I need a relatively large blank (help plz)

[Mike Schwing]

Last year I was juried into a very prestigious woodturning exhibit. (beginner's luck). Very few woodturnings that make it that far are purely turned items. Most are heavily carved and embellished as well.

This year's exhibit has a theme that I have a pretty wild idea for (can't give it away yet), but it will require a dry turning/carving blank in a dimension I cannot find locally. It should be about 20" x 7" x 7", no less.

I would prefer, for reasons I can't give out right now, for this blank to be ash. It could, however, be mahogany, or lastly, basswood.

I have really no idea where to look for such a beast, and any ideas are appreciated.

BTW, here's last year's "creation". It is about 18" tall and was turned/carved from a single block of maple. Weird, huh?

[Marci MN]

Hi..the only idea I could come up with is.. Do you have a small wood mill around your area you could ask the owner for this size of wood? That way when they do find an ash tree thats being taken down and cut up they can cut your demensions first?

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

You might try itasca wood products, they have ash, none in the size you want is listed on their web site, but a phone call might be in order.

Don't have the url, but a google search on itascawoodproducts should get it.

[Mike M]

Must it be solid or is laminating a possibility?