Featured Wood
|
click for larger view |
Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
APPEARANCE
Mesquite is light brown to dark reddish brown in color. High character
grain with ingrown bark and mineral streaks. Moderate variations in
color.
PROPERTIES
Mesquite is significantly harder than average with a Janka rating
of 2345. Excellent dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00129. Dense and very strong.
WORKABILITY
Very good machining qualities. Sands very well. Good nail holding
ability, however, splits easily. Finishes well.
Other Mesquite Samples:
|
Back
to Top
|
Domestic Wood
|
click for larger view |
American
Black Walnut
Juglans
nigra
APPEARANCE
Heartwood ranges from a deep, rich dark brown to a purplish black
and sapwood is nearly white to tan. Mostly straight and open grain
with some burling or curling.
PROPERTIES
American Black Walnut is softer than average with a Janka rating of
1010. Excellent dimensional stability with a change coefficient of
0.00274. Moderately dense, very strong wood with good shock resistance.
WORKABILITY
Easily worked with hand tools and has excellent machining qualities.
Sands well. Good nail holding qualities and fair resistance to splitting.
Finishes nicely with a handsome grain pattern.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
American
Cherry
Prunus serotina
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is light to dark reddish brown and lustrous. Sapwood is
light brown to pale with a light pinkish tone. Fine, frequently wavy
grain with uniform texture. Significant color variation between boards.
PROPERTIES
American Cherry is softer than average with a Janka rating of 950.
Above average dimensional stability with a change coefficient of 0.00248.
Strong, moderately hard with excellent shock resistance.
WORKABILITY
Good machining and sanding qualities. Good nail holding ability. Finishes
well.
|
Back
to Top
|
 |
Antique
Oak
Re-milled White Oak
Quercus alba
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is light brown and may contain some pinkish tint or a slight
grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream. Open grain with occasional
crotches, swirls and burls. Considerable variation among boards in
color and grain texture.
PROPERTIES
Average hardness with a Janka rating of 1360. Average dimensional
stability with a change coefficient of 0.00365. Excellent durability.
WORKABILITY
Excellent machining qualities with satisfactory sanding attributes.
Good resistance to splitting and excellent nail holding ability. Absorbs
finishes well.
|
Back
to Top
|
 |
Antique
Pine
Pinus spp.
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is yellow after cutting and turns deep pinkish tan to warm
reddish brown within weeks due to high resin content. Sapwood remains
yellow, with occasional blue-black sap stain. Grain is dense with
high figuring. Plainsawn grain is swirled and quartersawn grain is
predominantly pinstriped.
PROPERTIES
Slightly softer than average hardness with Janka Rating of 1225. Above
average dimensional stability with a change coefficient of 0.00263.
Dense wood.
WORKABILITY
Good machining and hand-tooling qualities. High resin content requires
initial coarse sanding. Holds nails well. Accepts both surface and
penetrating finishes but care must be taken with some finishes due
to surface resins.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Ash
APPEARANCE
Fraxinus spp.
Heartwood color is light tan to dark brown with sapwood color creamy
white. Color similar to white oak but typically more yellow. Bold,
straight, moderately open grain with occasional wavy figuring.
PROPERTIES
Average hardness with Janka Rating of 1320. Above average dimensional
stability with a change coefficient of 0.00274. Elastic, hard, excellent
shock resistance. Remains smooth under friction.
WORKABILITY
Good machining qualities with satisfactory sanding qualities. Good
nail holding ability and good resistance to splitting. Stains well.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Texas
Pecan
Carya spp.
APPEARANCE
Pecan heartwood is reddish brown with dark brown stripes and sapwood
is white or creamy white with pinkish tones. Pecan grain is open and
occasionally wavy or irregular. Hickory grain is closed with moderate
definition and somewhat rough-textured.
PROPERTIES
Texas Pecan is significantly harder than average with a Janka Rating
of 1820. Average dimensional stability with change coefficients of
0.00315 and 0.00411 respectively. Exceedingly high resistance to shock.
WORKABILITY
Density of species makes it difficult to season, machine and work
with hand tools. Also difficult to sand due to density. Good holding
ability but prone to split. Finishes well.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Hickory
/ Pecan
Carya spp.
