Wood
African Mahogany |
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Other Names: Scientific Name: Khaya ivorensis Origin: West tropical Africa from the Guinea Coast to Cameroon and extending eastward through the Congo basin to Uganda and part Description: African Mahogany heartwood is a light pink-brown that darkens when cut to a rich reddish brown. It has a medium to coarse texture and a straight to interlocked grain. The wood finishes well and has a lustrous quality. Uses: Furniture and cabinetry, musical instruments, paneling, boat building, veneer, office and shop fixtures, interior joinery, staircase banisters, handrails and domestic flooring |
Alder |
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Other Names: Oregon Alder, Western Alder, Red Alder, Western Red Alder Scientific Name: Alnus rubra Origin: Pacific Northwest Description: Alder is the most commonly used hardwood in the Pacific Northwest. Closely related to birch, alder is almost white when first cut but quickly changes once exposed to air, becoming light brown with a yellow or reddish tinge. Only the older trees produce hardwood when there is no visible gap between sap and heartwood. The wood is fairly straight-grained with a uniform texture. Alder is an exceptional wood to machine or turn, and paints or stains to a good finish. Uses: Cabinets, fine furniture, and furniture frames, casework, toys and woodenware. |
Ash |
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Other Names: American Ash, Ash, Biltmore Ash, Biltmore White Ash, Fresno, White Ash Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana Origin: Northern US and eastern Canada Description: Light cream to light brown hardwood is strong and known for its elasticity. Works, glues and finishes well. Straight-grained with moderately coarse texture. Uses: Cabinetry, sporting goods (baseball bats, oars), interior joinery, garden tool handles, and bentwood furniture. |
Black Mesquite |
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Other Names: Scientific Name: Prosopis nigra Origin: Argentina, South America Description: Heavy hardwood that ranges from rich brown to chocolate with purple overtones in color with a grain structure resembling mahogany. Turns and polishes well. Uses: Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, fine art, turnings |
Black Walnut |
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Other Names: American Black Walnut, American Walnut, Black Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut Scientific Name: Juglans nigra Origin: Native to the eastern United States and as far west as Texas. Description: The sapwood of walnut is nearly white and the heartwood ranges in color from a deep, rich, almost chocolate brown to a purplish black, with dark streaks. There is a wide variation of color, figure, and grade within the species. The grain is mostly straight and open, though some boards may have a grain pattern that is burled, curly, or mottled which is especially valued. The wood surface is generally fairly dull, though it may develop a lustrous patina after many years in use. It?s one of only a Uses: Gun stocks, musical instruments, fine furniture, cabinetry, veneer, paneling, flooring |
Cherry |
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Other Names: Black Cherry, Capulin, Chisos Wild Cherry, Choke Cherry, Edwards Plateau Cherry, Escarpment Cherry, Scientific Name: Prunus serotina Origin: Northeastern U.S., eastern Canada Description: Popular hardwood is reddish brown with a golden luster. Freshly cut cherry is often very pale, but the wood oxidizes to a rich brown red in time. Straight grain and fine texture. Good bending strength and shock resistance. Works well, holds great carved detail, but difficult to stain. Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, veneer, millwork, carving, turnery. |
Fishtail Oak |
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Other Names: Scientific Name: Quercus gemelliflora mempening Origin: Asia and Australia Description: Dark reddish-brown color with strong broad rays. Straight grained with medium texture. The highly flecked decorative surface makes this wood ideal for furniture and accent work. Gets its name from the mottled, almost iridescent pattern that contains black marbling, resembling the scales on a fish. Each piece of wood will vary in color, but in general will be a golden tan to coppery color with occasional rose, burgundy, or silver overtones. Not a true Oak, wood has a much tighter pore structure w Uses: Furniture, mill and accent work, shipping crates |
Hickory |
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Other Names: Shellbark Hickory, Big Shagbark Hickory, Kingnut Scientific Name: Carya spp Origin: USA and Canada Description: Extremely tough and resilient hardwood. The sapwood is white tinged with brown and the heartwood is pale reddish-brown. The wood is known for its strength and shock resistance. Hickory is difficult to machine, but glues, stains, and finishes well. Uses: Baseball bats, cabinetry, drum sticks, fishing rods, flooring, skis, sporting goods, textile equipment, tool handles, ladder rungs |
