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I just found out from Michel of Moperc, he is having a hard time getting quality maple to make congas?

How is that possible , Canada is known for Maplewood.

At least my order for a tumba will be filled

I may have to get another conga just in case

T

Besides being represented on our national flag, the Maple tree is among dozens of other species throughout the country that we are known for. The Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, pines, birches, oaks, cedars and many more. The forestry industry is one of Canada's foundation industries through it's exports to other countries and also domestic use for the pulp and paper industry and lumber for construction and woodworking.
There are many factors in place right now that are affecting the availability of maple and other domestic species. I won't go into which one is the biggest threat or the lowest because it varies from province to province in a territory as vast as Canada's.
- Infestation (spruce budworm, gypsy moth, pine beetle, etc.)
- Native Land claims (making vast areas out of bounds for commercial harvest)
- Irresponsible forest practises
- Acid rain (Direct relevance to maple esp. sugar maple)
- Environmental disasters (flooding, ice storms, forest fires)
- Raw log exports (devastating local forest-based industries and putting local saw mills out of business)
- Costs of harvesting the wood are skyrocketing reducing the economic viability of harvesting certain species.

The list could go on but this should be enough to give you a general idea of how good quality maple can be so hard to find in Canada.

Also, remember that Michel has very high standards for what he uses for his instruments. If one conga uses 40 board feet of lumber (I'm guessing) he probably has to buy at least 60 board feet to get that 40 useable board feet, maybe more.

He also uses ash to make some of his congas, which is a pretty good wood to work with and rather plentiful right now.

Ash ... good enough for hockey sticks eh? Why not drums?

I AM CANADIAN! (only Canadians will get that refereance)



Burke

on the the other coast

Chupacabra wrote:Besides being represented on our national flag, the Maple tree is among dozens of other species throughout the country that we are known for. The Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, pines, birches, oaks, cedars and many more. The forestry industry is one of Canada's foundation industries through it's exports to other countries and also domestic use for the pulp and paper industry and lumber for construction and woodworking.
There are many factors in place right now that are affecting the availability of maple and other domestic species. I won't go into which one is the biggest threat or the lowest because it varies from province to province in a territory as vast as Canada's.
- Infestation (spruce budworm, gypsy moth, pine beetle, etc.)
- Native Land claims (making vast areas out of bounds for commercial harvest)
- Irresponsible forest practises
- Acid rain (Direct relevance to maple esp. sugar maple)
- Environmental disasters (flooding, ice storms, forest fires)
- Raw log exports (devastating local forest-based industries and putting local saw mills out of business)
- Costs of harvesting the wood are skyrocketing reducing the economic viability of harvesting certain species.

The list could go on but this should be enough to give you a general idea of how good quality maple can be so hard to find in Canada.

Also, remember that Michel has very high standards for what he uses for his instruments. If one conga uses 40 board feet of lumber (I'm guessing) he probably has to buy at least 60 board feet to get that 40 useable board feet, maybe more.

He also uses ash to make some of his congas, which is a pretty good wood to work with and rather plentiful right now.

Chupa.. thanks for that. I surmise that many issues are at stake. I personally do not know much about Canada, though I would think it would be more " pristine" than the US? More unchartered territory, but what do I know. Perhaps logging issues are just as bad in Canada as elsewhere? Seems raw exporting may hurt its own country , how sad is that?
Michel (Moperc) is in Qebec. It would seem that area would have the mass resource. But then , the issues again come into play. reminds me of a story about Hawaii and its sugar exports. Its exports sugar, yet Hawaiians need to buy back just for their own consumption. Not sure if its true. but surely is a possibility.

Ash, hmrph its OK. Too pingy me thinks. And heavy as concrete.
T

Enemy of the state:
The Gypsy Moth larvae and Gypsy Moth... do not capture!

The critters..

T