Aromatic Cedar

Color: Mostly red heart wood, thin whitish sapwood 

Density: Hard texture Grain: fine grain, very knotty-grain varies around knot 

Machinability: Good

Finishing: We suggest using oil finishes that display  natural colors. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Highly aromatic, natural resistance to insect damage, usually only available in 1” thickness

Common Uses: Cedar chests, closet interiors,  furniture interiors 

Other Names: Aromatic Red Cedar,  Eastern Red Cedar 

Ash

Color: Creamy white to light brown heartwood, light sapwood 

Density: Very hard, excellent shock resistance 

Grain: Distinctive wide-open grain, has occasional brown streaks 

Machinability: Very good

Finishing: Takes all finishes well, pigmented stains will bring out the grain nicely. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Excellent Oak substitute, “Golden Oak”

Common Uses: Furniture, mouldings, flooring, baseball bats 

Other Names: White Ash, Brown Ash, Green Ash

Basswood

Color: Cream to beige color 

Density: Very soft texture, like pine, very light in weight, weak strength  properties 

Grain: Fine, tight grain,  non distinctive 

Machinability: Excellent

Finishing: Soaks up finish, dark stains will show very dark, light stains will bring out grain. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Light weight, cheaply priced substitute for darker woods (Cherry, Walnut, Mahogany) when stained, dimensionally stable after proper drying

Common Uses: Moulding, carving, wood Venetian blinds, core stock for doors and plywoods 

Other Names: Linden

Beech

Color: Pink to reddish brown heartwood, sapwood is creamy to pink 

Density: Very hard, heavy in weight, excellent shock resistance 

Grain: Moderate tight, fine grain with evident flecking at times 

Machinability: Machines well at slow speeds, pre drill for nailing and screws

Finishing: Should take a finish well. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Very hard, cheaply priced substitute for Oak, Ash,, Hickory, does not impart taste or odor, usually only available in 1”. Very hard to kiln dry properly.

Common Uses: Chair parts, furniture, flooring,  food containers, toys, woodenware

Birch

Color: Cinnamon, light reddish brown to pink heartwood, sapwood is creamy-white to yellowish 

Density: Hard, medium weight 

Grain: Uniform, fine grain, small pores 

Machinability: Generally good, some swirled grain will chip out if tooling is not sharp

Finishing: Takes finish very well. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Very durable and strong

Common Uses: Cabinets, seating, millwork, furniture, interior doors 

Other Names: Our Birch is the specie “Yellow Birch.” There are other Birches (paper, white, or gray).

Black Walnut

Color: Brown to deep purple brown heartwood, sap is brilliant white to cream color-gray 

Density: Fairly light weight, medium texture 

Grain: Moderately open grain 

Machinability: Excellent machining characteristics, turns, sands, and carves well

Finishing: Unsurpassed in finishing! Clear finishes and oils will bring out satiny grain. 

Distinctive Characteristics: The dark heartwood makes this very distinctive. Try using pieces with sap mixed with heart.

Common Uses: High end furniture, carving, flooring accents, musical instruments, gun stocks 

Other Names: American Black Walnut

Butternut

Color: Tan to brown 

Density: Light in weight, not as strong as walnut 

Grain: Coarse grained 

Machinability: Will machine easily, but has tendency to fuzz up at times

Finishing: Will take finish well, use a sanding sealer. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Color and soft texture make this an interesting wood, not always readily available in thicker sizes.

Common Uses: Carvings, some furniture, cabinets, excellent wall paneling 

Other Names: White Walnut, Oil Nut

Cherry

Color: Red to deep reddish brown heartwood, white to yellowish sapwood 

Density: Medium weight, moderately hard, stiff and strong 

Grain: Fine, closed grain 

Machinability: Excellent

Finishing: Takes a finish well, however light to natural finishes are recommended. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Beautiful markings  (gum streaks, pin knots sometimes) and red color will darken to a rich reddish brown with age.

Common Uses: High end furniture, cabinets, interior millwork, musical instruments, paneling, flooring 

Other Names: American Black Cherry, Choke Cherry, Rum Cherry, Whiskey Cherry, Wild Cherry  

Available in Certified: Check for availability

Curly Cherry

Color: Red to deep reddish brown heartwood, white to yellowish sapwood  

Density: Medium weight, moderately hard, stiff and strong 

Grain: Wavy patterns  running perpendicular to the normal grain orientation 

Machinability: Machine slowly to avoid chip out of grain

Finishing: Dark finishes will vary depending on grain orientation of curl (light to dark absorption). 

Distinctive Characteristics: This curl is generally not as pronounced as Curly Maple.

Common Uses: High end and period piece furniture, cabinets, interior millwork, musical instruments, paneling, flooring 

Other Names: Flame Cherry

Curly Maple

Color: Creamy white to grayish white sapwood, heartwood can be brown to greenish brown with some mineral streaks. 

Density: Moderately hard and strong, not quite as strong as Hard Maple. 

Grain: Light to very heavy patterns running  perpendicular to normal grain orientation 

Machinability: Machine slowly to avoid grain chips

Finishing: Dark finishes will vary depending on grain  orientation of curl (light to dark absorption). 

Distinctive Characteristics: This curl is generally very apparent. The intensity may vary from board to board.

Common Uses: Specialty furniture (Shaker and Mission styles), striking trim, flooring and paneling 

Other Names: Flame, Fiddle Back, Tiger Strip (usually denoting the intensity of the pattern)

White Oak

Color: Light tan to brown heartwood, sapwood,  sapwood is creamy white to gray 

Density: Very hard, shock resistant, and very dense, heavy 

Grain: Moderately open grain on plain sawn, Quartered and Rift is straight grain 

Machinability: Fairly well, can be tough on tooling

Finishing: Takes a finish well. 

Distinctive Characteristics: Highly resistant to the  environment, very hard, may be a bit more color consistent than Red Oak. Quartered and Rift sawn have a striking grain  appearance.

Common Uses: Barrels, buckets, tool handles, furniture (especially Quartered or Rift grain) 

Other Names: Many individual species of Oak fall into the White Oak category.