Well, more developments. And like most things, there's some good, some ok, and some bad.

1. Bad: I messed up the smooth finish when I tried to reprogress through the sandpaper from 600 through 12000. I now have freaking tiny scratches that weren't there before. I have to go back to 1500 and go from there and try to get them polished out.

2. Ok: Changed mind, again, about the wood selection for the DD and the Shumate Barber (next resto) scales. See Good below.

3. Good: I looked at a couple of places online for wood blanks, but I hate paying $12 shipping on $15 worth of stuff, so today I started calling around to some local woodworking shops. I found one that had quite a few different exotic slabs, but they were way across town and I only had half an hour before I had to pick my wife up from the doctor's office. I was pulling around the block when I saw this little unassuming building with little bitty letters that said "Smalley's Woodworking.". I doubt the building had been painted or the signage updated since the late 70's or early 80's. I found Mr. Smally in back amongst the most well appointed wood shop I've ever seen. I asked him, a perfect stranger, for some off cuts of hardwoods. He started digging and just kept coming up with more and more wood! I kept thinking in my head "How much is all of this going to cost!?" When he got done stacking I asked what he wanted for all the wood. He asked me what I though a fair price was. I only had $7 in cash on me and something told me this guy didn't take Visa. I offered him the $7 and he took it! We got to talking about woodworking and knife making (he also makes knives) and I spent a pleasant 20 minutes with the old man. He is a true craftsman in the Purest sense of the word. I am definitely going back to pick his brain a little more one of these days. I think I made a new friend. He invited me back to his shop to show him the scales when I finished them. All in all a really cool guy.

The wood is pictured below, top to bottom:
1. Rough cut curly maple
2. Lyptus, I have no idea what that is but it's really open grained like oak.
3. Cherry
4. Mahogany
5. Oak
6. Walnut
7. Walnut

One of the pieces of walnut is very nicely figured. I think that's the piece I'm going to use for the Shumate. I'm thinking the maple for the DD.