DIW Trade with BigRy

[Big Ry]

Yes and no.

In many woods, the sapwood is the most vunerable to insect attack. So for decades, lots of woods were debarked and hewn to the edges of heartwood for international trade. So, sapwood was not readily avalible until recent years (last 2 decades) for many woods. Sapwood also had this traditional "waste-wood" stamp it carried for a long time. Luckily times have changed in that area.

As you know, I'm much newer to this, so I'm very used to seeing sapwood. It often seems like a way for dealers to squeeze out a little extra. Pink ivory isn't very plentiful over here, so i don't ever see slabs. I have seen the occasional sliver of sap on a turning blank though.