WOODS

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca): ” Heartwood is light brown, sometimes with a reddish or orangish cast. Darker brown streaks are common. Sapwood is generally thin, and is slightly paler than heartwood… Although Apricot is related to Cherry (Prunus genus), it tends to be heavier and harder than Cherry, and much more scarce. Sizes are very limited, so Apricot tends to be assigned primarily to smaller, more decorative purposes” (from wood-database.com) It is presented in light, striped and dark shades.

Azobe (Ekki) Lophira alata: Heartwood is a dark reddish or violet brown. Sapwood is a pale pinkish white, with a gradual transition zone between the heartwood and sapwood. Grain is interlocked, with a coarse texture and low natural luster. Rated as very durable, with good resistance to insect attacks. Good weathering characteristics. Difficult to work on account of its density and interlocked grain. Ekki is seldom available in the United States. Prices are expected to be in the mid to high range for an imported hardwood. Common Uses: Bridges, boatbuilding, marine applications, decking, and flooring. This tough, durable wood can be difficult to work, but its longevity make it well worth the effort (from wood-database.com)

The black palm “Chonta” is otherwise called: Black palm wood, Chonta, Pambil, Blackpalm, Palmbil, the Latin name Iriatrea deltoidea grows in Ecuador, where we brought it from. Wood, unique in its characteristics (although it is not exactly wood), you will not find a detailed description of the Black Palm on the Internet, since the name “Chonta” is not commercial, it is imported to the USA and China under other names. Palma is mainly used for the manufacture of expensive flooring: The indigenous people of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru make their folk musical instrument Marimba from the Black Palm tree.

Apple (Malus domestica): “Heartwood of Apple can vary from a light reddish or grayish brown to a deeper red/brown. The grain of Apple is sometimes seen with streaks of darker and lighter bands of color, similar to Olive. Sapwood is a pale cream color. Grain is straight (though on some sections of the tree it can also be wild). With a very fine, uniform texture, closely resembling Cherry. Apple can be somewhat difficult to work due to its high density. Likely to be rather expensive, and is usually meant for only small projects and specialized applications.” (from wood-database.com)

European Ash (Fraxinus Excelsior): “The heartwood is a light to medium brown color, though darker streaks can also be seen, which is sometimes sold as Olive Ash. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood. Has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. The grain is straight and regular, though sometimes curly or figured boards can be found. Common purposes are flooring, millwork, boxes/crates, baseball bats, and other turned objects such as tool handles. (from wood-database.com)

European Beech (Fagus sylvatica): “Pale straw color, sometimes with a pink or brown hue. Flatsawn surfaces tend to be somewhat plain, while quartersawn surfaces exhibit a minute ray fleck pattern. Grain is straight; fine to medium uniform texture and moderate natural luster. Common Uses: Lumber, veneer, flooring, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments (piano pinblocks), plywood, and turned objects. Beech is an important and widely-used hardwood in Europe. Its hardness, wear-resistance, strength, and excellent bending capabilities—coupled with its low price—make this hardwood a mainstay for many European woodworkers. Given the right soil conditions, European beech trees can grow to very large sizes, and wide, long lumber is commonly available for use. (from wood-database.com)

Bog Oak (Quercus robur)

Box Elder (Ash-leaved Maple) Stabilized Curly and Burl wood ( Acer negundo) “Curly wood is simply a description of a figure in the grain—it occurs most often in soft woods, but is also seen in hard woods. It is so called 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. (from wood-database.com)

Curly Pear (Pyrus communis): “Heartwood is a pale pink or light reddish brown. Sapwood is slightly paler but is not usually distinct from heartwood. Pear is sometimes steamed to deepen the pink coloration. Grain is usually straight, with a very fine uniform texture. A popular and premium hardwood in Europe, Pear is only availability in limited quantities in the United States. Common uses: veneer, architectural millwork, marquetry, inlay, carving, musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and turned objects.” (from wood-database.com)

Carpathian/ English Elm (Ulmus procera): “Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown. Paler sapwood is usually well defined. Burls of English Elm are frequently referred to as Carpathian Elm burl. Carpathian Elm burl veneer is occasionally available, and is among the most expensive veneers commercially available. Common Uses: Boxes, baskets, furniture, hockey sticks, veneer, archery bows, and paper (pulpwood).” (from wood-database.com)

Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos): “Heartwood is a medium to light reddish brown. Wide sapwood is a light yellow, clearly distinguished from the heartwood. Very similar in appearance to Kentucky Coffeetree. Grain is usually straight or slightly irregular, with a medium uneven texture. Moderate natural luster. Honey Locust can be difficult to work with hand and machine tools on account of its density, though it generally produces good results. Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well. Common Uses: Furniture, fence posts, utility lumber, and turned objects. Somewhat similar in appearance to Black Locust, Honey Locust is technically in a different genus, (Robinia and Gleditsia, respectively), and telling the two apart is somewhat similar to separating White and Red Oak—the pores of Black Locust are packed with tyloses, while they are absent in the pores of Honey Locust. Honey Locust bears a much closer resemblance to Kentucky Coffeetree, which is similar both in color, grain, and anatomy.” (from wood-database.com)

