African Blackwood: (Dalberia melanoxylon) Dark, almost black rosewood species, fantastic turnery wood used for clarinets, one of our densest woods. Takes a very fine polish. Very hard & heavy, weighing up to 79 pounds per cubic foot. Extremely expensive Tanzania

Afzelia Burl: (Afzelia sp.) Lustrous Yellowish red. A beautiful burl which will make wonderful pens & pencils.

Alder (alnus glutinosa) (Black alder, Alder, Common alder, Aune, Eis, Erle, Hannoki) Alder is used in making baskets, toys, turning and in making inexpensive wooden items. The alder tree is found throughout Europe, Turkey, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Alder wood is relatively stable and can be treated with wood preservatives. It cuts and machines well and is easily glued. It can be steam bent and responds well to machine and hand tools. It is not suitable for outdoor use as it rots easily and is susceptible to insect attack. It is not particularly strong.

Amboyna Burl: (Pterocarpus indicus) Also known as New Guinea Rosewood. It is often planted along roadsides in India, revered for its flowers and handsome foliage. Rarest of the burls. Tight burly figure and beautiful reddish-orange color with burl 'eyes.' Machines & turns well. High lustrous finish. It is only available through environmentally controlled sources. S.E. Asia

Ambrosia Maple Generally creamy in color, it has occasional colorful streaks of black gray, brown and red/green.

American Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) (American black ash, Ash, Basket ash, Black ash, Brown ash, Fresno, Hoop ash, Swamp ash and Water ash Black Ash is commonly used furniture and steam bending. It is common throughout North America. Black Ash is typically straight grained. Black Ash burls can be very attractive. Black Ash is slightly easier than oak to work. It is one of the best woods for steam bending. It finishes well. It glues well. It is not as strong as the other ashes, but is just as susceptible to insect damage.

American chestnut (Castanea Dentata) (Common Names are: American chestnut, Chestnut, Chinkapin, English chestnut, European chestnut, Spanish chestnut, Sweet chestnut) The American Chestnut is also found in Europe as an ornamental plant. The chestnut is used for general wood working. At present it is almost extinct with some small pockets surviving in the Western US and Canada. The American Chestnut has been almost completely wiped out by a blight that spread in 1904 from New York City. Most Chestnut lumber is recycled from old buildings and fences. It is quite rot and insect resistant, just not blight resistant, so it is suitable for exterior use. It responds to hand tools with some difficulty. It works easily with machine tools.

Apple (Malus pumila) For woodworking purposes, apple and crabapple trees are grouped together. I wouldn't group them together if you are planning to eat the fruit. Apple wood is a medium strength wood used in ornamental woodwork and carving. Apple is both hard and heavy when cured. Applewood is even textured and has a very pleasant smell when burned or routed. It has a nasty tendency to warp when dried. It decays quickly and is susceptible to insect damage. It is generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It does not steam bend well. It accepts glue and finishes well.

Ash, European (Fraxinus excelsior) (Ash, English ash, European ash, French ash, Fresno, Italian olive ash, Olive ash, Polish ash, Slavonian ash, and Vanlig ask) European Ash is suitable for all interior purposes. It has poor potential for exterior use due to its susceptibility to insect damage. Ash is found throughout Europe and the Mediterranean coastal areas. Ash lumber is may be variable in quality. It is readily worked, turned and bent.

Ash, White (Fraxinus americana) Light brown heartwood with almost all white sapwood. Straight grain with coarse texture. Excellent bending properties and shock resistance. USA.

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) (Aspen, Quaking aspen, and Trembling aspen) Aspen is used for general interior woodworking, including veneer and woodturning. It is found throughout all of North America. Aspen lumber is prone to warping. Aspen wood is susceptible to insect damage. The wood is prone to dents and dings. It does not plane well, but otherwise is not hard to work. Very sharp tools seem to work best. It glues, screws, and stains well. It is not a particularly strong wood.

Aspen, European (Populus tremula) Lumber from the aspen is typically used for simple or crude interior woodworking (toys, framing, drawer interiors). It is not particularly strong nor does it hold up well for exterior uses. It does not bend well. It does work well, both with machine and hand tools.

Basswood (Tilia americana) Fine straight grain material with an even texture and little contrast between early and late wood. Creamy white in color and lighter in weight than the related European Lime. Fairly soft, preferred wood for carving. Canada and USA.

Birds eye maple: (Acer saccharum) Creamy white to brown with birds eye figure A natural occurrence found predominately in hard maple causes 'eyes' to form that give a striking figure to the wood. Straight grain with intermittent eyes make this a great wood for writing instruments. U.S.A.

Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) American birch, Birch, Gray birch, Silver birch, Swamp birch, and Yellow birch. Birch is suitable for general fine and rough woodworking. It is commonly available in the Northern Hemisphere. It is tricky to dry and will decay rapidly outdoors. Birch turns well and also steam bends well. It tears easily when surfaced and is difficult to work. It is not particularly hard.

