Bob,
You may remember sending Ancient Kauri to the Netherlands some 6 months ago. I have made it into a wonderful looking and sounding archtop guitar "Ice Age Jazz". It was wonderful to work with the kauri, there's truly no other wood like it.
Click here to read more and view picture of the guitar made by Slaman Guitars.
~Daniel Slaman
www.slamanguitars.com
Robert,
I thought you might be interested in my experience with your company. I purchased some Kauri to make a gift for some friends Anniversary. They were just astounded at the handmade gift and the presentation. I have not given a gift that was more appreciated and admired.
Thanks for the possibility with the literature support. Regards,
Glenn M.
Hi Bob,
I just wanted to pass along a couple photos of the last two guitars I have built with the wood that I bought from you.
Cheers,
~John
www.apolloguitars.ca
Click here to see the guitars that John mad from his ancient kauri.
Bob,
I received your package last Friday and it arrived in good condition. The piece of Kauri wood is absolutely beautiful and it will be on display with my two turned pieces of Kauri wood. I appreciate your time in working with me on this project.
Thanks again,
~Jim Brooks
Millersville, Maryland
We Just Finished the Oldest Harp in the World...
The color and appearance of the ancient Kauri are not unlike teak, but lighter in weight and color. The DragonHeart in Cherry or Walnut usually weighs about 25 pounds, but in Kauri it came in at 23 pounds.
The other thing that most impressed me, as a woodworker, was that the Kauri has 50 to 60 growth rings per inch. Most of our Cherry and Walnut we use today have 4 to 6 rings per inch, and occasionally up to 10. So the Kauri has a very tight grain and no real visible grain pattern.
It has a lovely golden color, and because of the incredibly fine grain, it has to be sanded down to 1200 grit sandpaper, instead of the usual 320 grit, before the finish can be applied.
The benefit of all this sanding, though, is that the wood develops a beautiful inner glow that I've never seen in any other wood.
The sound of the Kauri made it worth all the effort, as well. It has a wonderful sweet tone that was recognizably different from Cherry or Walnut from the moment it was strung.
More of the letter here.
Dear Bob,
The stump just came and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Thank you so much for all your help in its selection. Is the yellow stuff on it wax? I may leave part of the outside on the finished piece...if it is wax will it just gently chip off?
Oh, my...this is so exciting!
Jo T.(Note: What Jo is seeing is some resin that is prominent in a few pieces)
Dear Bob,
Finally had some time away from cabinetmaking to work on the table and got it finished in time for Thanksgiving. I think it looks smashing, the Kauri wood is the color of cognac. Tom made the base out of local walnut that was highly figured and dark to anchor it to the floor. I thought it would look too big for the room but does not and I am thrilled to have the table of my dreams.
Hope you are well and enjoying life.
Cheers,
~Mary
Click here to see Mary's table from ancient kauri with a walnut base.
Dear Mr. Teisburg
I received my shipment of Kauri today. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! As a woodworker with over 20 years experience, I can just about see how this wood is going to look finished.
You have outdone yourself, Thank you.
~Matthew Stever
M.A.C.E. Custom Guitars
Bob,
Attached you will find pictures of the first knife produced by JW Smith and Sons featuring your Ancient Kauri that we purchased. It was a joy to work, we put it through our stabilization process which impregnates the wood with an acrylic polymer. We look forward to producing many more knives using you amazing wood.
Thanks
~Jerry Smith
Click here to see the Kauri Knife from J W Smith and Sons.
Hi Bob,
I received this board last week and I am very happy with it. It has a lovely flame with nice medulary silking. I thought that you might like to know that I have been finishing it with micro mesh down to 12000 grit and you can really see into the wood. You might want recommend using it to some of your other clients.
Thanks again I will order more once I have this guitar finished.
~JT
The new piece arrived today.
You are a masterful judge of guitar wood, add it to your resume. This piece is going to make a drop-dead guitar. The first body came back from Washington the other day and has been hand sanded to 1500.
I am sorry I was worried about color. The wood shines through with brilliant gold fleck almost as if I had added metal flake to the clear.
Thank You very much.
A beautiful ancient Kauri flute...
I purchased your figured variety and upon receipt, was mildly disappointed as it didn't look like it had much character....until I gave it the first seal coat of shellac. I was stunned by its beauty. The wood is remarkably easy to work with, yet polishes out like an extremely dense rosewood.
Keep me in mind if you stumble across some REMARKABLY figured material. Thanks again for the kind words.
See This Remarkable Piece
PS.
I neglected to mention that this flute produces the loudest cleanest tone of any flute I've built thus far. Two instrument makers, who are exceptional in their skill, INDEPENDENTLY of one another, suggested that like the unique characteristics of the wood used in the Stradivarius violins, subtle changes occurred at a cellular level, rendering a material unique in terms of its harmonic potential.
I agree because there is no other explanation.
Thanks again.
Rich Halliburton.
A while back I purchased a slab of kauri that I used to build a couple electric guitars. They turned out very well and I now have requests for 2 more guitars.
~JK
Hi Bob,
Compared to some of the tougher hardwoods it would be about like straight grained walnut, but a little harder.
I would, and will, make more stocks with it, so from my point of view it makes good stocks!!!
~S
Bob,
I received my order last week and I am very happy with the wood. I contacted Florida to see if they would verify the age.
They went on to say that they often test wood that comes in at the 30 to 50k age, and that it is highly probable that my wood is that old. Needless to say I am very pleased with my order, and hope to order again soon.
Thanks again for this wonderful wood
Sincerely,
~RH
I contacted you last year and got a sample bundle. I make canes and have made several handles out of the Kauri I got from you. Everyone that has purchased a kauri handle sticks just raves about the beauty of the wood. The pieces you sent were a great mix of flame, white flecks and just straight grain. I don't know if you sorted the samples to get me the great grain or if it's all like this. I used it to make canes for my father and sister in law. Most end up displayed on walls as people think they are to pretty to use.
Once again thanks.
Regards
~Kevin Rosecrans
I just wanted to let you know about a car show I went to today. When the judges came around to judge my car they noticed the gas tank lid and asked what kind of wood I used to make it. I started to tell them the Kauri story and gave them the brochure you had sent me. They were amazed at how great it looked.
Well, to make a long story short, I won a beautiful trophy and wanted to say how happy I was to hook up with you guys. I also won another show about 2 weeks ago.
Good luck in your business and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
~ML
Bob,
When I looked at the piece you showed me, I just couldn't figure out how to make it work.
In talking to my wife, we started changing and getting new ideas, and I'm not sure where we are now except that I am VERY interested in this wood.
This is so exotic, so special, that I'm inclined to go for the best.
Thanks again very much.
~WK
Bob -
Thank you.
I appreciate your customer service. I look forward to using the wood and buying more.
~K