Hornbeam (Cárpinus bétulus): “Hornbeam’s sapwood is very thick, color is nearly white. Grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with a fine, even texture. Hornbeam has excellent resistance to wear and abrasion. Overall, Hornbeam is considered difficult to work on account of its density and toughness. However, this same density, coupled with its fine and even grain, make an excellent turning wood.” (from wood-database.com)
It’s named so, because one of its original uses was as an ox yoke, or the wood was reputed to be as hard and tough as a horn.

European Oak (Quercus robur): Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. Nearly white to light brown sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Grain is straight, with a coarse, uneven texture. May have irregular or interlocked grain depending on growing conditions of the tree. Common Uses: Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels, and veneer. One of the most famous English Oak trees, The Major Oak, is a massive tree located in Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, England. The tree is estimated to be approximately 1,000 years old, and is purported to have been a common hideout for Robin Hood and his outlaws.(from wood-database.com) It is presented in light and bog shades.

Mulberry (Morus alba): “Heartwood is a golden brown, darkening to a medium/reddish brown with age. Sapwood is a pale yellowish white. Grain is straight, with a uniform medium texture. Good natural luster. Rated as very durable wood.
Mulberry species are perhaps better known for their edible fruit. The leaves of White Mulberry (Morus alba) are also the primary food source for the silkworm (Bombyx mori), which is used to produce silk. The wood itself looks very similar to Osage Orange, though Mulberry tends to be significantly lighter. Black Locust also bears a close resemblance to Mulberry, and it’s weight is only slightly higher than Mulberry’s.” (from wood-database.com) It is presented in light and bog shades.

Sweet Cherry (Prunus Avium): Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish color, typically 1-2″ wide. Has a fine to medium texture with close grain. The grain is usually straight or slightly wavy. Typically only available in Europe (or from orchards), Sweet Cherry is usually only sold in smaller sizes or as veneer. Common Uses: Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, turned objects, musical instruments, and carvings. Sweet Cherry is the Old World counterpart to Black Cherry found in North America. Sweet Cherry is said to exhibit a bit more of a color contrast than Black Cherry, and it also tends to be slightly denser and stronger.(from wood-database.com)

Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria, syn.Rhus cotinus): the European Smoke Tree, Eurasian Smoke Tree, Smoke Tree, Smoke Bush, Venetian Sumach, or Dyer’s Sumach.
It is a multiple-branching deciduous shrub, only rarely forming a small tree. The autumn colour can be strikingly varied, from peach and yellow to scarlet. Most of the flowers in each inflorescence abort, elongating into yellowish-pink to pinkish-purple feathery plumes (when viewed en masse these have a wispy ‘smoke-like’ appearance, hence the common name “smoke tree”) Wood – ornamental. Used for cabinet making, picture frames. The twigs are used in basketry. The wood was also formerly used to make the yellow dye called young fustic (fisetin), now replaced by synthetic dyes.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): “Lilac colors can be variable depending on species. Sometimes seen with reddish or lavender color streaks throughout the heartwood. Slightly interlocked grain, with a very fine texture. Good natural luster. Reported to be an excellent turning wood. Due to its small size (typically only a shrub or bush), Lilac is not considered a woodworking lumber, and is never commercially harvested. Small pieces may be occasionally available from through hobbyist and other small-scale channels. Occasionally used for small turned projects such as pens and bowls, as well as carved items. In the Oleaceae family, Lilac bears at least a distant relation to Olive. Not to be confused with Chinaberry, which is an unrelated species that is sometimes referred to as “Persian Lilac.” (from wood-database.com)

Dark Pear (Pyrus communis)

Pear (Pyrus communis): “Heartwood is a pale pink or light reddish brown. Sapwood is slightly paler but is not usually distinct from heartwood. Pear is sometimes steamed to deepen the pink coloration. Grain is usually straight, with a very fine uniform texture. A popular and premium hardwood in Europe, Pear is only availability in limited quantities in the United States. Common uses: veneer, architectural millwork, marquetry, inlay, carving, musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and turned objects.” (from wood-database.com)

Purpleheart/ Amaranth (Peltogyne spp.): “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, Purpleheart has excellent strength properties, and can be used in applications where strength is important – a wood for both form and function. Common Uses: Inlays/accent pieces, flooring, furniture, boatbuilding, heavy construction, and a variety of specialty wood items. When freshly cut the heartwood of Purpleheart is a dull grayish/purplish brown. Upon exposure the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple.” (from wood-database.com)

