Order policy changes.
Please be advised that a normal shipment may take approximately one to two weeks.
New CITES Information & Policies
As a result of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting that took place September 24 - October 5, 2016, it is our understanding that beginning January 1, 2017 all Dalbergia species will be listed as CITES II. This means that it will require re-export permits from us and import permits from our customers for any international purchases. This will add significant cost and up to 4 months of delay per shipment. These shipments must be handled appropriately for legal export and legal entry into any county.
For Hibdon Hardwood, Inc., this means that we will no longer be able to sell African Blackwood, Dalbergia melanoxylon to individual, international customers after December 9, 2016.
It is our understanding that Dalbergia species currently CITES unlisted are still legally able to be shipped internationally. The new regulation could be different in your country. Please check with the CITES authority in your country for verification.
More information about CITES regulations can be found at https://www.cites.org/
2015 Kiln Remodel
As of spring 2015, we are proud to announce that we are in the process of remodeling our dry kilns! Through the use of improved technology, innovative components and good, old-fashioned hard work we have custom-designed and are beginning to construct our new state of the art dry kilns.
Included below are photos of our progress; from the initial stages of maintenance and demolition to the our current stage of development. More photos will be added as progress continues.
   
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Initial Stripping of the Kilns & Re-Insulation |
Ceiling Rehabilitation & Replacement of Exterior Walls |
 
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Installation of New Coils, Boiler, and Towing Winch |
Finished Kilns & First Load |
 
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Completed Kiln Doors & Controls |
How to Buy Wood
How to Buy Wood
The first consideration is the way the wood is cut. When the wide face of the board is parallel to the annual growth rings the cut is called flat sawn. When the rings are perpendicular to the wide face, it is called quarter sawn. When the board is somewhere in between, it is called mix grain or bastard cut. The cut is important because the natural tendency of wood is for the annual growth rings to flatten out plus the shrinkage of the wood is greater across the grain (flat sawn) than through the grain(quarter sawn). For these reasons, builders should normally choose quarter sawn wood for greater stability.
Along with the type of cut the builder should look carefully for straight grain on both the face and the edge of the wood. This is easier on quartered pieces because the straight lines in the grain are obvious but with practice it can be done with flat grain.
After determining the cut and straightness of the board, look carefully at the quartered face of the piece or at the end gain. Are the lines or growth rings more or less uniform or are there big differences in the size of the rings? More uniform is more desirable.
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Next, examine the piece for defects that would compromise the strength of the piece or its attractiveness. Obviously, cracks, checks, knots or other structural defects are not acceptable but fungus or mineral stains or spots are only an aesthetic consideration. Tension wood or fuzzy grain usually caused by a leaning tree is an unacceptable flaw.
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I will always remember my instructor at the hardwood inspector trade school, Mr. Otis Goolsby, telling the class: “Boys, when you are grading wood, don’t look for flaws, look for clear wood that will make the grade”. This advice, given to me nearly 50 years ago is timeless and applies to much more than grading wood.
Jerry Hibdon builds his first guitar.
Last Updated: March 19, 2013.
Jerry has recently enrolled in a class to build a guitar at Midwest Guitar. He is being taught by Master Luthier, Michael Boggeman. We will be updating his status and pictures as the guitar comes along. Due to the large number of photos, we have moved this story HERE!
Forest Management and Harvesting Methods in Mexico
Most of the wood we acquire in Mexico comes from the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Campeche. Forestry in these states is based on the ejido system set up by the Mexican government to accommodate the Maya communities that have been there thousands of years. The Maya are very community oriented and this system (which might be considered socialist elsewhere) satisfies that desire.
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Basically, the communities (of which there are hundreds) are granted a concession of the land, usually around 150,000 acres, which only they can utilize. The Maya workers locate the trees in the forest so that government foresters can mark them for cutting if they qualify. The trees are cut, dragged to log landings by 4-wheel-drive skidders. The logs are transported to the sawmill by truck where they are selected by ourselves and other buyers for veneer, instrument wood and lumber. Quotas are established by the government foresters based on forest surveys. As part of the system, the ejidos are required to maintain tree seedling nurseries and to replant logged areas each season. For this season, the ejido of Tres Garantias will plant 100,000 seedlings of Honduras Mahogany.