Black Limba: (Terminalia superba) Cream colored with dark brown to black streaks. Medium texture & density. Easy to work and takes a beautiful finish. West Africa

Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens, - Brosimum paraense)  This wood grows in tropical South America. It is also known as cardinal wood or satiné. The heartwood is a deep, rich brick-red color. It is noteworthy in that it keeps its color over time and doesn't brown-out as do many of the other red-toned woods. Bloodwood is a hard, dense, heavy wood with a very fine, even texture and takes an excellent finish from the cutter. Odorless and tasteless. Very hard and heavy. Weight 56 to 66 lbs. per cu. ft. Very difficult to work but finishes smoothly, taking a high polish. Rare. And expensive. Tropical South America -

Bloodwood (Kajat, Kiaat, Muninga, Mtumbati, Mukwa, Mutete) From Africa; Tanzania, Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zaire. Color is fairly uniform dark red-orange. The grain is close, and straight to interlocked and varies from medium to coarse in texture. Common uses include boat building, decorative veneer, fine furniture, medicinal use, canoes, excelsior and parquet flooring and fine turnings. Specific Gravity is .61(dense). Turns extremely well.

Bocote (Cordia elaeagnoIdes) (Anacahuite, Bois de rose, Canalete, Cordia, Laurel, Peterebi, Salmwood, Siricote) Spectacular background colors of dark brown to red with multicolored strips that vary from yellow to orange and green to dark brown. Machines well, excellent turning stock. Somewhat hard to find material. This wood is sometimes called "Mexican Rosewood." From Central America; Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.

Butternut (Juglans cinerea) A straight grained, coarse textured wood with medium brown to dark brown heartwood, lighter than black walnut, which it generally resembles. Great carving wood when accenting the grain in the carving. Canada and USA.

Brazilian Rosewood: (Dalbergia nigra) A beautiful light to dark reddish brown. Very hard and heavy. Difficult to turn on a lathe without carbide turning tools. Takes a very beautiful polish. This wood was over harvested and is no longer being exported from Brazil. The only quality wood that is available in the U.S. is recycled from finished furniture. Extremely expensive It is very rare to find any Brazilian Rosewood that has not been recycled.

Bubinga: (Guibourtia tessmannli) (Akume, Ebana, Essingang, Kevazingo, Okweni, Ovang, Waka) Pinkish red, darkening with exposure, often called African Rosewood, hard & heavy, taking a beautiful finish. (Rose color, veined with darker stripes, or mottled) From West Africa; Gabon, Cameroon, Zaire, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Liberia and Nigeria.

Buckeye Burl: (Aesculus articulta) A most unusual burl. Color ranges from bright yellow to cream with streaks of black, blue & white throughout. Wild grained with many 'eyes.' This is a beautiful burl which takes a very fine polish and is exceedingly difficult to turn on a lathe.

Butternut (Juglans cinerea) Butternut, White walnut, Oilnut, Nogal, Nogal blanco, Nogal silvestre, Nuez meca, Tocte, Tropical walnut, and Walnut. Butternut is commonly used for any woodworking purposes where strength is not a necessity. It dents easily and does not present a smooth surface. Butternut is found east of the Mississippi and north of Florida. It is less common than previously. (If anyone knows the cause of this and what organizations if any are doing something about it, please contact me). It is easily worked and very pretty when finished.

Canary Wood: (Centroloblum orinocense) Straight grained and a medium to Coarse texture. Yellow color with streaks of a variety of reds, golds & brown. Color will age to a deep golden yellow tone. Central America

Canarywood (American tulipwood, American whitewood, Canary whitewood, Canoe wood, Saddletree, Yellow Poplar) From the United States and Canada.

Canoe Cedar (Thuja plicata) (Arborvitae, Giant arborvitae, Giant cedar, Pacific red cedar, Shingle wood, and Western red cedar. It is available in the US (esp. the west), Canada and Europe. Original growth stands are becoming scarce. This wood is used for any woodwork imaginable, with the possible exception of steam bent pieces. It works well and easily. It tends to corrode metal tools over time. Its dust can cause respiratory problems with some people. It is suitable for both interior and exterior applications. It is strong for its weight. This is not the same wood as redwood, for those who may be confused.

Cardinal Wood: (Brosimem paraense) also called bloodwood. Strawberry red. Dense & oily. Takes a fine, beautiful shine. Does not darken much with exposure. Brazil

Catalpa: (Catalpa speciosa Wader) Also called Indian Cigar Tree. Grain appearance similar to Ash. Easily worked and very stable. Inexpensive when available. A soft and weak wood that should not be used for joints or weight bearing construction. 

Cedar, Aromatic Red (Juniperus virginiana) (Eastern red cedar, Juniper, Red juniper, Savin, Virginia pencil cedar) Soft wood with aroma that is a natural repellent to moths and insects. Sapwood is white to cream and is intermixed and contrasts with the salmon to dark red of the heartwood. Expect tight closed knots throughout the material. From the United States and Canada.

Cedar, Spanish (Cedrela Odorata) Light reddish brown to dark brown in color with grain texture similar to that of mahogany. Machines and carves well with hand and powertools. Strong yet lightweight. Traditionally used for cigar boxes and humidor linings.

Chakte-kok: (Cosmocalyx spectabilus) from a sustained yield forest. Bright red with darker stripes. Darkens with exposure. Mexico

Chechen: (Metopium brownei) Dark reddish brown heartwood with dark brown striping & golden luster. Easy to work and takes a fine finish. Native to the West Indies and from southern Florida, through Mexico to Central America. Grows to 50' tall and 2' dia. Member of the Anacardiaeae family which includes cashews and poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. This wood is known for it potential toxicity. 

Chechen Burl: (Metopium brownie) A very wild burl! It has many small eyes. Color ranges from brown to a light rose. Works easily for a burl & finishes with a high gloss. Native to the West Indies and from southern Florida, through Mexico to Central America.

