Wood Type Info: Available / Origin

   Ambrosia (Wormy) Maple

    Origin:  Primarily temperate regions in the Northern  Hemisphere 

So named for ambrosia fungi, which is found in association with ambrosia beetles. The beetles bore into the trunk of the tree, bringing with them the ambrosia fungi, which subsequently stains and discolors the surrounding wood. The discoloration can be very similar to spalted maple, though with ambrosia maple, the discoloration is centered around the boring paths of the beetles, and their entrance holes can usually be seen. (This also can create a challenge when finishing the wood as these holes usually need to be filled before a final finish is applied.)

   Ash (American)

    Origin:  Eastern North America

The heartwood is a light to medium brown color. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood.  Grain/Texture: Has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. The grain is almost always straight and regular, though sometimes moderately curly or figured boards can be found.

   Beli

    Origin:  Africa (Cameroon, Gabon)

  Light brown, commonly with alternating darker stripes throughout. Quarter sawn sections in particular exhibit a Zebrawood-like appearance. Wide sapwood is a pale yellow and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood, and lacks the darker stripes.

   Bird’s Eye Maple

    Origin:  Northeastern North America

  Black Limba

   Origin:  Tropical Western Africa

   Bloodwood

    Origin:  Tropical South America

Heartwood is a bright, vivid red. Color can darken to a darker brownish red over time with exposure to light. Applying a thick protective finish, and keeping the wood out of direct sunlight can help slow this color shift. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellowish color, though given the typically large trunk diameters, it’s seldom seen or included in imported lumber.

   Bocote

     Origin:  Mexico and Central/South America

With its striking, zebra-like contrasts, and bold figuring, Bocote can be a very eye-catching wood. Bookmatching two consecutive panels can create symmetrical “faces” and other patterns in the wood.  Bocote is generally used for its aesthetic attributes, rather than its mechanical ones—and although Bocote is by no means weak, its strength-to-weight ratio is below average. (It is roughly as stiff and strong as Hard Maple, even though Bocote is considerably heavier.) Common Uses:  Fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.

   Bubinga

     Origin:  Equatorial Africa

Heartwood ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. Sapwood is a pale straw color and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. 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.

   Canarywood

     Origin:  South America (from Panama down to southern Brazil)

Heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout. Pale yellow sapwood is sharply demarcated from heartwood. Color tends to darken and homogenize with age.

Some pieces of Canarywood can be almost rainbow colored—with dark red streaks, along with the natural orange, yellow, and brown coloration.

Canarywood is said to have good acoustic properties, and is sometimes used for speaker enclosures and entertainment system cabinets.

   Caribbean Walnut (Tzalam)

     Origin:  Mexico and Central America

     Heartwood light to medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or purplish hue. Darker brown streaks common. Thin sapwood is a pale grayish white, clearly demarcated from heartwood. Sometimes seen with curly grain patterns.

   Chechen

    Origin:  Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico

Heartwood color is highly varied, with red, orange, and brown contrasted with darker stripes of blackish brown. Color tends to shift to a darker reddish brown with age. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellow.

Grain is usually straight, but may be wild or interlocked. With a uniform medium to fine texture and good natural luster.

   Cherry (American)

     Origin:  Eastern North America

     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.

   Curly Maple

    Origin:  Primarily temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere

Called curly maple because the ripples in the grain pattern create a three dimensional effect that appears as if the grain has “curled” along the length of the board. It’s also referred to as fiddleback maple, in reference to its historic use for the backs and sides of violins.

   Hard Maple

    Origin:  Northeastern North America

    Unlike most other hardwoods, the sapwood of hard maple lumber is most commonly used rather than its heartwood. Sapwood color ranges from nearly white, to an off-white cream color, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue. The heartwood tends to be a darker reddish brown. Birdseye maple is a figure found most commonly in hard maple, though it’s also found less frequently in other species. Hard maple can also be seen with curly or quilted grain patterns.

Hard maple ought to be considered the king of the Acer genus. Its wood is stronger, stiffer, harder, and denser than all of the other species of maple commercially available in lumber form. (It’s also the state tree in four different states in the US.)

   Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry)

     Origin: Central America, southern Mexico, northern South America, and the West Indies 

Heartwood varies from a light orangish brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with contrasting darker grayish brown streaks. Color tends darken upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a light grayish yellow, clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Grain is typically interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture. Good natural luster.

