Quilted Maple comes from Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), which grows along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to California. It's prized for its rippling, three-dimensional figure, which looks like quilted fabric or rippling water.The figure comes from irregularities in the tree's growth, and it gives the wood real depth and shimmer, especially under finish. Color varies from pale cream to light tan, sometimes with warmer tints. Only a small share of Bigleaf Maple shows strong quilt, which is why good boards command a premium.It's a little softer than Hard Maple and works much like other maples. Take light passes to avoid tear-out in the figure, and sand carefully. A dye or clear finish brings out the shimmer dramatically, which is why it's so popular for guitar tops.Quilted Maple is a favorite with luthiers for electric guitar tops and acoustic backs, and it's also used for fine furniture, boxes, knife handles, paneling and decorative veneer. For a different maple figure, see Birdseye Maple and Curly Maple.

Spalted Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) comes from Southeast Asia, where fungi create wild, spiderweb-like patterns of black lines through the wood. The tamarind tree is better known for its sweet-sour fruit pods, but its timber makes some of the most dramatic spalted stock around.The spalting is mostly in the creamy sapwood, which is prone to the fungi and insects that cause it. The result adds real character and excitement to every piece, and no two are alike. Where heartwood is present, it's a much darker reddish-brown to purplish-brown, which makes for striking contrast.It's moderately difficult to work but turns and finishes well. Sometimes the decay goes deeper than the surface suggests, leaving soft spots, so expect some waste and consider stabilizing softer pieces before turning. Use good dust collection and a dust mask, as fungal spores add to the dust.Spalted Tamarind is a favorite with turners and box makers, and it's also used for inlay, knife scales, pen blanks and other specialty pieces. For another spalted wood, see Spalted Maple.

Patagonian Rosewood (Anadenanthera spp.), also called Curupau or Curupay, is a South American hardwood from Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. It isn't a true rosewood, but it's very dense and gorgeous to look at.The reddish-brown heartwood is streaked with darker lines that create beautiful grain patterns, and the color varies nicely from board to board, so it's worth picking pieces by eye. Its color deepens with age and exposure to light.It's hard and heavy, so sharp tools help, and interlocked grain can tear out when planed. It turns beautifully and finishes to a rich luster. Its density also makes it hard-wearing, so it holds up well to daily use.In its native region it's valued for flooring, decking and heavy construction because of its durability. It has plenty of character, making it a great choice for turnings, furniture, flooring, knife handles and specialty pieces. If you like its look, see also Morado.

Morado (Machaerium spp.) goes by many names, most commonly Pau Ferro and Bolivian Rosewood. It grows in Bolivia and Brazil, and earned the rosewood nickname for its similar color and density, though it isn't a true rosewood.It has a medium brown base with black streaks, sometimes with purple, tan and golden hues or an overall purplish tint. The grain is usually straight to slightly interlocked with a fine to medium texture and good luster.Straight-grained pieces are very easy to work, and it turns smoothly and finishes well. It's durable, though it can be attacked by insects, and its dust can irritate sensitive skin, so use dust extraction. It's tighter-grained than a typical rosewood and a little lighter.Morado is one of the closest non-rosewood alternatives to Brazilian Rosewood. Guitar makers value it for fretboards, backs and sides, with tight lows, present mids and clear highs, and it's been used on many production electric guitars. It's also used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, knife handles and turnings. See also Santos Rosewood.

Canarywood (Centrolobium spp.), also called Canary or Yellow Tarara, grows across South America, from Panama to southern Brazil. It's best known for its lively mix of colors, which makes every board a little different.The heartwood ranges from pale yellow through pink and orange to dark reddish-brown, and the best boards show the whole range in a single piece, often with darker streaks. More evenly colored boards can look a lot like Cherry. The colors deepen and mellow over time toward a warmer reddish-brown.It's durable and fairly hard, yet still easy to work. The grain is usually straight, sometimes interlocked, with a medium texture, and it turns, glues and finishes well, taking a high polish. That means you get a colorful South American hardwood without the usual struggle, and at a reasonable price.Canarywood is a great choice for boxes, turnings, inlay, bandings, furniture accents and veneer, and the right board makes a good, lower-priced alternative to Tulipwood. Not to be confused with Red Canarywood, which is a different wood from another genus.

