Click on a wood type below for more information.

• Botanical Name: Fraxinus americana
• Other names: Canadian White Ash, American White Ash, Red Ash
• Grows in: North America
• General characteristics: Grayish-brown to red; straight grain with coarse, but even texture.
• Working properties: Moderate dulling effect on tools, can be worked well with both hand and machine tools. Polishes, stains and glues well.
• Uses: Sports equipment (bats, cues, oars), handles, church pews, bent parts for boat building, cabinet work, plywood manufacture and veneers.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Ochroma pyramidale
• Other names: Guano, Lancro, Polka, Topa, Tami
• Grows in: West Indies, Central America, tropical South America, particularly Ecuador
• General characteristics: White to pale brown with fine, soft texture and a straight and open grain. The lightest of commercially available woods, possessing a high buoyancy.
• Working properties: Easy to work with, blunting effect is slight. Easily nailed or screwed, but gluing is best method of fixing. Accepts finishes well, but absorbs much material in the process.
• Uses: Rafts, lifebelts, protective packaging, toys and model making.
  
  
  
  

• Botanical Name: Tilia americana
• Other names: American Linden, American Lime, Lime Tree, Linn.
• Grows in: Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
• General characteristics: Creamy white to pale brown, straight grain and fine, even texture.
• Working properties: Slight blunting effect on tools. Nails, screws and glues well. Stains and polishes well.
• Uses: Hand carving, turning, piano keys, drawing boards, toys, picture framing, boxes, crates, constructional veneer and plywood.
  
  
  
  

• Botanical Name: Fagus Grandifolia
• Other names: None
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Reddish-brown with straight grain and a fine, even texture.
• Working properties: Works well with hand and machine tools, but tends to bind on the saw and burn in crosscutting and drilling. Nails and glues well. Stains and polishes well.
• Uses: Cabinet and furniture making, flooring, turnery, interior joinery, handles and veneers.
  
  
  
  

• Botanical Name: Betula papyrifera
• Other names: Paper birch, White birch, American Birch.
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Reddish-brown heartwood, light yellow sapwood. Straight, close-grained with fine, even texture.
• Working properties: Glues well with care, takes stain and polish well.
• Uses: Furniture, high-grade joinery and flooring, toys, spools.
  
  
  
  

• Botanical Name: Brosimum Paraense
• Other names: Muirapiranga, Boise Satiné, Satine Rubane, Cardinal Wood.
• Grows in: Tropical America
• General characteristics: Gray-red to deep rich red heartwood and variegated yellow and red stripes .
• Working properties: Hard wood, holds screws well; glues, stains and polishes well.
• Uses: Furniture and cabinetmaking, marquetry, fancy boxes, turnery.
  
  
  

• Botanical Name: Juglans Cinera
• Other names: White Walnut
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Heartwood light to medium brown, sapwood white and narrow. Straight coarse grain.
• Working properties: Very easy to finish. Nails, screws and glues well.
• Uses: Carving, furniture, paneling, interior trim for boats.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Centrolobium
• Other names: None
• Grows in: Brazil, Bolivia
• General characteristics: Yellow to orange with streaks of red, purple and black; medium texture.
• Working properties: Easy to work. Turns well, takes a high natural polish.
• Uses: Furniture, doors, flooring, interior millwork, turnery.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Juniperus Virginiana
• Other names: Eastern Red Cedar, Pencil Cedar, Juniper
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Reddish-brown heartwood with an aromatic scent. Soft, straight-grained with a fine, even grain and texture.
• Working properties: Can split when nailed, but glues and stains well.
• Uses: Lead pencils, cigar boxes, linen and blanket chests, ship building, coffins and interior trim.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Thuga Plicata
• Other names: British Columbia Red Cedar, Giant Arborvitae, Red Cedar
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Heartwood dark chocolate brown to salmon-pink; sapwood is nearly white. Straight-grained with uniform, but coarse texture.
• Working properties: Easy to cut or split along the grain. Nails and screws easily and takes polish satisfactorily.
• Uses: Posts, fences and poles, shingles, decks, interior finishing
  
  

• Botanical Name: Cedrela Fissilis
• Other names: Brazilian Cedar, British Guiana Cedar, Peruvian Cedar, South American Cedar
• Grows in: Central and South America except Chile
• General characteristics: Pale pinkish-brown to dark reddish-brown with a straight grain. Has a fragrant scent and is resinous.
• Working properties: The presence of gum makes it difficult to stain and polish, but after suitable filling can be brought to a good finish. Screws and nails well, glues satisfactorily.
• Uses: Cabinet, furniture, flooring, house construction, boat building, clothing chests, humidors.
  
