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Wood Species
Hardwood Lumber and Millwork stocks 17 species of domestic hardwoods and 22 species of exotic woods. There is so much to know about each species, including grain characteristics, workability and even availability. Browse the selection below, then click on a picture to go to an expanded explanation about that species. You may discover a new-to-you wood that fits into your project plans.
About this content--We’re pleased to share that much of the information shown below is from our own experience, various publications and the website, wood-database.com. The volume of information collected on that site by Creator Eric Meier is simply amazing, and we frequently recommend it to our customers. If you need additional information about the woods presented here, or about any other wood,
be sure to check it out.
Afrormosia
Janka Hardness: 1,570 lbf
Sourced from West Africa
Color/Appearance: Known as African Teak, (in appearance only) heartwood is typically a golden brown, frequently has an olive hue.
Workability: Afrormosia is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though surfacing boards with interlocking grain may cause tearout. It's rather dense material, so it has a slight blunting effect on blades. It will also develop dark stains if left in contact with iron in moist conditions. Afrormosia turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.
A note about Sustainability: Afrormosia is listed as endangered due to a population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation. The cutting and exporting of this lumber is highly regulated.
Common Uses: Boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture.
Sourced from West Africa
Color/Appearance: Known as African Teak, (in appearance only) heartwood is typically a golden brown, frequently has an olive hue.
Workability: Afrormosia is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though surfacing boards with interlocking grain may cause tearout. It's rather dense material, so it has a slight blunting effect on blades. It will also develop dark stains if left in contact with iron in moist conditions. Afrormosia turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.
A note about Sustainability: Afrormosia is listed as endangered due to a population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation. The cutting and exporting of this lumber is highly regulated.
Common Uses: Boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture.
Alder
Janka Hardness: 590 lbf
Most often sourced from the Pacific Northwest.
AKA: Red Alder, Western Red Alder
Color/Appearance: Light tan to reddish brown; Not a big distinction between sapwood and heartwood. The overall grain pattern and appearance is similar to Birch.
Workability: Red Alder is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it sands especially easy. The wood is rather soft, however, and care must be taken to avoid denting it in some applications. Red Alder has excellent gluing, staining, and finishing properties; it also turns well and behaves similar to Black Cherry.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Most often sourced from the Pacific Northwest.
AKA: Red Alder, Western Red Alder
Color/Appearance: Light tan to reddish brown; Not a big distinction between sapwood and heartwood. The overall grain pattern and appearance is similar to Birch.
Workability: Red Alder is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it sands especially easy. The wood is rather soft, however, and care must be taken to avoid denting it in some applications. Red Alder has excellent gluing, staining, and finishing properties; it also turns well and behaves similar to Black Cherry.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Ambrosia Maple
Not a specific species of Maple
Ambrosia Maple is a general description of any type of Maple that has been infested by ambrosia beetles. The beetles bore into the tree and bring fungus that discolors the wood.
Ambrosia Maple is considered a decorative feature which gives the wood additional character.
Ambrosia Maple is a general description of any type of Maple that has been infested by ambrosia beetles. The beetles bore into the tree and bring fungus that discolors the wood.
Ambrosia Maple is considered a decorative feature which gives the wood additional character.
American Cherry
Janka Hardness: 950 lbf
Sourced from Eastern North America
Common Name(s): Black Cherry, Cherry, American Cherry
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a medium reddish brown with time and upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish color. The grain is usually straight and easy to work—with the exception of figured pieces with curly grain patterns. Has a fine, even texture with moderate natural luster.
Workability: Cherry is known as being one of the best all-around woods for workability. It is stable, straight-grained, and machines well. The only difficulties typically arise if the wood is being stained, as it can sometimes give blotchy results—using a sanding sealer prior to staining, or using a gel-based stain is recommended. Sapwood is common, and may contribute to a high waste factor.
Rot Resistance: Heartwood is rated as being very durable and resistant to decay.
Sourced from Eastern North America
Common Name(s): Black Cherry, Cherry, American Cherry
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a medium reddish brown with time and upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish color. The grain is usually straight and easy to work—with the exception of figured pieces with curly grain patterns. Has a fine, even texture with moderate natural luster.