Amazon Rosewood (Dalbergia spruceana) is a true rosewood from the Brazilian Amazon. It has long been considered a good substitute for Brazilian Rosewood, but its looks and tone are good enough to stand on their own.It tends toward a darker reddish-brown than Brazilian Rosewood, often with darker streaks and occasional figure. It's noticeably heavier too: Amazon Rosewood will usually sink in water, while dry Brazilian Rosewood should float.Its density makes it challenging to work, and its oils can make gluing tricky, so wipe joints with a solvent first. It rewards the effort with a fine, lustrous polish. Like other true rosewoods, it's very durable and stable once dry, and it has the classic rosewood scent when cut.Amazon Rosewood is valued by guitar makers for backs, sides and fretboards, where it gives a rich, complex tone. It's also used for fine furniture, inlay, turnings, knife handles and veneer. See also East Indian Rosewood.

Thuya Burl (Tetraclinis articulata) comes from Morocco and is one of the most beautiful burls you can buy. The burl grows at the base of the tree, partly underground, and is carefully dug out by hand.It's a rich reddish-brown, with dense, swirling figure and clusters of tiny “eyes” that vary from block to block. It also has a distinctive, spicy scent similar to Western Red Cedar, which comes through every time you cut or sand it.The figure makes it prone to tear-out, so work it carefully with very sharp tools and light passes, and expect the occasional natural void or inclusion. It sands well and polishes to a deep, glowing finish, and many pieces need nothing more than oil or wax to show off their figure.Moroccan craftsmen in Essaouira have made fine boxes and inlaid work from Thuya for generations. Highly figured pieces make stunning knife handles, boxes, pens, inlay and other accent pieces. It's a premium wood and the price reflects that. For another prized burl, see Masur Birch.

Swamp Ash isn't a single species. It's the name for ash (Fraxinus) from trees growing with their roots in or near water, which produces the lightest, softest ash available.The wood is pale with an open grain. It's light and resonant yet stable, easy to work by hand or machine, and it steam-bends, sands, glues and stains well. Because ash gets denser further up the tree, the most sought-after boards come from the midsection down to the trunk.Swamp Ash is best known as an electric guitar body wood. Players and builders value its crisp highs, tight lows and scooped mids, and steady worldwide demand makes it the most expensive of the ashes.It's also used for boxes, turnings and flooring. For a harder, more general-purpose ash, see White Ash.

Sipo (Entandrophragma utile), also called Utile or Sipo Mahogany, is a West and Central African wood from the mahogany family. It's considered the closest in looks to Genuine Mahogany, though it isn't a true mahogany.The heartwood is a rich reddish-brown that deepens with age. Its interlocked grain gives quartersawn boards a striking light-and-dark striped look, which can be stunning in more chatoyant pieces. It's similar to its cousin Sapele, but a little more porous and richer in color, with a more even ribbon.It's easier to work than African Mahogany, with less tear-out, and its hardness falls between that and Genuine Mahogany. It glues and finishes well and is moderately durable. Like many such woods, it can stain when in contact with iron.Its modest price has made Sipo a highly regarded mahogany substitute for furniture, cabinetry, windows and doors, boatbuilding, guitar necks and bodies, carving, turnings and veneer.