  

• Botanical Name: (Sickingia salvadorensis)
• Other names: Madiera, Cobano, Aguano, Caoba, Mahogany, Gateado
• Grows in: Central America, Eastern Coast of Mexico
• General characteristics: Bright red to pink with dark streaks.
• Working properties: The vivid red color will darken when oil or lacquer finish is applied. If left unfinished, it will oxidize to a golden tan.
• Uses: Boxes, turning, trim and inlay
  
  

• Botanical Name: (Prunus serotina)
• Other names: Rum Cherry, Whisky Cherry, Wild Cherry
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Reddish-brown heartwood; white to cream sapwood; straight grain and fine texture.
• Working properties: Easy to work, strong and durable. Becomes darker and richer with age.
• Uses: Furniture, joinery, cabinets, boat interiors, carving
  
  

• Botanical Name: (Dalbergia retusa)
• Other names: Granadillo
• Grows in: West coast of Central America
• General characteristics: Heartwood varies from rich red to variegated yellow and red streaks with irregular black stripes. Irregular grain with fine uniform texture.
• Working properties: Works and turns well. Finishes smoothly. Can be nailed and screwed easily, difficult to glue. Stains well.
• Uses: Handles, turnery, wooden jewelry
  
  

• Botanical Name: (Cerejeira)
• Other names: Brazilian Teak, Southern Chestnut
• Grows in: South America
• General characteristics: Heartwood reddish brown or purplish brown with yellow-brown or purplish streaks; gradually becomes light brown or yellow-brown with exposure.
• Working properties: Very hard, making it difficult to saw and bore. Glues poorly.
• Uses: Turnery, flooring, handles, cogs and shafts.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Pseudotsuga menziesii
• Other names: Orange pine, Yellow and Red fir, British Columbia Pine, Columbian Pine, Oregon Pine
• Grows in: Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Reddish-brown to orange with straight grain (sometimes wavy or spiral grain), uniform medium texture.
• Working properties: Difficult to carve and shape, pre-bore for nailing; screws and glues satisfactorily. Stains and finishes well with preparation.
• Uses: Veneer, joinery, laminated arches, roof trusses, poles, piles, ship building, railway sleepers, structural timbers.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Carya Glabra
• Other names: Red or White Hickory, Pignut Hickory, Mockernut Hickory, Shellbark Hickory, Shagbark Hickory
• Grows in: S. Eastern Canada and Eastern United States
• General characteristics: Brown or reddish-brown heartwood; light brown sapwood; coarse texture with relatively straight grain
• Working properties: Bends well, pre-bore for nailing, gluing difficult, stains and polishes well.
• Uses: Tool handles, chairs, ladders, sports equipment, cabinetry
  
  

• Botanical Name: Tabebuia Serratifolia
• Other names: Yellow Poui, Hakia, Ironwood, Groenhart, Wassiba, Lapacho, Ébene Vert, Amata Prieto
• Grows in: Central and South America and the Caribbean
• General characteristics: Olive-brown heartwood with lighter or darker streaks. Straight to irregular grain; fine textured.
• Working properties: Very strong, resistant to bending; pre-bore for nailing; screws, stains and polishes well.
• Uses: Bridge building, exterior construction, turnery, decking, tool handles, archery bows, cabinetry.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Hymenaea Courbaril
• Other names: Courbaril, Jutaby, Jatai Amerelo, Jatai Vermelho, Locust, Copal, Marbre, Guapinal, Algarrobo
• Grows in: Central and South America and West Indies
• General characteristics: Heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown with dark brown streaks. Grain interlocked with medium to coarse texture.
• Working properties: Nails poorly, but screws and glues well. Has a moderate blunting effect on tools. Will provide smooth finish. Stains well.
• Uses: Furniture, cabinetmaking, turnery and joinery, tool handles and sports equipment, flooring, stair treads, general building construction.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Dalbergia cearensis
• Other names: Violetwood, Violetta, Bois Violet
• Grows in: South America, mostly Brazil
• General characteristics: Heartwood has variegated colours with background of rich violet-brown, dark violet and black, sometimes with golden yellow. Usually straight-grained and fine textured.
• Working properties: Nails and screws well; can obtain a very smooth finish.
• Uses: Marquetry, turnery, inlay
  
