let me first explain that as many of you know, haveing a family that includes 3 kids ages 10,13,14 all on a single income, puts monies on the tighter side of things, so going after exotic woods can be out of range. so i have decided to use some local wood, to be more exact, it was a tree that i cut down beside my vegetable garden a few winters ago. now most of the wood went into my wood stove last winter, but i rescued some of the black walnut, and had a friend plane it down to size. the past few days i have been getting ready to start working on the scales, and have been racking my brain for what to use for the wedge. i had an epiphony this evening while sitting here at the computer earlier, and i went to my building to retrieve, what i can only say is ready made wedge material. (wait for it) a construction shim out of a pack i bought to level out my wood stoves pad, its light enough to give me the contrast i need, and i dont have to do any sanding to get it narrowed down on one end. i know that its cheating, but i am lazy that way.