at 1/3rd the cost. I've ripped a bit of it on a 14" bandsaw with a 1/2", 4 TPI blade. The biggest problem may be that ripping, just 1 1/2" thick, bogs my machine down. But so far it's doable. I do have to re saw some stock up to about 4" wide, that may be a problem with the motor I have on the saw. I have a friend and instructor at the local furniture school that offered the use of any of their machinery. I may take the offer up for that part.

Other than that the stock looks like it will make fine decking.

One issue I've read(and concerns me) is that Ipe(and other tropical hardwoods like teak) is tough to glue, even with epoxy. I asked a boatbuilder friend and he thought it would be fine but said, "try a piece".

Here's the test piece; Just what I intend, the re-sawn edge of Ipe down on the Fir plywood. Epoxy on both surfaces, 'clamped' with 1" pan head screws through 1/8" holes.

After it dried overnight, onto the test:

Screw removed, clamped in vise, a 10" wrench fitted on the end. Start pulling,...

Good bond. There was one small area on the upward edge that didn't bond well. It looked starved for epoxy. I didn't thicken the epoxy-now I believe that I will for better filling. The boatbuilder said some of his friends wipe(Teak) with acetone, some don't. So apparently there is no concensus at the local boat builder. I may do it as the stock will have been sitting for some time after sawing. It's said that the oils mess up the bond. I've read that some even torch the wood, I think that's going overboard and way too dangerous.