  

• Botanical Name: Platanus Hybrida
• Other names: London Plane, English Plane, French Plane
• Grows in: S.E. Europe and West Asia
• General characteristics: Heartwood light reddish-brown; straight grained with fine to medium texture.
• Working properties: Glues well and stains and polishes with care to an excellent finish
• Uses: Furniture and cabinetry, joinery, light construction and paneling, inlay, turnery
  
  

• Botanical Name: Khaya Ivorensis
• Other names: Nigerian, Benin, Lagos or Degema Mahogany; Ghana, Ivory Coast, Takoradi or Grand Bassam Mahogany; Krala, Mangona, Munyama; Mbaua, Mkangazi
• Grows in: Tropical West, Central and East Africa
• General characteristics: Heartwood from light to deep reddish-brown. Grain straight to interlocked, texture is moderately coarse to medium.
• Working properties: May cause wooliness when planing. Nailing,  screwing and gluing properties are good, may be stained or polished to excellent finish.
• Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, joinery, boatbuilding, plywood
  
  

• Botanical Name: Mimusops Heckelii
• Other names: African Cherry, Baku, Makore, Douka, Ukola
• Grows in: West Africa
• General characteristics: Heartwood pink to pinkish-brown. Sapwood is lighter. Texture is medium with medium fine grain.
• Working properties: Excellent finishing, good gluing properties. May cause blunting of tools. Tends to split if nailed, but holds screws well.
• Uses: Furniture, turnery, cabinetry, joinery, boat building, veneers.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Acer saccharum
• Other names: Hard Maple, White Maple, Sugar Maple, Black Maple
• Grows in: Canada and Eastern USA
• General characteristics: Reddish-brown heartwood, white sapwood. Usually straight grained, but sometimes wavy figure and a birds eye pattern.
• Working properties: Difficult to work with, chips easily – moderate blunting to cutting edges.
• Pre-bore for nailing or screwing. Takes stain, glue and polish satisfactorily.
• Uses: Flooring, furniture, paneling, musical instruments, sports goods, butcher’s blocks, turnery.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Quercus
• Other names: American Red Oak, Northern Red Oak, Southern Red Oak, Spanish Oak, Swamp Red Oak, Cherrybark Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Gray Oak
• Grows in: Eastern Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Heartwood biscuit to pink colour with reddish tinge. Straight grained, coarse texture.
• Working properties: Pre-bore before nailing, can be stained or polished to a good finish.
• Uses: Flooring, furniture, veneer
  
  

