet.

it aint all that hard to cut, but the stapling issue is an issue. wont a good glue do??

-Rob (will probably paint some masonite with boat glue and leave it at that... also harbors some deep-down desire to design and build entire 02 interior hisself)

Luan is used to make luan "mahogany" plywood. While the better "cabinet" grades of South American and Philipine mahogany lumber and mahogany plywood can be harder to find, LUAN plywood is NOT in short supply. It is a very readily available construction material in multiple grades (A,B,C,one side smooth, two sides smooth, interior glue, exterior glue,3ply,5 ply,7 ply, etc.) and many different thicknesses. Because it is relatively inexpensive, luan plywood is commonly used for the insides of cabinets, cheap interior doors panels (thus it's other name of "door skin") and for flooring underlayment (under tile, etc). Bottom line it is a pretty stable material and it is much less expensive than the better grades of "finish" plywood (birch, maple, oak, etc.). It is available right now, today, at any lumber yard or warehouse type hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.). Just pick up the phone place your order. Hope this helps.

I have purchased it for my solid mahogany boat in planks, and in veneer for an upcoming 2002 project.

I was suprised how inexpensive the solid mahogany boards are, and very high grade. Cheaper than Oak.