Sneezewood (Ptaeroxylon obliquum) is a South African hardwood with a reputation as one of the most durable, rot- and insect-resistant woods in the world, once classed as “imperishable” in its homeland. The name comes from the fine, peppery dust, which can make you sneeze.The heartwood is light to medium golden brown, sometimes darker toward the center, with a fine texture and an attractive sheen. The grain is straight or wavy, sometimes interlocked, and the wood is aromatic when worked.It's dense, which makes it somewhat difficult to work, but it's very stable once dry. It turns and finishes well, though its natural oils can make gluing tricky. Use good dust extraction and a mask.Sneezewood has long been used for fence posts, railway sleepers and bearings in South Africa, where old posts are said to have lasted for generations. Today it's used for turnings, carving, furniture, knife handles, specialty pieces and demanding outdoor work. For another tough South African wood, see Leadwood.

Zambezi Teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), also called Rhodesian Teak or Mukusi, grows on the Kalahari sands of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. It isn't a true teak, but it shares Teak's stability, durability and rot resistance.The heartwood is reddish-brown with prominent, irregular black lines and flecks, and the sapwood is a pale muted pink that's clearly set apart. Unlike true Teak, it's extremely dense and hard, with low shrinkage and excellent stability once dry.The grain is generally straight or slightly interlocked with a fine texture, but its density makes it very difficult to work. Its silica content can quickly dull and gum up blades, so sharp carbide tooling is a must, and pre-drilling is needed for screws and nails. When moist, it can stain in contact with iron.Zambezi Teak is famous for hard-wearing flooring, and it was used for railway sleepers across southern Africa for many years. It's also used for turnings, carving, instrument parts and veneer. For genuine teak, see Burmese Teak.

Tulipwood (Dalbergia decipularis), also called Brazilian Tulipwood or Pinkwood, is one of the most coveted and seldom-seen rosewoods. It grows in northeastern Brazil and is unrelated to Tulip Poplar, which is sometimes sold under the same name.The heartwood is cream to salmon, striped with reds, violets, purples, pinks and rose, and the sapwood is pale yellow. It has a mild, sweet scent when cut. The color slowly fades with exposure to light, so a UV-resistant finish helps preserve it.The grain is mostly straight, sometimes wavy or irregular. It's dense and oily, which makes it challenging to work and glue, so keep tools sharp and wipe joints with a solvent first. Despite its open grain, it sands very smooth and polishes to a pleasing luster.The trees are small, so long, wide boards are rare and command a premium, and most Tulipwood comes in craft-sized pieces. It's been a favorite for fine furniture inlay and banding for centuries, and it's used for boxes, turnings, pool cues, bows and instrument parts. For a lower-priced alternative, see Canarywood.

Wenge (Millettia laurentii) is a tough Central African hardwood whose deep chocolate color is so distinctive that “wenge” has become the name of a color used by paint and furniture makers.The dark brown base sometimes carries muted gold, orange, red or burgundy tints, with overlapping black lines across the surface. The grain is generally straight, sometimes wavy or irregular, and quartersawn boards show a striking, even stripe.It's strong, durable, rot- and insect-resistant and very stable, and it glues well, though its coarse texture can make it hard to work. It's often described as dull, but in our experience fine-grit sanding of flat-sawn boards can bring out a surprisingly deep, glossy luster. It's very splintery, and its splinters are sharp and can easily become infected, so wear gloves, remove any splinters promptly and use good dust collection.Its combination of moderate weight, strength and durability makes it well suited to high-traffic flooring, as well as furniture, cabinetry, paneling, handles, bows and walking sticks. See also Panga Panga, its close cousin.

Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis), also called Zebrano, is a tough, durable West African wood with bold dark brown to almost black stripes on a pale gold to off-white base. Few woods are as instantly recognizable.Quartersawn boards show long, fairly even stripes, while flat-sawn boards are wavy and wild. The sapwood is pale and unstriped, so it's easy to spot. Once dry, it's a strong, stiff wood, though most people choose it purely for its looks.The texture is coarse with open pores, and the grain is often wavy or interlocked, so planing can be a challenge. Keep blades sharp to minimize tear-out, and fill the pores if you want a glass-smooth finish. It glues well and has a pleasant luster. It can be hard to dry and may warp, so quartersawn stock is the more stable choice, and small voids along the dark stripes aren't unusual.Zebrawood's looks keep it in steady demand with veneer mills around the world, which makes it moderately expensive despite good supply. It's used for veneer, fine furniture, accent panels, handles and turnings. For a lower-priced alternative, see Ababa.