Cherry (Prunus serotina) (Black cherry, Capulin, Choke cherry, New England mahogany, Plum, Rum cherry) Hard straight grained with firm texture. Heartwood is reddish brown to deep red, with brown flecks, and will naturally darken with age. Works well with hand and machine tools, finishes well. Great for turning. From the United States, Switzerland and Canada.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum iners) Common names are Camphorwood and Cinnamon. Cinnamon wood is commonly
used for food containers, furniture, light construction, millwork, crude or rustic wood work, and toys. Cinnamon is found throughout southeast Asia and Indonesia. The lumber has an aromatic scent. It is coarse grained and interlocked. It is strong and dense and bends well. It works moderately well. It is suitable for exterior applications as it is resistant to decay and insects.

Claro Black Walnut: (Juglans spp) Dark brown wood with wavy & curly grain colors of light yellowish brown to dark brown or black. Similar to American Walnut in density and texture but with more spectacular grain patterns. Takes a beautiful high gloss finish. U.S.A.

Cocobolo: (Dalbergia retusa) (Nicaraguan rosewood, Granadillo, Caviuna, Uruana, Funera, Pallisander) One of our most beautiful rosewoods, red to orange with variegated black striping. Very dense and oily, taking a high polish. Turnery, knife handles, pens & pencils, bird calls, walking canes and all forms of fancy woodwork. Weighs around 6 lbs/board foot. The color turns deep orange red with exposure. From Central America: Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) (Cottonwood, Eastern cottonwood, Eastern poplar, and Poplar) Cottonwood is commonly used for boxes, plywood cores, furniture, cases, baskets, pallets and veneer. The cottonwood is found throughout North America. Cottonwood lumber is not particularly hard or strong. It dents and steam bends easily. It does not work well with machine or hand tools. In particular it  does not hold nails or screws well. It does plane easily.

Cypress (Taxodium distichium) (Baldcypress, Cypress, Pond cypress, Red cypress, Southern cypress, Yellow cypress, White cypress, Gulf cypress, Swamp cypress, Black cypress, Buck cypress, and Cow cypress) Cypress is used for exterior construction and siding, pallets, chairs, boats, cabinetry, furniture, fuel, and interior construction. Cypress is found in the swamps of the southern US. It is grown as an ornamental tree throughout the world. It is a softwood which is naturally decay and insect resistant. It is currently being harvested at rate higher than its replacement rate. It is medium strong and works easily.

Date (Aleurites moluccana) (Acrot, Candlenut, Lumbang, Nogal, Ragua, and Wild date) Date wood is commonly used for crates, construction, veneer, exterior and interior furniture, millwork, shingles and wooden shoes. Date trees are found throughout India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. Date wood dries slowly and is prone to cupping and twisting. The sawdust is an irritant and may be toxic. Date wood is naturally resistant to insects and decay. Date wood works best with very sharp tools.

Dogwood (Cornus florida) (Boxwood, Cornel, Dogwood, Florida dogwood, and Flowering dogwood. Dogwood lumber is commonly used in making many small wooden objects, including bobbins. The Dogwood is an ornamental tree grown throughout the southeastern US. The wood is hard, smooth and ornamental. It shrinks and moves considerably in drying. Dogwood works well and easily considering how hard it is. It is neither insect nor decay resistant. Legends to the contrary, the dogwood is used as a wood source. The tree is also becoming much rarer than formerly.  The Dogwood is an "under story tree".  While it is considered an ornamental, it is also an important part of a natural hardwood forest, most often growing in deep shade.   That the tree is becoming "rarer" is the result of irresponsible forest management. The "Dogwood Alliance" http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/8056/ is a confederation of environmental organization making a significant effort to stop the harvesting of hardwood forests by "chipper mills" which have a voracious and unsustainable appetite for immature forests.....turning our hardwoods and those we would leave as a legacy for our grandchildren into pulp for toilet paper. The dogwood is often considered a useless wood by industry, but each species plays an important role in a balanced and healthy forest environment.  I suspect that few American woodworkers will know much about making bobbins.  Many of us, however have come to feel awe for this tree. The dogwoods in bloom bring intense beauty to the forests in springtime, so it is not surprising to me that the dogwood would be chosen as the symbol for a fight to preserve our hardwood forests.

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) (Colorado real, Columbian Pine, Douglas-fir, and Oregon pine) Wood from the Douglas Fir is commonly used for crates, millwork, flooring, construction, veneer, beams and plywood. The Douglas Fir is native to the Northwestern US and Western Canada. It is also grown in Europe, New York and Australia. The wood is strong, light and without knots. It is a softwood in high demand for utility purposes. It does have all of the problems generally associated with softwoods; ie dents, dings and no real decay or insect resistance. This wood works very well. It must be primed before being painted. It is also rated as one of the strongest of the softwood construction woods, and can span larger distances than spruce and most other softwoods.


Eastern White Holly: (Rex opaca) Light cream to pure white. Fine uniform texture. USA

Ebony, Gaboon: (Diospyros spp.) Jet black color with only the slightest possibility of dark brown streaks. Somewhat difficult to turn but worth the effort. Great for knobs, pulls, inlays and accents in cabinetry. Excellent turning wood & takes a beautiful shine. Extremely expensive Africa

Elm, American (Ulmus americana) (American elm, Elm, Florida elm, Soft elm, Swamp elm, Water elm, and White elm) Elm wood is commonly used for crates, barrels, plywood, pallets, veneer, millwork, machinery, factory floors, and wheels. The American Elm was formerly found throughout the US and Canada. The formerly common and decorative tree is dying out as a result of the Dutch Elm disease. More information on the efforts to save this tree may be found at http://www.elmtrees.com/. The wood from the elm is somewhat straight in grain but frequently interlocked. This wood is hard, tough and springy. It has a woolly texture. It warps easily. It steam bends nicely. Rock elm is a stronger elm that is sometimes found separately from American Elm, but the two are usually grouped together when available at all.