Workability: Cherry is known as being one of the best all-around woods for workability. It is stable, straight-grained, and machines well. The only difficulties typically arise if the wood is being stained, as it can sometimes give blotchy results—using a sanding sealer prior to staining, or using a gel-based stain is recommended. Sapwood is common, and may contribute to a high waste factor.
Rot Resistance: Heartwood is rated as being very durable and resistant to decay.
Aromatic Cedar
Janka Hardness: 900 lbf
Sourced from Eastern North America
AKA: Eastern Red Cedar
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a reddish or violet-brown. Pale yellow sapwood can appear throughout the heartwood as streaks and stripes.
Workability: Overall, Aromatic Red Cedar is easy to work, but is subject to knots and irregularities in the wood. It reportedly has a high silica content, which can dull cutters. Aromatic Red Cedar glues and finishes well.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.
Rot Resistance: Heartwood (not sapwood) is regarded as excellent in resistance to both decay and insect attack.
Sourced from Eastern North America
AKA: Eastern Red Cedar
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a reddish or violet-brown. Pale yellow sapwood can appear throughout the heartwood as streaks and stripes.
Workability: Overall, Aromatic Red Cedar is easy to work, but is subject to knots and irregularities in the wood. It reportedly has a high silica content, which can dull cutters. Aromatic Red Cedar glues and finishes well.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.
Rot Resistance: Heartwood (not sapwood) is regarded as excellent in resistance to both decay and insect attack.
White Ash
Janka Hardness: 1320 lbf
Sourced from Eastern North America
AKA: White Ash, American White Ash
Color/Appearance: The heartwood is a light to medium brown color. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown.
Has a textured grain similar to yellow pine or red oak (but nicer), can have curl.
Workability: Produces good results with hand or machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
A Note about Sustainability: This wood species is listed as critically endangered. Ash is frequently the victim of the Emerald Ash bore, which kills the tree.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Sourced from Eastern North America
AKA: White Ash, American White Ash
Color/Appearance: The heartwood is a light to medium brown color. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown.
Has a textured grain similar to yellow pine or red oak (but nicer), can have curl.
Workability: Produces good results with hand or machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
A Note about Sustainability: This wood species is listed as critically endangered. Ash is frequently the victim of the Emerald Ash bore, which kills the tree.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Basswood
Janka Hardness: 410 lbf
Sourced from Eastern North America
AKA: Basswood, American Basswood, Lime, Linden
Color/Appearance: Pale white to light brown color. Knots and other defects are uncommon.
Workability: Easy to work, being very soft and light. Most frequently used for hand carving. Basswood also glues and finishes well, but has poor steam bending and nail holding characteristics.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Sourced from Eastern North America
AKA: Basswood, American Basswood, Lime, Linden
Color/Appearance: Pale white to light brown color. Knots and other defects are uncommon.
Workability: Easy to work, being very soft and light. Most frequently used for hand carving. Basswood also glues and finishes well, but has poor steam bending and nail holding characteristics.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Birch
Janka Hardness: 1,260 lbf
Sourced from Northeastern North America
AKA: Yellow Birch
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a light reddish brown, with nearly white sapwood. Occasionally figured pieces are available with a wide, shallow curl similar to the curl found in Cherry.
Workability: Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though boards with wild grain can cause grain tearout during machining operations. Turns, glues, and finishes well.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Sourced from Northeastern North America
AKA: Yellow Birch
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a light reddish brown, with nearly white sapwood. Occasionally figured pieces are available with a wide, shallow curl similar to the curl found in Cherry.
Workability: Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though boards with wild grain can cause grain tearout during machining operations. Turns, glues, and finishes well.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Bloodwood
Janka Hardness: 2,900 lbf
Sourced from Tropical South America
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a bright, vivid red. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellowish color.
Grain is usually straight or even slightly interlocked. Has a fine texture with good natural luster, and is also somewhat chatoyant.
Workability: Bloodwood is extremely dense, so it has a pronounced blunting effect on cutters. The wood tends to be brittle and can splinter easily while being worked.
Common Uses: Carvings, trim, inlays, furniture, guitars, knife handles, and turned objects.
Sourced from Tropical South America
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a bright, vivid red. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellowish color.
Grain is usually straight or even slightly interlocked. Has a fine texture with good natural luster, and is also somewhat chatoyant.