Ziricote (Cordia dodecandra) is one of the most striking exotic woods in the world, famous for its “landscape” or “spiderweb” grain. It grows in southern Mexico and parts of Central America.The color ranges from medium to dark brown, sometimes with a green or purple tint, with irregular black growth rings weaving through it. The sapwood is a dull off-white to pale yellow, and boards with sapwood left on can make for dramatic contrast.Although fairly dense, its mostly straight grain and fine texture make it cooperative to work. It cuts, turns, glues and finishes smoothly. It can be prone to end checking and surface cracks as it dries, so seal ends and store it carefully.Ziricote is a close relative of Bocote, and its dramatic figure has given it something of an elite status among exotic wood enthusiasts. It's prized by guitar makers as a visually stunning tonewood, with a bright, rosewood-like voice. Supply is limited and prices are high. It's also used for fine furniture, cabinetry, gun stocks, turnings, boxes and veneer.

Nicaraguan Rosewood (Dalbergia tucurensis), also called Yucatan or Panama Rosewood, grows across Central America and southern Mexico. It's the lightest and softest of the true rosewoods, and its density can vary a lot by region.The heartwood ranges from pale yellow-brown and tan to light and dark browns, with clearly paler yellow sapwood. The grain is generally straight, sometimes wavy or interlocked, with a fine to medium texture and large, open pores.It's on the plainer side, though darker accents and occasional figure appear. Its color can deepen with age, and an oil finish brings out its warmth. It's surprisingly durable and less oily than other rosewoods, so it works, turns, glues and finishes very well, which makes it one of the friendliest rosewoods to use.It's used for furniture, turnings, knife handles, boxes and specialty pieces, and it's an affordable way to work with a true rosewood. For a more colorful option, see Cocobolo.

Santos Rosewood (Machaerium spp.) is more often called Pau Ferro, Bolivian Rosewood or Morado. It grows in Bolivia and Brazil, and it isn't a true rosewood, but its color and density are close, which earned it the name.It has a medium brown base with black streaks, sometimes with purple, tan and golden hues or an overall purplish tint. The grain is mostly straight with a fine to medium texture.Straight-grained boards are very easy to work, and it turns smoothly and finishes well. It's quite durable, though it can be attacked by insects, and its dust can irritate sensitive skin. A much denser wood, Brazilian Ironwood, is also sometimes sold as Pau Ferro, but most of what's available in the US is the lighter Bolivian type.Santos Rosewood is a popular Brazilian Rosewood substitute, especially for guitar fretboards, with a tight grain and a clear, focused tone that's a little brighter than rosewood. It's also used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, knife handles, turnings and veneer.We separate Santos Rosewood from Morado, because we have two different sources of material that differ somewhat. The same genus, but this material is far more rustic than our Morado which is the quality, grain pattern and color you will likely be more familiar with.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a native hardwood of the eastern United States known for its aroma. It's better known for the oil from its roots and bark, once used to flavor root beer, than for its lumber, so boards are hard to come by.Its straight grain, coarse texture and tan to light brown color make it easy to mistake for Ash, though it sometimes has pale orange to olive green tints. The color darkens to a warmer brown with age.It's fairly light, yet stable once dry, very durable and easy to work. Its pleasant, spicy scent is noticeable when you cut it. It glues and finishes well and takes a clear finish nicely, which warms its color.Sassafras was traditionally used for boat building, fence posts and buckets, thanks to its rot resistance. Today it's used for furniture, boatbuilding, turnings, boxes and general woodworking. The trees are small, so even craft-sized pieces aren't often offered. Because the dust can irritate, use dust extraction when sanding.

