Galoots

My dad lives in Maine and said the state is full of beech trees. He talked
to a boat builder friend of his who said nobody cuts beech because nobody
wants it. I struck out in my usual lumber yards, all in New England where I
live. I've got a lead from a sawmill in New Hampshire who said they
sometimes get 8/4 beech, but it's yet to pan out. I'll widen the search
area and start with the three suggestions you found Kirk.

The suggestion of using a beat up wooden plane as a donor is also a good
one. If there is one thing the antique shops have around here in abundance
is beat up wooden planes. They'll probably pay me to take them off their
hands.

Thank you for your help and suggestions,
Chris