   Lacewood

    Origin:  Tropical South America

    Has a very conspicuous flecking that gives this wood its namesake. The wood itself is a reddish brown with grey or light brown rays, which result in a lace pattern when quarter sawn. Like other woods that exhibit the strongest figure in quarter sawn pieces, (such as Sycamore), Lacewood has the most pronounced figure and displays the largest flecks when perfectly quarter sawn; this is due to the wood’s wide medullary rays, whose layout can be seen the clearest when looking at the end grain.

   Makore (African Cherry)

    Origin:  Western and Middle Africa (from Sierra Leone to Gabon)

Heartwood pink or reddish brown, sometimes with streaks of mild color variation. Yellowish sapwood can be two to three inches wide, and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Figured grain patterns (such as mottled or curly) are a common occurrence.

Grain generally straight, though interlocked or wavy grain is sometimes present. Fine, even texture with good natural luster.

   Mango (Hawaiian Mango)

     Origin:  Tropical Asia - Oceania

     Because of the spalting that is commonly present, the wood can be a kaleidoscope of colors. Under normal circumstances, heartwood is a golden brown, while other colors such as yellow and streaks of pink and/or black can also occur. Paler sapwood is not always clearly defined. Curly or mottled grain patterns are also common.

Known much more widely for its fruit, mango trees also yield beautiful and valuable lumber. The wood is considered very eco-friendly, as some mango plantations harvest the trees for lumber after they have completed their useful fruit-bearing lifespan.

   Olive

     Origin:  Europe and eastern Africa

     Heartwood is a cream or yellowish brown, with darker brown or black contrasting streaks. Color tends to deepen with age. Olive is somtimes figured with curly or wavy grain, burl, or wild grain.

Olive trees are commercially important throughout the natural regions where they grow. There are several subspecies and hundreds of cultivars of Olea europaea; the olives harvested from the trees are made into olive oil.

   Padauk

     Origin:  Central and Tropical West Africa

     Padauk has a very unique reddish orange coloration, and the wood is sometimes referred to by the name Vermillion.  This dramatic color is inevitably darkened to a deep reddish brown color. UV-inhibiting finishes may prolong, but not prevent the gradual color-shift of this brightly colored wood

Padauk is perhaps the most frequently misspelled (and mispronounced) wood species, with Padouk, Paduk, and Paduak being common misspellings. The most common pronunciation is pah-DUKE, it is sometimes mispronounced as Paducah—a city in Kentucky.

   Purple Heart

     Origin:  Central and South America (from Mexico down to southern Brazil)

Sometimes called Amaranth, this colorful Latin American hardwood is tremendously popular for furniture and other designs that call for a unique splash of color.

In addition to its coloration, Purple Heart has excellent strength properties, and can be used in applications where strength is important—a wood for both form and function.

   Red Heart

     Origin:  Southern Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay

     Aptly named, in some instances freshly surfaced Redheart can be a very bright, watermelon red—though color can vary in intensity and hue from board to board: anywhere from a light orange/pink, (similar to Pink Ivory), to a darker brownish red. In some cases, it can look quite similar to Bloodwood, though usually with a more visible and figured grain pattern.

   Red Oak

     Origin: Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada

Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with a reddish cast. Nearly white to light brown sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quarter sawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns. Conversely, White Oak tends to be slightly more olive-colored, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

   Rose Gum (Red Grandis)

     Origin:  Eastern Australia; also grown on plantations worldwide

   Heartwood color ranges from pink to reddish brown. Paler sapwood is sometimes indistinct from heartwood.

Rose Gum is a common plantation species, though a hybrid species marketed as Lyptus^® is grown in Brazil: Rose Gum is bred with an Indonesian species (Eucalyptus urophylla) to help increase disease and insect resistance.

   Rosewood (Indian)

    Origin:  India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia

   Heartwood of East Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. The wood darkens with age, usually becoming a deep brown.

Common Uses:  Fine furniture, musical instruments, veneer, turned and other specialty wood objects.  East Indian Rosewood has been used extensively on acoustic guitars since the mid 1960s as a substitute for the now-endangered Brazilian Rosewood.

   Sapele

     Origin:  Tropical Africa

   Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quarter sawn boards, Sapele is also known for a wide variety of other figured grain patterns, such as: pommele, quilted, mottled, wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback

Sapele is a commonly exported and economically important African wood species. It’s   sold both in lumber and veneer form. It is occasionally used as a substitute for Genuine Mahogany, and is sometimes referred to as “Sapele Mahogany.”