African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) is a strong, very stable hardwood from Central and West Africa known for its bold color, and it's a reasonably priced exotic.Freshly cut, it's a vivid orange-red, deepening over time to a robust reddish-brown. Colors can range from bright orange to muted burgundy, with grain lines in brick red or purple. The best boards have long, straight grain with ribbon figure and deep chatoyance. A finish with UV protection helps keep the color bright.The grain is mostly straight, sometimes interlocked, with large pores and a texture similar to African Mahogany. It works and finishes very well, though its fine red dust gets everywhere and can irritate, so use good extraction. The trees grow over 100 feet tall, so long, wide boards are available.Padauk is durable and resistant to insects and termites, and it's been used outdoors in Africa for centuries. It's used for furniture, flooring, trim, handles, turnings, marimba and xylophone bars, and accents. For a related wood, see Kiaat.

Panga Panga (Millettia stuhlmannii) is an East African hardwood from Mozambique and neighboring countries, and a close cousin of Wenge. The two share a large-pored, coarse texture and some of the same working challenges.It's usually a little lighter than Wenge, with heartwood from medium to dark brown and dark brown to black streaks. Darker boards are easily mistaken for Wenge and can turn almost black with age. Quartersawn boards show a striking, even striped look.It's hard, heavy, durable and stable, and it machines well with sharp tools, though the coarse grain benefits from a filler for a smooth finish. Like Wenge, it splinters easily, and the splinters can become inflamed, so wear gloves and take care when handling it.Panga Panga is better known internationally than in the US, and it's a popular, premium choice for parquet flooring in the UK and Europe. It's also used for fine furniture, paneling, stair treads, trim, turnings and veneer. It offers Wenge's dramatic look with a little more warmth.

“Pau Ferro” means ironwood in Portuguese, and the name is used for several different woods. Ours is the East African Pau Ferro (Bobgunnia sp.), also known as Pau Rosa or Snake Bean, formerly classified in the Swartzia genus.It has a glorious color palette: a dark brown base with reds, oranges and yellows, sometimes with deep red-purple tones. It reminds us of an African sunset. The grain is often interlocked with a moderately coarse texture and good luster.It's hard and heavy to work, so sharp tools and patience help, but it turns and finishes well, and the color makes it worth the effort. It's very durable and stable once dry.It's used for turnings, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, knife handles and veneer. It's different from the South American Pau Ferro used for guitar fretboards, which we sell as Morado and Santos Rosewood. See also Pau Rosa.

Pau Rosa (Bobgunnia sp.) is a beautiful, dense tropical African hardwood that's rarely found outside Africa. It was formerly classified in the Swartzia genus.Depending on where it grew, the color ranges from medium chocolate brown to an almost Padauk-like red or orange, sometimes mixed with yellows and purples, and it darkens with age. The grain is typically wavy or interlocked and the texture moderately coarse, with a nice luster.Despite its density, it's fairly easy to work: it needs sharp blades but planes well, and it turns, glues and finishes well. It dries slowly and tends to crack while drying, and the trees are short, so long boards are uncommon. Once dry, it's very durable and stable.Pau Rosa has excellent tonal properties and is under-appreciated in the US, largely because supply is so limited. It's used for turnings, carving, furniture, guitar backs and sides, and veneer. See also Pau Ferro.

Pernambuco (Paubrasilia echinata), also called Brazilwood, is the wood that gave Brazil its name. After Portuguese explorers arrived in 1500, they found it yielded a valuable red dye, called it pau brasil (“ember-red wood”), and traded it across Europe.The heartwood ranges from muted yellow-orange through orange to red or reddish-brown, slowly darkening with age. The grain is generally straight, sometimes interlocked. It grows only in Brazil's Atlantic coastal forest, much of which has been cleared, which is why the species is now so tightly protected.Despite its density, it works very well, and its fine texture finishes nicely with an impressive natural luster.Since the late 18th century, Pernambuco has been the finest wood for violin, viola, cello and bass bows, prized for its unique combination of strength, flexibility, density and responsiveness. No other wood has matched it. It's also used for carving, inlay and turnings. For a related wood, see Chakte Viga.

