i called a local sawmil , drove 20 minutes , and paid $.07 more per board foot for quartersawn oak that is gooooorgeous.
i also picked up a red oak 2x2 s4s at home depot yesterday that im using for handles and overlays , but if i knew how to splice , im sure a 36" 2x2 cut down the middle could be spliced into something useable...
my next step is the take my hatched into the woods...