Usually pronounced (sah-PELL-ey) or (sah-PEEL-ey).

   Shedua (Amazique)

     Origin:  Tropical west Africa

Varying shades of yellowish to reddish brown with darker brown, gray, or black stripes. Moderately wide sapwood is a pale yellow, clearly demarcated from heartwood. Sometimes seen with a curly or mottled grain pattern.

This wood wins the award for the most commonly-used aliases, with no single name being predominant. When used in guitars, it’s most commonly referred to as Ovangkol. Most other woodworkers favor either Shedua or Amazique, while veneer is sometimes sold under the name Mozambique. 

   Soft Maple

    Origin:   Temperate regions of North America

    Don’t be fooled by the name, most species of soft maple have a hardness and density near black walnut (Juglans nigra) or black cherry (Prunus serotina)—two highly regarded cabinet woods in North America. Soft is a relative term, and is only used to differentiate it from hard maple (Acer saccharum). For many applications, soft maple’s hardness is sufficient, and its reduced density generally means it’s easier to work with and machine than hard maple.

Exactly which species are sold under the soft maple umbrella will vary based on geography.

Spanish Cedar

Origin:  Native to Central and South America and the Caribbean; also grown on plantations

 Heartwood is a relatively uniform  light pinkish to reddish brown; colors tend to darken with age. Random pockets of gum and natural oils are commonly present.

Not a true cedar, Spanish Cedar is actually more closely related to true Mahoganies (Swietenia and Khaya genera), as both are in the Meliaceae family.  Some of the wood available at present comes from plantations: where younger, faster-growing trees, produce wood that is lower in density and paler in color than wood cut from trees taken from forests in the wild.

   Teak (Burmese – Original)

     Origin: Southern Asia

     Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age.

Sometimes called Burmese Teak, this name is used to differentiate natural-grown trees (typically from Myanmar, aka Burma) from Teak grown on plantations. Used extensively in India and within its natural range for centuries, Teak has grown into a worldwide favorite. With its superb stability, good strength properties, easy workability—and most of all, its outstanding resistance to decay and rot—it’s no wonder that Teak ranks among the most desired lumbers in the world.

Much like the many names and knockoffs of Mahogany, the moniker “Teak” has been affixed and assigned to a number of different woods seeking acclaim. The usual procedure is to  take a wood bearing any degree of resemblance to Teak and insert a geographical location in front of the name. For instance, Cumaru is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Teak, while Rhodesian Teak bears little botanical relation to real Teak—Tectona grandis. The name Burmese Teak, however, does refer to genuine Teak.

   Tigerwood (Goncalo Alves – Jobillo)

   Origin:  Mexico southward to Brazil

   Heartwood is typically a medium reddish brown with irregularly spaced streaks of dark brown to black. Color tends to darken with age.  Grain can be straight, but is usually wavy or interlocked. Fine, uniform texture with good natural luster.

Goncalo Alves is commonly referred to as “Tigerwood” or “Brazilian Tigerwood” among flooring dealers. The wood has superb stiffness, strength, hardness, and durability. However, density and other mechanical properties can vary widely depending on the growing site and source region. The name “Jobillo” is sometimes used to refer to higher grades of Goncalo Alves among wood turners.

   Walnut

     Origin:  Eastern United States

   Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a grey, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Figured grain patterns such as curl, crotch, and burl are also seen.

   White Oak

     Origin:  Eastern United States

   Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Nearly white to light brown sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quarter sawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns. Conversely, Red Oak tends to be slightly redder, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

White Oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland. Connecticut’s state quarter was minted with a picture and inscription of a famous White Oak tree, The Charter Oak.

   Yellowheart

     Origin:  Brazil

   Heartwood color ranges from pale to golden yellow, darkening only slightly with age.  Sapwood is a pale yellow/white.

Commonly referred to as Pau Amarello— which is Portuguese for “yellow wood”—few woods are as consistent and vibrant a yellow as Yellowheart. The wood is also sometimes sold as Brazilian Satinwood, though it is not to be considered a true satinwood

   Zebrawood

    Origin:  West Africa

   Heartwood is a light brown or cream color with dark blackish brown streaks vaguely resembling a zebra’s stripes. Depending on whether the wood is flatsawn or quarter sawn, the stripes can be either chaotic and wavy (flatsawn), or somewhat uniform (quarter sawn).