Redheart (Erythroxylum spp.), also called Chakte Kok, is a Central and South American hardwood with a bright pink to red color.The base color ranges from dull to bright pink, pinkish-red or red, with streaks of darker red, yellow, orange and occasionally purple. Like most red woods, it fades toward a brownish tone with light exposure, so a finish with UV protection is a good idea.The grain is often irregular or wild, sometimes straight, and can be wonderfully dramatic. The texture is fine and smooth, though it has little natural luster until finished. It works, turns, glues and finishes well, but dull blades can burn it when resawing, leaving a black resin that takes patient sanding.Redheart is a popular turning wood for pens, bowls and small pieces, and it's increasingly used for custom guitar necks and fretboards, inlay, boxes and accents. Its color makes it a great contrast wood in cutting boards and mixed-wood projects. For another bright red, see Bloodwood.

African Rosewood (Guibourtia coleosperma), also called False Mopane or Rhodesian Copalwood, grows in the dry woodlands of southern Africa. It's in the same genus as Bubinga, which is why Bubinga is often mistakenly called African Rosewood. It isn't a true rosewood, but it often has a similar look.The heartwood ranges from pink to reddish-brown with purple or red streaks. The grain is generally straight, sometimes interlocked, with a moderately fine texture and a good luster.It works well, though it can blunt tools, and it glues and finishes well. It needs slow, careful drying to avoid warping and cracking, but it's durable and stable once dry, which makes it suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use.The tree has many traditional uses in Africa: its seeds are eaten and pressed for oil, and its bark yields a red dye used to stain furniture. As lumber, it's used for flooring, furniture, decking, millwork, turnings and veneer.

Marblewood (Zygia racemosa) is a South American hardwood that gets its name from its marble-like look: pale yellow wood streaked with dark brown, purple or black.Only the heartwood carries the striping, which is random and irregular, so no two pieces are alike. It looks a little like Zebrawood, but it's coarser and unrelated. Premium boards have bold, high-contrast stripes with few defects.It's heavy, dense and strong, which can make it hard to work, especially where the grain is interlocked, but it's very stable and can be sliced thin and hold its shape. It's also resinous, so thorough kiln-drying is essential if you plan to finish it. Small surface checks that won't sand out are common, so pick boards carefully. Sharp blades and a bit of patience deliver stunning results.Marblewood is popular with turners, and its strength and durability also suit flooring, furniture, cabinetry, carving, knife handles and veneer. For another striped wood, see Goncalo Alves.

Red Oak (Quercus rubra), also called Northern Red Oak, grows across the eastern US and Canada. It's one of America's most popular hardwoods thanks to its strength, hardness and moderate price.The heartwood is light brown with a reddish tint, and the sapwood can be hard to tell apart. The grain is usually straight, with a coarse texture and large, open pores, and quartersawn boards show the ray fleck oaks are known for.It works, glues and finishes well, and it takes stain evenly, which makes it easy to match existing furniture. It shrinks a fair amount as it dries, so quartersawn stock is the most stable choice. Its open pores let water through, so it isn't durable outdoors and isn't suitable for boats.Red Oak is a favorite with furniture builders and cabinetmakers and has long been a staple of American interiors, from floors and trim to kitchen cabinets. It's also used for handles, stair parts and veneer. For a more durable, water-resistant oak, see White Oak.