APPEARANCE
Pecan heartwood is reddish brown with dark brown stripes and sapwood
is white or creamy white with pinkish tones. Hickory heartwood is
tan or reddish and sapwood is white to cream with fine brown lines.
Pecan grain is open and occasionally wavy or irregular. Hickory grain
is closed with moderate definition and somewhat rough-textured.
PROPERTIES
Hickory / Pecan is significantly harder than average with a Janka
Rating of 1820. Average dimensional stability with change coefficients
of 0.00315 and 0.00411 respectively. Exceedingly high resistance to
shock.
WORKABILITY
Density of species makes it difficult to season, machine and work
with hand tools. Also difficult to sand due to density. Good holding
ability but prone to split. Finishes well.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Maple
Sugar/Hard
Acer saccharum
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is creamy white to light reddish brown and sapwood is pale
to creamy white. Closed, subdued grain with moderate figuring and
uniform texture. Occasionally shows quilted, fiddle back, curly or
bird's-eye figuring.
PROPERTIES
Maple is slightly harder than average with a Janka rating of 1450.
Average dimensional stability with a change coefficient of 0.00353.
Dense, strong, tough and stiff with excellent resistance to shock.
WORKABILITY
Density makes machining difficult. Sands satisfactorily. Good nail
holding ability with fair resistance to splitting. Maple takes neutral
finish well, however, it does not stain uniformly.
|
Back
to Top
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Myrtle
California laurel
Umbellularia californica
APPEARANCE
The heartwood is rich golden brown to yellowish-green, ranging in
hue from light to dark with a large proportion of paler sapwood. Primarily
straight grained but often shows irregular or wavy grain which is
smooth, close and compact, with a firm texture and distinct rays.
PROPERTIES
Myrtle is heavy, very hard wearing and resilient.
WORKABILITY
Myrtle is fairly difficult to work with tools. The wood takes an exquisitely
high polish.
|
Back
to Top
|
 |
Red
Alder
Alnus rubra
APPEARANCE
Red Alder's heartwood and sapwood are not clearly distinguished. Freshly
cut, the wood is almost white, turning light reddish-brown upon exposure
to air. Typically straight grain with close and even texture.
PROPERTIES
Red Alder is a relatively soft hardwood with below average hardness
and good dimensional stability. Below average shock resistance.
WORKABILITY
Excellent machining qualities with good sanding attributes. Fair nail
holding ability. Finishes easily and takes stain well.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Red
Oak
Quercus spp.
APPEARANCE
Heartwood and sapwood are similar, with sapwood lighter in color.
Most wood has reddish tone. Open, slightly coarse grain. Color and
grain varies between the abundance of Oak subspecies.
PROPERTIES
Red Oak is the benchmark (average) for hardness ratings with a Janka
rating of 1290. Average dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00369. Stiff, dense and resistant to wear with excellent resistance
to shock.
WORKABILITY
Red Oak is above average in virtually all machining operations. Sands
well with excellent nail holding ability and good resistance to splitting.
Stains contrast strongly due to the wood's large pores.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
White
Oak
Quercus alba
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is light brown and may contain some pinkish tint or a slight
grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream. Open grain with occasional
crotches, swirls and burls. Considerable variation among boards in
color and grain texture.
PROPERTIES
Average hardness with a Janka rating of 1360. Average dimensional
stability with a change coefficient of 0.00365. Excellent durability.
WORKABILITY
Excellent machining qualities with satisfactory sanding attributes.
Good resistance to splitting and excellent nail holding ability. Absorbs
finishes well.
|
Back
to Top
|
Exotic
Wood
|
 |
African
Padauk
Pterocarpus soyauxii
APPEARANCE
The heartwood is vivid reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening
to reddish- or purple-brown or black over time. Sapwood is cream-colored.
Straight to interlocked grain with a coarse texture.
PROPERTIES
African Padauk is significantly harder than average with a Janka rating
of 1725. Excellent dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00180. Very good durability.
WORKABILITY
African Padauk machines easily and saws well. Sands and finishes well.