Elm Burl: A beautiful burl with colors ranging from dark to light browns and hints of black streaks. This wood turns well and takes a fine, lustrous finish.

English Elm (Ulmus procera) (Elm, English elm, Nave elm, and Red elm) Elm is commonly used for cabinetry, chairs, turning, steam bending, boats and other marine applications, furniture, flooring, and veneer. The English Elm grows throughout western and northern Europe. It is cultivated as an ornamental in North America. It is an attractive wood
that is rather difficult to dry. This wood is neither insect nor decay resistant. This wood is difficult to work and has a severe blunting effect on tools. The irregular and changeable grain pattern makes it very difficult to plane. It does not steam bend easily.

English Elm Burl: Reddish brown with many eyes. This burl makes a beautiful writing instrument. UK

Goncalo Alves: (Astronium sp.) (Ciruelillo, Frijolillo, Gateado, Guarita, Guasango, Gusanero, Jobillo, Palo de cera, Palo de culebra, Ron ron) Light to dark reddish brown with black streaks. Hard, heavy and waxy. It is fine grained, is easy to work, and takes a beautiful finish. Specific Gravity is .95 (very dense). Turns easily with sharp tools if straight grain. Figured pieces require care when turning. From Central and Latin America; Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Guyana and Peru.

Granadilla: (Platymiscium pinnatum) Reddish brown & hard & heavy. Often used as a rosewood substitute. Takes a high polish. Mexico

Granadillo (Platymiscium spp) Hard and dense with fairly straight, coarse and slightly irregular to interlocked grain. Color varies from reddish brown to violet heartwood and sapwood that is creamy white. Machines well with sharp hand and power tools. Central America.

Hackberry: (Celtis spp.) (Celtis laevigata -- Almez Americano, American Celtis, Bagolaro Americano, Bois, Inconnu, Connu, Lowland Hackberry, Micocoulier a Sucre, Palo Blanco, Sockernasslatrad, Southern Hackberry, Sugarberry, Sugar Hackberry, Suikernetelboom, Texas Sugarberry, Celtis lindheimeri -- Lindheimer Hackberry, Palo Blanco Celtis occidentalis -- Almez Occidental, American Hackberry, Bagolaro Occidentale,Bar-alm, Bastard Elm, Beaverwood, Bigleaf Hackberry, Common Hackberry, False Elm, Hackberry, Hacktree, Hoop Ash, Huck, Micocoulier Occidental, Nettletree, Northern Hackberry, Oneberry, Sugarberry, Western Hackberry, Westerse Netelboom, Zwepenboom Celtis reticulata -- Netleaf Hackberry, Palo Blanco, Sugarberry, Thick Leaved Hackberry, Western Hackberry Celtis tenuifolia -- Dwarf Hackberry, Georgia Hackberry, Upland Hackberry) Hackberry trees can reach heights of 130 feet, with a diameter of 4 feet. The hackberry's fleshy, berry is suspended on long stems as it ripens to a deep purple color at maturity in September and October. Important as a food source for animals, large quantities of the fruit are consumed by wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant, quail, prairie sharp-tailed grouse, lesser prairie chicken, cedar waxwing, yellow-bellied sapsucker, mockingbird, robin, bobwhite and others. Hackberry sapwood is pale yellow to grayish or greenish yellow. The heartwood is yellowish gray-brown to light brown. Hackberry wood is straight grained, moderately hard, strong in bending. It also possesses excellent gluing properties, holds screws and nails well, and machines well. Despite this, commercial use of the hackberry has become rather limited. The technical qualities of hackberry wood resemble those of elm (Ulmus spp.) and white ash (Fraxinus americana), and it is sometimes used as a substitute for these species. Typical usage of this tough, flexible wood is in crates, pallets, boxes, farm implements, carving, athletic goods, millwork, and interior cabinetry, furniture and barrel staves. When spalted, often used by woodturners.

Honduras Rosewood: (Dalbergia stevesonii) Hard, heavy & dense. The heartwood is pinkish to purple-brown with irregular black markings. Grain is straight with a medium to fine texture. Sapwood is a striking creamy white. This wood turns easily and takes a very high polish.

Ipe (Tabebui SPP.) (Brazilian Walnut, Cortez, Bethabara, Lapacho ) The Tree may grow to 140 to 150 ft in height with trunk diameters of 6 ft. Frequently to heights of 100 ft and diameters of 2 to 3 ft. Boles are clear to 60 ft and more, with or without buttresses. Very hard dense wood with a deep rich brown coloration and exceedingly fine graining. Widely used for decking. Ipe is rated very resistant to attack by decay fungi and termites, by the USDA Forest Products Lab. This wood resists insects, moisture and movement, and it can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. Suitable for outdoor projects. Grows in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala. Has been known to cause respiratory and contact dermatitis allergic reactions. 

Jarrah Burl: (Eucalyptus marginata) Brick red color, heavily figured with many 'eyes'. Hard & heavy. Takes a lustrous shine.. Australia

Jatoba: Brazilian Cherry. Very hard, deep red with some brown and black, occasional golden tones.

Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) (Coffeetree, Kentucky coffeetree, Chicot, Dead tree, Coffee nut, Kentucky mahogany, and Stump tree) The Kentucky coffeetree's lumber is commonly used for fine furniture, building construction, firewood and other interior uses. It is found in the eastern US and Canada. The number of trees is declining rapidly due to over harvesting. The grain of the Kentucky coffeetree is similar to Ash. It has a coarse texture. It must be dried carefully due to a tendency to split. It is medium strong and has good to excellent working characteristics. It polishes superbly.

Kingwood: (Dalbergia congestiflora) (Aroeira, Muiracatiara, Aroeira-do-sertao, Aroeira-legitima) Also called Camotilla. Deep purple with light and dark stripes. Very hard and heavy. Oily, so it takes beautiful polish. Very rare. Mexico Kingwood gets its name from the era of the French Revolution. Extremely expensive Brazil

Koa: (Koa acacia) Koa is the largest of the native trees of Hawaii. it is rare within its natural habitat This tree has been used by native Hawaiians to make canoes, carved figures, furniture and in recent years in the craft industry. Koa is a moderately heavy wood and can range in color from golden orange to a deep reddish brown. Koa is famous for its Ribbon grain which often comes highly figures. This wood turns easily and polishes to a high sheen. From Hawaii

Lacewood: (Carwellia sp.) (Silky oak, Selano) Light pinkish red with very pronounced rays or 'silver' grain. Medium texture, high luster. Australia

Lacewood (Roupala Brasilensis) Light pink to silvery sheen with small flaky grain due to the large rays. Attractive pattern when used in small areas. Fairly light in weight, machines very well with both hand and power tools. Central and South America.

Live Oak : (Quercus virginianus) Though a member of the white oak group it is unique -- except possibly for the Swamp Oak -- in having very dark heartwood, variegated and ranging from light brown to blackish brown. The fairly wide and hard sapwood is creamy white and quite 'oaky' looking. The heart commonly has open creases and other voids. Wood from fast-growing trees in the low country areas of the southeastern US is fine-grained and very dense, also unlike most other oaks. (Appalachian live oak is notably less dense and more coarse grained since it grows more slowly and not year round as the southern trees do because of the more uniform warmth and humidity.) Weights reported in "Woods of the World" give live oak as 40% heavier that Sugar Maple and 31% heavier than White Oak. (Those figures may not be for the denser southern timber.) In green form the wood turns beautifully but once dried is rock hard. It's drying characteristics seem about average. Fine checking can be a problem. The growing area of live oak ranges from Texas east though the deep south and then north to North Carolina. (The Texan live oak is small and not much valued; the trees in coastal South Carolina and Georgia become enormous in girth.)

Macassar ebony: A valuable furniture wood from India and Ceylon, of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes, very hard in texture. It is a species of ebony, and is obtained from the Diospyros ssp. Called also Coromandel wood , calamander ebony, golden ebony, marblewood, and striped ebony.

Mango: (Mangifera indica) A beautiful Hawaiian hardwood introduced to the Islands probably in the early 1800's. A medium to large tree that frequently grows to 50 to 65 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The heart wood is a beautiful blond wood which frequently stains during drying to form unique and wonderful color variations. Mango is hard but works easily and polishes to a glossy finish.

Makore: (Mimusops heckelli) Also called African Cherry. Reddish brown with a fine grain. Turns well and takes a beautiful finish. West Africa

Madrone Burl: (Arbutus menziesli) These burls have a medium to high density of small bird's eyes. Reddish to pinkish brown. Takes a beautiful polish. N. W. U.S.A.

Mahogany, Honduras (Swietenia macrophylla) Medium density hardwood, pale brown to pink to dark reddish brown. Firm straight to wavy grain. Great workability with hand and machine tools and takes detail very well. Premiere carving wood. Central America.

Maple (Acer saccharum) Hard heavy straight grained wood with a fine texture. Sapwood is white and selected for its color, heartwood is light reddish brown. Irregular grain often makes this wood somewhat difficult to work with. Turns well, stains fair, finishes well. USA.

Maple, Bird’s Eye (Acer saccharum) A natural occurrence found predominately in hard maple causes "eyes" to form that give a striking figure to the wood. Straight grain with intermittent eyes makes this a great accent wood. USA.

Maple, Figured (Acer saccharum) Actually a ‘catch all" phrase for maple with unbelievable grain patterns ranging from curly to flamed to fiddlebacked. Color ranges from light cream to darker tones of brown and anything in-between. Northwest USA and Canada.

Maple Burl, Big Leaf (Acermacrophyllum) Unbelievable, swirly, unpredictable grain patterns with light to dark variations of cream brown to dark brown color. Natural edges, bark inclusions and internal voids may be present and are not considered defects. Northwest USA.

Myrtlewood: (Umbellularia californica) Also called Pepper Wood. Color varies greatly from yellowish gray to greenish black, often with curly or burly figure. Popular turning wood for the novelty industry. This wood also makes unbelievable pens & pencils. N. W. U.S.A.

Macadamia Nut: (Macadamia integrefulia) A beautiful Hawaiian hardwood introduced into the Islands in the late 1800's. This is a beautiful reddish wood with rays similar to Australian lacewood. Macadamia wood is a hard & dense wood that requires sharp blades to cut cleanly. This wood makes beautiful writing instruments.