Robinia/ Black Locust /Acacia (Robínia pseudoacácia): “Color of Black Locust wood can range from a pale greenish-yellow to a darker brown. Tends to darken to a russet brown with age. Grain is usually straight, with a medium texture. Black Locust is a very hard and strong wood, competing with Hickory (Carya genus) as the strongest and stiffest domestic timber: but with more stability and rot resistance.
Although it shares a similar common name with Honey Locust, the two aren’t in the same genus, (Robinia and Gleditsia, respectively). Black Locust tends to be slightly heavier, harder, and with more of a green or yellow tinge, while Honey Locust tends to have a warmer orange or red tint.” (from wood-database.com) It is presented in light, greenish, dark and bog shades.

Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia)/ Black Locust/ Acacia Curly and Burl wood: “Curly wood is simply a description of a figure in the grain—it occurs most often in soft woods, but is also seen in hard woods. It is so called 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. (from wood-database.com) It is presented in light, greenish, dark and bog shades.

Rosewood Santos (Machaerium sleroxilon): “The wood is conventionally named Rosewood, widespread in Brazil. Rosewood can range in color from pinkish brown to purple brown. The structure of natural wood is characterized by some fiber, it is wavy-twisted, with a coarse texture. Today, Santos, which was once a substitute for the Rio Rosewood variety, its quality is recognized throughout the world. Very hard and resilient, even in structure, quite tough and moderately heavy wood. widely used in decorative and finishing works, making knife handles and carving, and is also widely used in the field of furniture manufacturing, cabinetry production etc.” (from sumywood)

Box Elder (Ash-leaved Maple) Stabilized Burl and Hybrid wood ( Acer negundo) “Curly wood is simply a description of a figure in the grain—it occurs most often in soft woods, but is also seen in hard woods. It is so called 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. (from wood-database.com)

Walnut (Júglans régia): “Its heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a gray, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is nearly white. European Walnut can occasionally also be found with figured grain patterns such as: curly, crotch, and burl.
Grain is usually straight, but can be irregular. Has a medium texture and moderate natural luster. Known in Europe simply as “Walnut,” or “Common Walnut,” English Walnut is the source of what are the most common form of edible walnuts for human consumption. Branches of English Walnut are sometimes grafted onto the trunk of Claro Walnut trees in Californian walnut orchards to take advantage of the latter tree’s roots, which are better suited to the locale and produce more fruit” (from wood-database.com)

Katalox (Mexican Royal Ebony) Swartzia spp. (S. cubensis): “Heartwood is dark reddish brown to nearly black, sometimes with a strong purple hue. Sapwood is sharply demarcated and is pale yellowish white. Grain is usually straight, but can also be irregular or interlocked. With a fine even texture and good natural luster. Katalox is typically considered difficult to work on account of its high density, it is very durable. Common Uses: Inlays, fine furniture and cabinetry, parquet flooring, guitars, turnings, and other small specialty items. Comments: Katalox has exceptional strength properties, and is among the very stiffest and strongest woods available worldwide. Its dark color makes it a popular substitute for ebony, and the wood is sometimes called Mexican Royal Ebony, though it is not a true ebony in the Diospyros genus.”

Gaboon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora): “Heartwood is usually jet-black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Grain is usually straight but can also be interlocked. Fine even texture with very high natural luster. Ebony is rated as being very durable. Can be difficult to work due to its extremely high density. Gaboon Ebony is among the most expensive of all available lumbers: usually about two to three times more expensive than most species of Rosewood. The small size of the tree, and its high demand for ornamental work may contribute to its seemingly outlandish price. Common Uses: Small/ornamental items, such as piano keys, musical instrument parts, pool cues, carvings, and other small specialty items. So named because historically most of the wood was exported from the nation of Gabon, though today it’s much more likely to be sourced from Cameroon. The wood is exceptionally dense and strong.” (from wood-database.com)

Box Elder/ Ash-Leaved Maple (Acer negundo): “Sometimes called “Ash-leaved Maple” because of its non-typical leaves, Box Elder is technically considered a maple tree (Acer genus). The name “Box Elder” is based upon the similarity of its whitish wood to that of boxwood. It is native to North America. Sapwood is a pale white, sometimes with a yellow/green hue similar to yellow poplar. The heartwood is a grayish/yellowish brown, frequently with red or pink streaks. The red stain is produced by the tree’s natural defenses when wounded – it is thought that this compound is meant to inhabit the growth of fungus that commonly colonizes the tree.
Common uses are turned objects, small ornamental objects, wood pulp, charcoal, boxes, and crates.” (from wood-database.com)

Wenge