Workability: Bloodwood is extremely dense, so it has a pronounced blunting effect on cutters. The wood tends to be brittle and can splinter easily while being worked.
Common Uses: Carvings, trim, inlays, furniture, guitars, knife handles, and turned objects.
Bocote
Janka Hardness: 2,010 lbf
Sourced from Mexico and Central/South America
Color/Appearance: Has a yellowish-brown body with dramatic dark brown to almost black stripes. Also, the grain patterning can be quite striking, particularly on flatsawn areas. It’s not uncommon to see many “eyes” and other figuring in Bocote.
Grain varys from straight to nicely figured in some way, and also tends to be interlocked. Medium uniform texture and a naturally oily/waxy feel. Good natural luster.
Workability: Bocote is easily worked and machined with good results, though, some species may contain silica that will dull cutters. Bocote has a fairly high natural oil content, but glues well. Bocote also turns and finishes well.
Common Uses: Fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.
Sourced from Mexico and Central/South America
Color/Appearance: Has a yellowish-brown body with dramatic dark brown to almost black stripes. Also, the grain patterning can be quite striking, particularly on flatsawn areas. It’s not uncommon to see many “eyes” and other figuring in Bocote.
Grain varys from straight to nicely figured in some way, and also tends to be interlocked. Medium uniform texture and a naturally oily/waxy feel. Good natural luster.
Workability: Bocote is easily worked and machined with good results, though, some species may contain silica that will dull cutters. Bocote has a fairly high natural oil content, but glues well. Bocote also turns and finishes well.
Common Uses: Fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.
Bubinga
Janka Hardness: 2,410 lbf
Sourced from Equatorial Africa
AKA: Kevazingo
Color/Appearance: Heartwood ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. Sapwood is a pale straw color. Bubinga is very frequently seen with a variety of figure, including: pommele, flamed, waterfall, quilted, mottled, etc. Grain is straight to interlocked. Has a uniform fine to medium texture and moderate natural luster.
Workability: Easy to work overall, though depending upon the species Bubinga may have silica present, which is hard on cutting edges. Also, on pieces with figured or interlocking grain, tearout can occur during planing or other machining operations. Gluing can occasionally be problematic due to Bubinga’s high density and natural oils. Turns and finishes well.
Common Uses: Veneer, inlays, fine furniture, cabinetry, turnings, and other specialty items. Since Bubinga trees can grow so large, natural-edge slabs of the wood have also been used in tabletops and other specialized projects.
Rot Resistance: Ranges from moderately durable to very durable depending upon the species. Bubinga is also reported to be resistant to termite and marine borer attack.
Sourced from Equatorial Africa
AKA: Kevazingo
Color/Appearance: Heartwood ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. Sapwood is a pale straw color. Bubinga is very frequently seen with a variety of figure, including: pommele, flamed, waterfall, quilted, mottled, etc. Grain is straight to interlocked. Has a uniform fine to medium texture and moderate natural luster.
Workability: Easy to work overall, though depending upon the species Bubinga may have silica present, which is hard on cutting edges. Also, on pieces with figured or interlocking grain, tearout can occur during planing or other machining operations. Gluing can occasionally be problematic due to Bubinga’s high density and natural oils. Turns and finishes well.
Common Uses: Veneer, inlays, fine furniture, cabinetry, turnings, and other specialty items. Since Bubinga trees can grow so large, natural-edge slabs of the wood have also been used in tabletops and other specialized projects.
Rot Resistance: Ranges from moderately durable to very durable depending upon the species. Bubinga is also reported to be resistant to termite and marine borer attack.
Canarywood
Janka Hardness: 1,520 lbf
Sourced from Panama down to southern Brazil
Color/Appearance: Heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout.
Grain is typically straight, with some figure.
Workability: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some tearout can occur during planing on pieces with wild or irregular grain. Good dimensional stability. Turns, glues and finishes well.
Common Uses: Flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, and turned items.
Sourced from Panama down to southern Brazil
Color/Appearance: Heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout.
Grain is typically straight, with some figure.
Workability: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some tearout can occur during planing on pieces with wild or irregular grain. Good dimensional stability. Turns, glues and finishes well.
Common Uses: Flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, and turned items.
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