Mesquite Wood: (Prosopis julifora) This beautiful wood is heavy and very hard. The basic color of this amazing wood is brown, ranging from light to dark brown. The yellows, pinks and orange/reds appear in marble like grains to make this an exquisite wood. Mesquite wood is a pleasure to work with an takes a beautiful high polish. SW USA and Mexico.

Milo: (Thespesia popuinea) A beautiful wood from the Island of Hawaii. Usually a small tree maturing to only 4 to 5 inches in diameter but rarely up to 30" dia. Its dark brown heartwood and light tan sapwood make a striking writing instrument. This wood is quite rare, heavy, and takes a high polish.

Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) Northern White Cedar is commonly used for boat building, exterior siding, exterior furniture, toys, and utility poles. It is common throughout the northern US and Canada. At one point, large trunks of White Cedar were mined from northern swamps. Northern Cedar works well with the two exceptions of not nailing well not being suitable for steam bending. It also does not stain well. It is a weak wood and is not suitable for any application requiring strength. It is very decay, rot and insect resistant.

Ohia: (Metrosiderous polymorpha) Ohia or ohia lehua is one of the most common and widespread large trees in Hawaii. A large Ohia can run 80 ft. in height and 3 plus feet in diameter. The wood is heavy, very hard, strong, and was used by early Hawaiians in carvings and household implements. This most attractive wood makes beautiful pens and pencils.

Olivewood: (Oleo europa) Yellowish brown with dark brown streaks. Hard & heavy. Grain is straight to wavy, very fine texture. This is an expensive but very beautiful wood. Machines well and takes a fine finish. Mediterranean

Osage Orange: (Maclura pomifera) A medium to hard wood with a golden yellow to bright orange heartwood, with possible pronounced darker grain streaks. Medium to coarse texture, straight grained. Machines good with sharp power tools and is excellent for turning. Takes a high polish. Southern U.S.A.

Oak, Red (Quercus rubra) Straight grained wood with a coarse texture that varies according to rate of growth. Color ranges from light cream, pinkish-red to dark tan or golden brown. Machines with hand and power tools. Used for furniture, turning, takes a stain well. USA.

Oak, White, Quarter Sawn (Quercus alba) Pale brown to dark brown in color with a pinkish shade, grain is very straight with a relatively porous open texture. Some "ray fleck patterns" may be present in quarter/rift sawn oak. More stable than plain sawn stock, great for furniture and turning. USA.

Pacific Yew: (Taxus baccata) Bright orange to brown. Fine grained & turns easily. Takes a high polish. NW U.S.A.

Padauk: (Pterocarpus soyauxii) (Mbe, Mbil, Mututi, Ngula, Bosulu) Medium to hard wood, heartwood is deep orange red that will age to a deeper orange brown. Moderately course grain texture with straight to interlocking grain patterns. Machines & turns well with a high polish. From Africa; Cameroon, Zaire, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria.

Paela (Caesalpinia spp.) Varies in color from pink to dark red with light cream to yellow streaks. Stripped appearance shown on quarter sawn material. Machines well and is an excellent turning wood. Central America.

Palisander Madagascar. Dark to light rose-pink. A pattern of pronounced lines of darker red shades. Characteristics - the wood is very hard and contains a natural oil as found in rosewood.

Pau Ferro (Akite, Asomanini, Awong, Bannia, Boto, Dina, Gandoe, Icoje, Kisasamba, Mututy, N'guessa, Naranjillo, Ndina, Nsakala, Oken, Orura barrialera, Pao rosa, Parakusan, Wamara) The heartwood is pink, yellow, or dark brown in color and is often striped with red-brown bands. The grain is usually wavy or interlocked. The wood is rather coarse-textured. Polishing characteristics are rated as good. From Africa; Congo, Ivory Coast, Zaire, Gabon, Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guine and, Nigeria. Common uses include carvings, musical instruments, decorative veneer, fine furniture and sounding boards. Specific Gravity is .82 (very dense). Responds well to turning.

Pear Wood: (Pyrus communis) Pinkish brown to rose colored wood with very fine, straight & even textured grain. Excellent turning wood. Will polish to a high luster and holds great detail. Europe, UK, & western Asia.

Pencil Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) (Eastern red cedar, Juniper, Red cedar, and Virginia pencil cedar.) This wood is commonly used in applications that take advantage of its insect repelling properties such as chests, closet linings, exterior furniture, drawer interiors, millwork and also pencils. It is found throughout North America. Some sources report the wood as being easy to work. This is incorrect. The sapwood and the heartwood are intermingled, which produces cedar's distinctive look. This also causes frequent changes in grain direction which makes working cedar with either hand or power tools tricky. There are frequent knots which also can cause planing and sanding problems. The wood has a pleasant odor and is naturally oily or resinous.

Persimmon (Bara-bara, Boa-wood, Butterwood, Possum wood, Virginia date palm, White ebony) From the United States.

Pheasant Wood: A beautiful, heavy wood. Dark brown with light brown veins. Very hard and yet turns well. Pheasant wood make a strikingly beautiful writing instrument. Takes a high polish. Very rare, from Hawaii.

Pink Ivory: (Birchemia zeyheri) Bright pink to watermelon red. Hard & heavy, very fine texture and takes a beautiful polish. One of the rarest woods in the world. Turnery, inlays, fancy woodwork, knife handles & writing instruments. Extremely expensive E. & S. Africa

Pine, Eastern White or Ponderosa (Pinus strobus or Pinus ponderosa) Softwood with a soft to medium density. Color varies from creamy white to pale straw, with occasional contrasting orangish growth rings. USA.

Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) (false cypress, Lawson's cypress, Oregon cedar, and White cedar) Port Orford Cedar is commonly used for boat building, chests, construction, beams, canoes, decks, furniture, and shipbuilding. Port Orford Cedar occurs naturally in California and Oregon. It is cultivated in New Zealand and Europe. It is over harvested and is being attacked by a fungus. It is expensive. The wood has a distinctive odor. It is resistant to decay and is suitable for exterior use. Sawdust can cause health problems if a mask is not worn. Port Orford Cedar works well and easily with both machine and hand tools. It dents easily but is strong for its weight.

Prima Vera: (Tabebuia donnel-smithil) Creamy white with a high luster. Beautiful ribbon stripe effect on the quarter sawn surface. Takes a nice finish. Mexico

Purple Heart: (Peltogyne) (Amarante, Violetwood, Koroboreli, Saka, Sakavalli, Pau roxo, Nazareno, Morado, Tananeo, Palo morado, Guarabu) Medium to hard wood with tight, fairly straight grain with moderately coarse texture. Bright purple when cut, darkens to a brownish purple with exposure. Machines well with sharp tools. Turns & finishes well. Central & South America.

Quilted Maple: This burl comes is a variety of light to darker browns and sometimes a wild pinkish orange will give a hint of glowing ember.

Redheart (Erythroxylon spp.) Pale to dark red that will deepen in color with age. Grain is straight and tight. Machines well but has a tendency to burn. Turns well. Fresh cut material has a bright red look that will darken with exposure. Central America.

Rosewood, Santos (Pau Ferro): (Machaerium scleroxylon) Reddish brown to dark cocoa brown, often with dark stripes. Fine grained with a high luster. Bolivia

Rosewood, Bolivian (Machaerium acutifolium) 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. South America.

Rosewood, Brazilian -var. SANTOS (Cabiuna, Jacaranda, Palisander, Rio rosewood) Varies in color from shades of brown to red or violet, and is irregularly streaked with black. The grain is typically straight, occasionally wavy. Texture is medium to coarse and of medium luster. Common uses include cabinetmaking, fine furniture, marquetry, pianos, tool handles, drum sticks, organ pipes, sounding boards, umbrella handles, wainscoting and xylophones. Specific Gravity is .85 (very dense). Ease of turning varies from easy to very difficult. From Brazil.

Rosewood, Honduras (Dalbergia stevensonll) (Nogaed) Hard, heavy and dense, the heartwood is pinkish to purple brown with irregular black markings. Grain is straight with a medium to fine texture. Sapwood is a striking contrast of creamy white. Central America. Belize

Sapele: (Entandrophtagma cylindricum) Light tan darkening to a reddish brown shows a narrow ribbon stripe figure on the radial surface. Moderately heavy & very hard with an oily feel. Finishes with a high gloss. West Africa

Satinwood (Satine, Amapa rana, Pau rainha, Falso pao brasil, Conduru, Muirapiranga, Satine rouge) This clearly demarcated sapwood is yellowish white in color. The grain is straight to slightly interlocked. The wood is fine textured and has good polishing characteristics. Common uses include billiard-cue butts, cabinetmaking, carvings, marquetry, musical instruments and fine furniture. Specific Gravity is .69 (dense). Moderately difficult to turn. From Central and Latin America; Guyana, Brazil, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Shedua: (Guibourtia arnoldiana) (Ovankol, Amazakoue', Amazoue, Ehie, Mozambique) Origin: Western Equatorial Africa - Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Gabon.  Shedua ranges in color from Light Yellowish Brown to Dark Grayish Brown. Shedua is in the same family as Bubinga (G. Demeusei). Can grow to heights up to150 feet with diameters of 3 feet or more. Has a yellow-brown to a darker chocolate-brown color with dark brown to black stripes occurring often. The grain is usually interlocked with a moderately coarse texture. Shedua is known for its high figure, which sometimes produces a mottled effect. Avg. Weight (@ 6-8% moisture) : 4.4 Lbs. per Bd. Ft. Shedua dries rapidly with little degrade. Popular with bow makers.

Snake Wood: (Piratinera guianensis) also called Letterwood. Reddish brown with irregular black speckles or stripes. Very hard & heavy, fine texture and takes a superior shine. Extremely rare (it has been said that this is the rarest wood in the world). It certainly is one of the most expensive. Suriname

Southern White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) (Atlantic white cedar, Desert willow, False cypress, Southern white cedar, Swamp cedar, and White cedar) Atlantic white cedar is commonly used for making shingles, poles, canoes, exterior trim, pallets and packing cases. It is found in the south eastern US as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as the Mississippi. This wood easily and well. It is soft and is unsuitable for any work that requires strength. It resists decay and insects well.

Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) (Brazilian cedar, British Guiana cedar, British Honduras cedar, Cedar, Central American cedar, Cigar box cedar, Guyana cedar, Honduras cedar, Jamaican cedar, and Mexican cedar) Spanish cedar is commonly used for cigar boxes, shipbuilding, canoes, carving, turning, millwork, veneer, furniture, musical instruments and any other light duty wood work where its distinctive, pleasant odor and its insect resistant properties. It is found throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. This wood is prone to checks and distortion during the drying process. This wood is oily or gummy. The sawdust may cause respiratory problems. The wood works well, although pre drilling is recommended. Spanish cedar is not particularly strong and is easily dented. Spanish Cedar enjoyed a burst of great popularity recently and was consequently over harvested. The fad is now over and already timbered cedar may be had cheaply and without harming existing growth.