Slavonian Oak (Quercus robur) is European Oak from Slavonia, a region of eastern Croatia whose slow-grown forests produce some of Europe's finest oak. It's rarely seen in the US.It's best known for wine barrels, where its tight grain is said to mellow the taste and texture of the wine, and it's a long-time favorite of Italian winemakers. The heartwood is light to medium brown, sometimes with a greenish hue. The grain is mostly straight, sometimes interlocked or irregular, and the texture coarse.Quartersawn boards show dramatic ray fleck and are the most stable. It's tough and durable, steam-bends well, and is easy to work, gluing, staining and finishing well. Like all oaks, it can stain dark when in contact with iron.Besides barrels, it's used for fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding and veneer, and its renown in the wine trade dates back centuries. See also White Oak and Bog Oak, the same species preserved in a peat bog.

White Oak (Quercus alba) has long been one of America's preeminent hardwoods. It grows across the central and eastern US, and the trees can live for hundreds of years. One in New Jersey is estimated to be over 600 years old.The heartwood ranges from light golden tan to light and medium brown. The grain is straight, and quartersawn boards show the ray fleck oak is famous for. Its pores are plugged with growths called tyloses, which make it watertight, so it's the classic wood for whiskey and wine barrels.It's the most durable of the oaks and steam-bends well, which is why it has been used in boatbuilding for centuries. Despite its coarse texture, it works, glues, stains and finishes very well. It shrinks a lot, so quartersawn stock gives the most stable results. Like all oaks, it can stain when in contact with iron.White Oak is used for furniture, Mission and Arts and Crafts pieces, cabinetry, flooring, boats, barrels and veneer. For a more affordable oak, see Red Oak.

Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera), also called Horse Apple or Bodark, is a dense, durable hardwood from the south-central United States, named after the Osage Nation, who prized it for bows. It has striking color.The heartwood starts out bright golden yellow and darkens over time to a deeper golden brown, sometimes with reddish streaks. A finish with UV protection slows the change. The grain is usually straight with a fine to medium texture, and the wood fluoresces under black light.It's hard and dense, which makes it tough to work, but it turns and finishes well. It's one of the most rot-resistant woods in North America, and fence posts made from it are famous for lasting generations. Trees are often short and knotty, so long, clear boards are scarce.It's the classic wood for archery bows, and it's also used for fence posts, tool handles, turnings, pens and specialty pieces. Its South American relative, Argentine Osage Orange, comes in larger sizes with fewer knots.

Ambrosia Maple isn't a species. It's maple, most often Red or Sugar Maple, marked with colorful streaks and small holes left by the ambrosia beetle. It's sometimes called Wormy Maple.The beetle burrows into the tree and carries a fungus with it, which feeds its young. As the fungus spreads through the sap, it stains the wood with streaks, mostly blue-grey and sometimes greenish or brown, around the small tunnels. The beetles prefer freshly cut, drying wood and don't return once it's been kiln-dried, so the holes are no cause for concern.The result is a darker, more characterful surface than plain maple, with the same high luster and often other maple figure too, so every board is unique. It works as easily as any maple. Fill the beetle holes with epoxy or leave them as they are, and go slowly with high-speed tools, as maple can burn.Ambrosia Maple isn't durable outdoors, but it's stable enough for furniture, tabletops, guitars, cutting boards, turnings, crafts and veneer. For another naturally marked maple, see Spalted Maple.

Imbuia (Ocotea porosa) is a Brazilian hardwood often called Brazilian Walnut, though apart from its brown color it doesn't look much like true walnut. It grows in the cool highland forests of southern Brazil.The heartwood ranges from olive to chocolate brown, sometimes with yellowish or reddish streaks, and its grain is wild and unpredictable. Premium boards show figure that adds to its “delightfully irregular” character. Lighter sapwood can create a striking contrast with the pale to medium golden-brown heartwood. Freshly cut, it has a pleasant, spicy scent.It works well with hand and machine tools, turns nicely and finishes to a soft luster. Density varies with growing conditions, and some boards are noticeably heavier than walnut. Mature trees grow large, so big boards are possible when the wood can be sourced.Imbuia has never been widely available in the US, and supply has become scarcer, but it's a truly distinctive wood for fine furniture, cabinetry, gun stocks, turnings and veneer. If you like the look of walnut, see also Nogal.