Good nail holding ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Australian
Cypress
Callitris glauca
APPEARANCE
Sapwood is cream-colored and heartwood is honey-gold to brown with
darker knots throughout. Closed grain with high degree of color variability.
PROPERTIES
Australian Cypress is slightly harder than average with a Janka rating
of 1375. Excellent dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00162, however, actual installations have demonstrated above
average movement in practical use. Excellent durability.
WORKABILITY
Good machining qualities with satisfactory sanding attributes. Somewhat
brittle and splits easily. Finishes well.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Bamboo
Phyllostachys edulis
APPEARANCE
Bamboo is straw colored with delicate linear lines of brighter and
darker hues. On Bamboo that has been carbonized by controlled heating,
the wood takes on a mellow brown oak-like color and the vascular strands
are pronounced. A unique figure is developed, similar to a knot, for
each growth.
PROPERTIES
Bamboo is hard, strong and elastic. Dense.
WORKABILITY
Bamboo can be machined easily. Care must be taken when sanding. Finishes
well.
|
Back
to Top
|
click
for larger view |
Brazilian
Cherry
Jatoba
Hymenaea courbaril
APPEARANCE
Sapwood is gray-white. Heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown when
fresh, becomes russet or reddish brown when seasoned and is often
marked with dark streaks. Mostly interlocked grain with medium to
coarse to texture.
PROPERTIES
Brazilian Cherry is significantly harder than average with a Janka
rating of 2350. Average dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00300, however, actual installations have demonstrated above
average movement in practical use. Dense and very strong wood.
WORKABILITY
Sawing Brazilian Cherry is difficult due to its high density and planing
is difficult due to its interlocked grain. Can be machined to a smooth
surface. Sands well with good nail holding ability. Finishes well.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Bubinga
Guibourtia tessmannii
APPEARANCE
Bubinga heartwood is light reddish-brown and veined with pink or red
stripes. Bubinga sapwood is paler in color. The grain is wavy and
texture is fine.
PROPERTIES
Bubinga is very hard and heavy. Moderately durable.
WORKABILITY
Even though Bubinga is very hard and heavy, it can be sawn easily.
Bubinga stains easily and takes a fine finish.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Cork
Quercus suber
APPEARANCE
Cork can be manufactured to many different appearances.
PROPERTIES
Cork is a tough, durable substance with remarkable capacity for retaining
its initial properties. It maintains a high degree of stability.
WORKABILITY
Cork is highly workable.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Ebony
Gabon ebony
APPEARANCE
Ebony heartwood is uniform jet black and sometimes streaked with greenish-black
markings. Its sapwood is light yellowish-white. The grain is typically
undistinguished and its texture is very fine.
PROPERTIES
Ebony is strong and hard.
WORKABILITY
Working with Ebony requires very sharp tools due to its hardness.
Ebony finishes to a high polish.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Ipe
Tabebuia spp.
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is grayish and darkens to grayish-green or brownish-olive.
Sapwood is yellowish-white. The grain is straight or irregular with
a low to medium luster. Wood is fine textured with some fine rippling.
PROPERTIES
Ipe is a very strong, hard and heavy wood. Tough and resilient.
WORKABILITY
Ipe is difficult to work due to its toughness. Stains and polishes
well. Good nail holding ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is uniformly pinkish to dark red, often a rich, dark red
mahogany hue, turning a deep brownish red with age and exposure. Sapwood
is pale. Frequently interlocked or wavy grain with even and moderately
coarse texture.
PROPERTIES
Jarrah is significantly harder than average with a Janka rating of
1910. Below average dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00396. Dense and very strong wood with high resistance to wear.
WORKABILITY
Jarrah is difficult to work due to high density and irregular grain.
Sands well but care must be taken with finishing. Good nail holding
ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Merbau
Intsia spp.
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is yellowish to orange-brown when freshly cut, turning brown
or dark red-brown upon exposure. Straight to interlocked or wavy grain
with a coarse texture.
PROPERTIES
Merbau is significantly harder than average with a Janka rating of
1925. Excellent dimensional stability with a change coefficient of
0.00158., however, actual installations have demonstrated above average
movement in practical use.
WORKABILITY
Sawing Merbau is difficult. Sands well but care must taken with finishing.
