very nice piece of wood rips. i also am about to embark on some pheonix grafts on timber that i have collected. one piece will be almost a lifelong project as it stands about 4 feet tall!!! I am hoping that one day it wil become my signature tree
. good luck. I would be interested to hear others opinions about pheonix grafts and their place in bonsai as i had a discussion on another forum with somebody who steadfastly claimed that they were "not real bonsai"