• Botanical Name: Quercus
• Other names: White Oak, Chestnut Oak, Overcup Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Burr Oak
• Grows in: Eastern Canada and Eastern USA
• General characteristics: Light tan with yellow tint, straight grain, medium to coarse texture.
• Working properties: Takes nails and screws well with pre-boring. Stains and polishes well.
• Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, barrel making, flooring, pews and pulpits, boat building, ladder rungs, coffins.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Pterocarpus soyauxii
• Other names: Barwood, Camwood, Corail
• Grows in: Central and West Tropical Africa
• General characteristics: Deep-red to purple-brown. Straight grain, coarse texture.
• Working properties: Only slight blunting effect on tools, and machines easily. Nails, screws, glues and polishes very well. Excellent finish obtainable.
• Uses: Furniture, joinery, cabinetry, carvings, handles, paddles and oars, flooring.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Pinus strobus
• Other names: White Pine, Spruce Pine, Northern White Pine, Northern Pine, Quebec Pine, Soft Pine, Weymouth Pine, Balsam Pine, Canadian White Pine
• Grows in: Eastern Canada and USA
• General characteristics: Light yellow to reddish-brown. Soft, straight grain with even texture.
• Working properties: Works easily with hand or machine tools. Has little dulling effect on tools. Good nailing and screwing properties, glues well, takes stain, paint, polish very well.
• Uses: Carving, joinery, general carpentry, siding, furniture, musical instruments, ship and boat building.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Populus
• Other names: European Black Poplar, Black Italian Poplar, Robusta, Finnish Aspen, Swedish, French Aspen
• Grows in: North America, Europe including the U.K.
• General characteristics: Heartwood creamy-white to greenish-gray, but can have dark streaking; straight grained and often wooly; even, fine texture.
• Working properties: Only slight blunting effect on tools. Nailing satisfactory, gluing is easy, but staining may be difficult. Surface will take varnish and polish satisfactorily, and paint well.
• Uses: Furniture framing, drawers, interior trim, toys, flooring, boxes and crates.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Peltogyne
• Other names: Violetwood, Amaranth, Sakavalli, Pau Roxom Nazareno, Tananeo, Armante, Saka.
• Grows in: Central America and Tropical South America
• General characteristics: Heartwood is deep purple when freshly cut, maturing to a dark brown. Straight grain, but often irregular and wavy.
• Working properties: Moderately hard to work with, and has moderate blunting effect on cutters. Pre-bore for nailing; glues and stains well. Use lacquer-based finishes to preserve the colour.
• Uses: Turnings, furniture, cladding, house construction, flooring, tool handles, boat building, veneers, marquetry.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Dalbergia, stevensonii
• Other names: Nogaed
• Grows in: Central America
• General characteristics: Heartwood is dark brown to purplish with irregular black markings. Straight grained; medium to fine texture.
• Working properties: Can be difficult to work and has moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Excellent for turnery. Pre-bore for nailing, varnishes and polishes quite well.
• Uses: Furniture, musical instruments, mouldings, turnery.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Tectona Grandis
• Other names: Mai Sak, Pahi, Sagwan, Tekku, Kyun, Sagon, Tegina, Tadi, Jati Sak, Djati, Gia Thi
• Grows in: Burma and India, S.E. Asia, East and West Africa and the Caribbean
• General characteristics: Rich brown with darker chocolate-brown markings. Straight to wavy grained, coarse texture.
• Working properties: Severe blunting effect on cutters. Pre-bore to nail; glues, stains well.
• Uses: Ship and boat building for decking, rails, etc. Furniture and cabinetmaking, flooring, joinery, garden furniture, veneers.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Dalbergia frutescens
• Other names: Pau Rosa, Pau de Fuso, Jacaranda Rosa
• Grows in: Tropical South America, particularly Brazil
• General characteristics: Cream to straw coloured with irregular streaks of yellow, rose or violet. Fine texture, fragrant scent; straight grain, but more often irregular.
• Working properties: Can obtain a high natural finish and can be planed and sanded smoothly. Pre-bore for nailing; glues well.
• Uses: Turnery, fancy woodware, cabinets, caskets, jewellery boxes, marquetry and inlay work, veneers.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Nyssa sylvatica
• Other names: Bay Poplar, Swamp Tupelo
• Grows in: Eastern North America
• General characteristics: Yellowish or brownish-gray heartwood with lighter coloured sapwood. Fine, uniform texture.
• Working properties: Nails well, resists splitting.
• Uses: Lumber, veneer, pulpwood, furniture, cabinets, carving.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Juglans Nigra
• Other names: Canaletto, Black Hickory Nut, Canadian Walnut
• Grows in: Ontario Canada, Eastern USA
• General characteristics: Heartwood dark brown to purplish-black, mostly straight grained; coarse texture.
• Working properties: Works easily with hand or machine tools, hold nails or screws well, glues satisfactorily.
• Uses: High-quality furniture, cabinetmaking, interior joinery, boatbuilding, musical instruments, clock cases, turnery, carving.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Millettia Laurentii
• Other names: Dikela, Mibotu, Bokonge, Tshikalakala, Awong, Nson-so, Palissaundre du Congo
• Grows in: Eastern and Central Africa
• General characteristics: Heartwood is dark brown with close, fine black veins. Straight grained, coarse textured.
• Working properties: Works fairly well with machine tools. Gluing and polishing may be difficult due to resin in the wood. Nailing require pre-boring.
• Uses: Flooring, joinery, general construction work, turnery, veneer.
  
  

• Botanical Name: Euxylophora Paraensis
• Other names: Pau Amarello, Pau Setim
• Grows in: Brazil
• General characteristics: Heartwood bright clear yellow; yellowish-white sapwood; medium texture; grain straight to irregular
• Working properties: Works and finishes well.
• Uses: Furniture, parquet flooring, brush handles, turnery
  
  

• Botanical Name: Microberlinia brazzavillensis
• Other names: Zingana, Zebrawood, Amouk, Allene, Ele
• Grows in: West Africa
• General characteristics: Yellow-brown heartwood with streaks of dark brown to black; coarse texture.
• Working properties: Works well with hand or machine tools. A belt sander will provide a good finish. Glues well.
• Uses: Furniture, cabinetmaking, inlay bandings, marquetry, turnery, carving, paneling