Good nail holding ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
 |
Purple
Heart
Peltogyne spp.
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is brown when freshly cut, turning deep purple to purplish
brown over time. Sapwood is lighter cream color. Typically straight
grain with medium to fine texture.
PROPERTIES
Purpleheart is significantly harder than average with a Janka rating
of 1860. Excellent dimensional stability with a change coefficient
of 0.00212. Very strong and dense.
WORKABILITY
Purpleheart is somewhat difficult to machine due to hardness. Sands
and finishes well. Good nail holding ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
click
for larger view |
Santos
Mahogany
Myroxylon balsamum
APPEARANCE
The heartwood is reddish-brown becoming deep red to purplish-red upon
exposure. The wood varies from uniform to striped. The luster is medium
to high, and the texture is fine to medium. The grain is typically
interlocked and rippled.
PROPERTIES
Santos Mahogany is significantly harder than average with a Janka
rating of 2200. Above average dimensional stability with a change
coefficient of 0.00238. Excellent durability.
WORKABILITY
Moderately difficult to machine due to wood hardness. Sands and finishes
well. Good nail holding ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Teak
Tectona grandis
APPEARANCE
Heartwood varies from yellow-brown to dark golden brown and turns
rich brown under exposure to sunlight. Sapwood is a lighter cream
color. Straight coarse grain with uneven texture.
PROPERTIES
Teak is softer than average with a Janka rating of 1000. Excellent
dimensional stability with a 0.00186 change coefficient. Excellent
durability.
WORKABILITY
Teak is moderately easy to machine and saw. Sanding is moderately
difficult and care must be taken when finishing. Good nail holding
ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
click for larger view |
Tigerwood
Astronium Lecointei
APPEARANCE
Tigerwood offers large variation in striping, darkening with time,
featuring light golden browns to reddish brown color with blackish
brown streaks, giving it a striking appearance.
PROPERTIES
Janka Hardness Rating: 1850 lbs. (839.14 kg.) By comparison, Northern
Red Oak's is 1,290 lbs. (585 kg.)
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Wenge
Millettia spp.
APPEARANCE
Heartwood is yellow-brown when freshly cut, turning dark brown to
almost black with alternate layers of light and dark. Sapwood is yellowish-white.
Straight grain when quartersawn with coarse texture.
PROPERTIES
Wenge is harder than average with a Janka rating of 1630. Excellent
dimensional stability with a change coefficient of 0.00201, however,
actual installations have demonstrated above average movement in practical
use. Average durability.
WORKABILITY
Sawing and machining Wenge is difficult due to its hardness. Sands
well and care must be taken when finishing. Good nail holding ability.
|
Back
to Top
|
Engineered Flooring
- Unfinished
|
Back
to Top
|
click
for larger view |
Cherry
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 or 5 plies
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab, over wooden sub floor
and below grade (basements)
|
Back
to Top
|
click
for larger view |
(Northern)
Hickory
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 ply only
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab, over wooden sub floor
and below grade (basements)
APPEARANCE / PROPERTIES
Some color variation from board to board, slightly harder than Oak
|
Back
to Top
|
click
for larger view |
Maple
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 ply only
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab, over wooden sub floor
and below grade (basements)
APPEARANCE / PROPERTIES
Very uniform in color, slightly harder than Oak
|
Back
to Top
|
|
|
Northern
Red Oak
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 ply only
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab, over wooden sub floor
and below grade (basements)
APPEARANCE / PROPERTIES
More grain per square inch than Southern Red Oak
|
Back
to Top
|
|
Walnut
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 ply only
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab, over wooden sub floor
and below grade (basements)
APPEARANCE / PROPERTIES
Elegant, dark wood
|
Back
to Top
|
|
|
White
Oak
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 ply only
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab, over wooden sub floor
and below grade (basements)
|
Back
to Top
|
click
for larger view |
Wild
Pecan
THICKNESS
½" in total thickness, 3 or 5 plies
APPLICATIONS
Over radiant heat system, over concrete slab and over wooden sub floor
APPEARANCE / PROPERTIES
Can produce an old floor look with a dark stain, wonderful character
marks in lighter finishes, harder than Oak
|
