Cook woods "exhibition" snakewood
- Thread starter Joebobber
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Brandy
Member
I'd be upset as well, especially at Cook Woods prices
I'm not a fan of "exhibition grade" terminology. There's no metric or standard that gives wood this distinction - just sellers trying to pry away hard earned cash from buyers. If a blank is more than about $5 then I want to see a pic of the actual blank before I'd buy. If it is a situation where it is a "common" blank where you see a photo of what it "should" look like, then I'd expect it to be pretty close. One issue that causes problems is fading or color changes of exotic wood, this often results in the wood turning very dark hiding the figure. I once bought a bunch of cocobolo blanks, the "common" photo showed brilliant oranges, purples and reds but the blanks arrived looking almost black. I expected this, and turning them down revealed the bright colors, but I also only paid $1 per blank so I wasn't too worried about it. This appears to be at least some of what is going on here, I'd bet this blank sat on the shelf for quite some time. I'd turn it down a little before tossing it out. That said, looking at Cook's snakewood selection it doesn't look that great IMHO -- "exhibition" to them might be pretty common to somebody that specializes in snakewood. For comparison: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/snakewood.htm
Joebobber
Member
I live chatted them and they had to send my pictures to a "wood specialist" to determine if it was exhibition grade. It honestly doesn't even look like snakewood
Joebobber
Member
I agree that seeing the actual blank you are getting is best, and in the event they don't a picture of the average blank is suffice. I can guarantee that those blanks in their picture of exhibition snakewood looked significantly better on all blanks shown. When exhibition is used you think its not only better than average, but near perfect in figure on every side. I hate complaining but when I saw it I thought it was a joke or a freebie. My other pen blanks were about the same as the pictures showed.
hokie
Member
Count me as another vote against Cook Woods. That's a sad excuse for "exhibition" quality and even more sad that they needed to ask an expert to ID the stuff. It's certainly snakewood, but just a boring example. Exhibition snakewood, to me, would have high contrast between the brown and the black, all through the piece, without muddy or overly dark areas.
I almost never buy wood online anymore without seeing photos of the actual wood I'll receive. I've been burned too many times. Even when I see pictures, I often get disappointed seeing what ends up in my mailbox because someone worked their photoshop skills to brighten, saturate, or clarify the photos beyond what it looked like to the naked eye. I'm glad to have Hobbit House as a reference!
I almost never buy wood online anymore without seeing photos of the actual wood I'll receive. I've been burned too many times. Even when I see pictures, I often get disappointed seeing what ends up in my mailbox because someone worked their photoshop skills to brighten, saturate, or clarify the photos beyond what it looked like to the naked eye. I'm glad to have Hobbit House as a reference!
exoticwo
Member
Well, It is Snakewwod, That being said, it has some of the weakest marking I have ever seen. I would ask for full refund!
sorcerertd
Member
I don't know what the price was but I bought a "B" grade snakewood blank for $4.50 that looked a lot better than that one. I'd definitely have complained, too.
robutacion
Member
As a wood seller, I try not to use the word "exhibition" grade unless I'm offering something very special, there is certainly a trend to some folks to use that term when selling their woods to try to justify their prices and I totally disagree with that, making an honest sale in all aspects is my preferred method, but again, I'm only a very small seller by choice, big business tend to practice sales practices that I don't approve, never the less, I have been caught many times in these practices, not wood-related (obviously), but with many other items, I buy online almost daily.
As for the wood grade you've got, it is anything but exhibition grade and I would certainly want them replaced or money back.
Good luck,
Cheers
George
As for the wood grade you've got, it is anything but exhibition grade and I would certainly want them replaced or money back.
Good luck,
Cheers
George
jttheclockman
Member
I too would contact them and explain your displeasure and want a refund. Their prices are some of the highest around even when they have sales. Now I have bought from them before but did receive what I had hope. Snakewood should have grain colors throughout if so called exhibition grade or I like when they say museum grade.
Joebobber
Member
hokie
Member
This is what I expect with nice snakewood:
jttheclockman
Member
I still do not agree they are exhibition grade What Hokie shows is more the liking and what you want to see.
Joebobber
Member
I completely agree. I decided to send it back and get my money back. Too bad though, I was really looking forward to it.
Brandy
Member
I've always gotten really nice pieces from Griffin Exotic Wood
Griffin Exotic Wood--High Quality Exotic Woods
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www.exoticwood.biz
Joebobber
Member
Yeah I have almost bought from them a few times but just never did. I'm not a fan of the minimum order when I usually need just 1 or 2 specific blanks
Well, my blanks arrived today. Some of them look really nice. The Kingwood has great-looking grain; very contrasty, almost like a purplish-brown olivewood. Others are a little bit of a disappointment. The "museum grade" anigre looks pretty disappointing, although maybe it'll look better when I get some finish on it after turning. Same with the redwood burl. Pretty basic stuff. For woods that promise figure, etc. I may just stick to buying individual blanks on ebay where the blanks you see are the blanks you get. I have gotten some nice blanks that way. A little pricey, but no more than a Juma blank.
egnald
Member
I have purchased from Griffin as well and they were very accommodating when I had a special request associated with one order. - Dave
Fred Bruche
Member
Another possible source for snakewood blanks, pictured individually so less "surprizes" when opening the package.
www.gilmerwood.com
Gilmer Wood Company
www.gilmerwood.com