Peruvian Walnut |
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Other Names: Nogal, Tropical Walnut Scientific Name: Juglans spp. (Juglans neotropica, J. olanchana, etc.) Origin: Southern Mexico, Central and South America Description: Tends to be darker than the species coming from North America or Europe, with a deep chocolate brown color, sometimes with a purplish hue, and may also contain streaks of lighter-colored wood mixed throughout the heartwood. When a finished, turns a very dark brown, (somewhat like Wenge), and in some cases almost black. Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular. Glues, stains, and finishes well. Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, veneers, flooring, musical instruments, and interior trim |
Red Oak |
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Other Names: Northern Red Oak, Gray Oak, American Red Oak, Canadian Red Oak Scientific Name: Quercus rubra Origin: Eastern U.S. and Canada Description: The most common hardwood in N. America, moderately heavy, strong and stiff. Light brown with a reddish tinge, straight grain with a coarse texture. Works well with machine tools. Uses: Furniture, cabinets, floors, accessories, shop jigs, utility projects, interior millwork, molding, mantles, chairs, trim |
Bolivian Rosewood |
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Other Names: Pau Ferro, Morado, Santos Rosewood Scientific Name: Machaerium acutifolium Origin: Tropical South America (mainly Brazil and Bolivia) Description: Deep dark chocolate brown to purple black in color with occasional strips of even darker tones. Hard, heavy, fine texture with variable grain patterns. Machines well with sharp hand and power tools. Turns well. Uses: Veneer, musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring, interior trim, turning, and other small specialty wood objects |
Spanish Cedar |
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Other Names: Brazilian Cedar, British Guiana Cedar, British Honduras Cedar, Cedar, Cedre rouge, Cedro, Cedro Olor Scientific Name: Cedrala odorata Origin: Central and South America Description: Soft-textured, usually straight-grained aromatic hardwood, light red or pinkish orange, colors tend to darken with age. Works extremely well. Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, doors, boat building, veneers, carving, turning, pattern making, cigar boxes and humidors, pencils, and organ sound boards |
Sycamore |
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Other Names: Sycamore Maple, European Sycamore Scientific Name: Acer pseudoplatanus Origin: Europe and southwestern Asia Description: A type of Maple. Sapwood color ranges from almost white, to a light golden or reddish brown, while the heartwood is a darker reddish brown. Sycamore Maple can also be seen with curly or quilted grain patterns. Turns, glues, and finishes well, though blotches can occur when staining. Uses: Veneer, pulpwood, boxes, crates/pallets, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items |
Tennessee Aromatic Cedar |
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Other Names: Eastern Red Cedar, Juniper, Red Juniper, Red Cedar, Virginia Pencil Cedar Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana Origin: Eastern US, southern Canada Description: Popular softwood is know for its pleasing fragrance and natural insect repelling qualities. Small tree results in knotty lumber, usually with variegated colors of light red with streaks of creamy white. Works well, easy to finish. Uses: Cedar chests, closet lining, pencils, boxes |
White Maple |
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Other Names: Hard Maple, Rock Maple, Sugar Maple Scientific Name: Acer saccharum Origin: Eastern U.S., principally Mid-Atlantic and Lake states. The white maple is the state tree of Wisconsin, Vermont, New Yor Description: The sapwood is creamy white with a slight reddish brown tinge and the heartwood varies from light to dark reddish brown. The amount of darker brown heartwood can vary significantly according to growing region. The wood has a close fine, uniform texture and is generally straight-grained, but it can also occur as 'curly,' 'fiddleback,' and 'birds-eye' figure. Known for its durability and strength. It has excellent turning properties, a fine & even texture, and a natural luster. Somewhat difficult Uses: Furniture, flooring, cutting boards, butcher blocks, heavy furniture, industrial parts, veneer, inlay, musical instruments, work benches |
White Oak |
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Other Names: Arizona Oak, Arizona White Oak, Cucharillo, Encino, Encino Negro, Oak, Roble, Roble Amarillo, Roble, Scientific Name: Quercus alba Origin: U.S. and Canada Description: A strong, heavy hardwood, light to medium brown in color, known for its characteristic 'fleck? or silver grain figure when quarter sawn. Works well with machine tools. Uses: Furniture, cabinets, flooring, boat building, accessories |
