Wood Detail
Enlarge
Cherry (American Cherry)
- Latin name:
- Prunus Serotina
- Qualities:
- Cherry ranges in color from light to medium reddish-brown. Cherry has a smooth texture with a straight, fine grain pattern. Cherry may contain small dark gum spots which add interest to the grain. Cherry is especially sensitive to light and will darken and redden with exposure to light.
- Hardness:
- Hard
Enlarge
Clear Pine (Sugar Pine)
- Latin name:
- Pinus lambertiana
- Qualities:
- Clear Pine is pale tan with hues of red and peach. Its grain is open and straight and it has a fine texture. Clear Pine may have some pin knots, but does not have as many knots as Knotty Pine. The species ambers (yellows) with time.
- Hardness:
- Soft
Enlarge
Douglas Fir (Clear Vertical Grain)
- Latin name:
- Pseudotsuga Menziesii
- Qualities:
- Douglas Fir ranges in color from yellowish-tan to light brown. Douglas Fir has a straight grain pattern which may contain some waves or spirals. It has a medium to coarse texture.
- Hardness:
- Medium
Enlarge
European Beech
- Latin name:
- Fagus Sylvatica
- Qualities:
- European Beech is light brown with a pinkish hue. European Beech is very smooth with consistent and closed grain. European Beech takes stain well and is ideal for contemporary applications.
- Hardness:
- Hard
Enlarge
Hickory
- Latin name:
- Carya Glabra
- Qualities:
- Hickory ranges in color from cream to pinkish-brown. Hickory has a slightly coarse texture with a straight to wavy grain pattern. Hickory is extremely tough and resilient.
- Hardness:
- Hard
Enlarge
Knotty Alder (Red Alder)
- Latin name:
- Alunus Rubra
- Qualities:
- Knotty Alder is moderately light and ranges in color from white to tan and can have a pinkish-brown tinge. Knotty Alder has a rugged, knotty appearance. Knots vary in size and distribution – from tight, closed knots to split, open knots.
- Hardness:
- Soft
Enlarge
Knotty Pine (Eastern White Pine)
- Latin name:
- Pinus Strobus
- Qualities:
- Knotty Pine is typically selected for its rustic appearance. It is pale tan with hues of red and peach and has a fine, open-grained texture. Knots are tight and close together. The species ambers (yellows) with time.
- Hardness:
- Soft
Enlarge
Mahogany (African Mahogany)
- Latin name:
- Khaya Ivorensis
- Qualities:
- Mahogany varies in color from light to medium dark reddish-brown. Mahogany has a medium texture with a straight to irregular grain pattern. Mahogany tends to lighten with age and exposure to sunlight.
- Hardness:
- Medium
Enlarge
Poplar
- Latin name:
- Populus Balsamifera
- Qualities:
- Poplar is light in color, but contains dramatic color variation and streaking. Poplar is smooth, but exhibits more grain texture than woods like Maple. Paint grade poplar is best suited for paint finishes.
- Hardness:
- Soft
Enlarge
Red Oak
- Latin name:
- Querqus Rubra
- Qualities:
- Red Oak varies in color from reddish-tan to medium brown. It has prominent, open grain patterns ranging from tight and vertical to arched or “cathedral.” Red Oak lacks the patterning and figuring found in White Oak. Red Oak has a medium to coarse texture.
- Hardness:
- Hard
Enlarge
Select Alder (Red Alder)
- Latin name:
- Alnus Rubra
- Qualities:
- Select Alder is moderately light and ranges in color from white to tan and can have a pinkish-brown tinge. Its straight-grained pattern is similar to Cherry. Select Alder has a fine, uniform texture.
- Hardness:
- Soft
Enlarge
Walnut (Black Walnut)
- Latin name:
- Juglans Nigra
- Qualities:
- Walnut is known for its distinctive color variation, from the nearly white sapwood to the heartwood that is deep, dark brown to purplish-black in color. It has a slightly coarse texture with mostly straight and open grain, but may have burls or waves. Walnut produces a greater variety of figure types than other species.
- Hardness:
- Hard
Enlarge
White Maple (Sugar Maple)
- Latin name:
- Acer Saccharum
- Qualities:
- White Maple is near white in color with a trace of reddish-brown. It has a smooth texture with a straight to wavy grain pattern. White Maple may contain dark mineral streaks which are caused by mineral absorption from the soil.
- Hardness:
- Hard
Enlarge
White Oak
- Latin name:
- Querqus Alba
- Qualities:
- White Oak is a dense hardwood that varies in color from light grayish-tan to brown. It is mostly straight-grained with a medium to coarse texture. White Oak tends to have longer rays than Red Oak. It has fewer distinctive marks than other species.
- Hardness:
- Hard
