I checked out the air-dried oak stock yesterday and it was all full of splits and the grain wasn't going the right way anyway. The idea of contacting a local tree surgeon is a good one, but still requires a lot of work. A Question: Is there any material-even non-natural-that would have the properties that you need for rib stock? I guess I could use willow shoots, but the rib mortices are rectangular... Cedar, some sort of plastic extrusion, ???? Just thinking out loud. It's time to get creative. Thanks- Jack