Texas Ebony (Pithecellobium flexicaule ) (Ebano, Ebony Blackbeard, Ebony Apes-earring Mexican Ebony or False Acacia) Texas ebony is common in the southern tip of Texas, found on sandy to clay loams, clays and thin, hard limestone. It has dense, lustrous, very dark green foliage and zigzag branches with many spines. From June to August it has attractive creamy-yellow flower spikes, which are followed by thick, woody, curved pods 4-6 inches long. It is often a shrub, but can reach 50 feet in woods along the Rio Grande. Most valuable for wildlife, cover, nest sites; rodents collect and store seeds, deer browse leaves, bees use flowers, seeds eaten by deer, javalinas, wood rats, small mammals. Deep, rich brown heartwood used to make art objects and small furniture; red seeds used in jewelry; fence posts, fuel; green seeds cooked and eaten; ripe seeds roasted or popped; shells used as coffee substitute.

Thuya Burl: (Tetraclinis articulata) Golden reddish brown with heavy small dark 'eyes'. Hard, heavy, oily, aromatic. Turns well and takes a high shine. Morocco.

Tulipwood (Dalbergia frutescens) (Pau rosa, Bois de rose, Pinkwood, Pau de fuso, Jacaranda rosa) Hard dense wood with a pinkish to yellowish heartwood with pronounced stripes of violet, salmon, and rose. Grain is interlocked and irregular with a medium to fine texture and a pleasantly mild fragrance when cut. From Central and Latin America; Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and Venezuela.

Tupelo (Nyssa spp.) (bay-poplar, bastard cottonwood, big tupelo, bowl gum, chickasawatchie whitewood, cotton-gum, gray gum, gum cottonwood, hazel pine, hickory poplar, ladle gum, large tupelo, olivetree, pawpaw gum, rootwood tupelo, sap gum, sour gum, swamp gum, swamp poplar, swamp tupelo, trade tupelo, tupelo, tupelo gum, water gum, water tupelo, white gum, wild olivetree, yellow gum, bee tupelo, gopher plum, limetree, ogeechee lime, lone tupelo, ogeeche gum, ogeechee plum, ogeechee tupelo, sour tupelo, sour tupelo gum, white tupelo, white tupelo gum, wild limetree, black tupelo, bowl gum, gum, pepperidge, plain black gum, quartered black gum, sour gum, stinkwood, swamp blackgum, yellow gumtree, wild pear-tree, bouw gum, lowland black gum) Typically, tupelo reaches 80 to90 feet and about 6 to 7 feet around. One tree in Louisiana named the National Champion Tupelo Gum by the American Forestry Association in 1972 was 105 feet high, with a spread of 58 feet and a circumference of 27 feet 1 inch. It has large, shiny leaves 5-12 inches long and blooms from March to April, with male flowers in spherical clusters, while female flowers are solitary. Both flowers are greenish-white. The fruit is a dark purple to indigo drupe (like a cherry) which ripens September to October. The sapwood of tupelo is a light gray-brown, while the heartwood is darker. The wood has interlocked grain, with a natural tendency to warp when dried, especially when flatsawn. It shows a characteristic figure when quartersawn. It has no characteristic odor or taste. It is moderately strong, but difficult to glue. Furniture, shipping containers, millwork, veneer, plywood, crossties, bridge ties and crossing planks.

Walnut, Black (Jaglans nigra) Tough wood with even but coarse texture, straight grained with occasional wavy grain patterns. Sapwood is light in color contrasting with the rich dark chocolate brown to purplish black heart wood. Canada and USA.

Walnut, Claro (Juglans spp.) Dark chocolate brown wood with wavy and curly grain colors of light yellowish brown to dark brown or black. Similar to American Walnut in density and texture but with more spectacular grain patterns. Used for furniture. turning. West Coast, USA.

Wenge: (Millettia spp. Awoung, Dikela, Mibotu, Bokonge, Tshikalakala, Nson-so, Palissandre du congo) A heavy dense wood with straight grain and a coarse texture. Dark brown color with black veins with streaks of light brown lines. Can be difficult to work, but very attractive. Equatorial Africa: Zaire, Cameroon, Congo and Gabon Specific Gravity is .91 (very dense). Turning characteristics are good.

Yellowheart (Euxylophora paraensis) Fine straight grained hardwood with bright yellow color throughout the wood. Machines well and is an excellent turning stock. Great for adding accents o projects. Central America.

Zebra Wood: (Microberlinia brazzavillenis) (African zebrawood, Allen ele, Zebrano, Zingana)Medium to heavy hardwood with possible coarse grain texture depending on how it is cut. Light tan to golden yellow with streaks of dark brown to black. This wood turns easily and makes a beautiful writing instrument. From Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo in Africa.

Zircote (Cordia dodecandra) Very hard, heavy and dense material with tight grain. Color is dark brownish black to black with streaks of black. Hard & heavy. Takes a high polish. Machines well with sharp hand and power tools, susceptible to burning. Central and South America.

HOME - PHILOSOPHY - CONTACT US - PRIVACY STATEMENT
LINK TO US - CREDITS - AMERICAN KESTREL

Send email to webmaster@kestrelcreek.com with questions or comments about this web site.
All photographs by Will Simpson except where noted.
Copyright © 1995-2003, Kestrel Creek