Soft Maple isn't a single species. It's the name for the lighter maples, and ours is Red Maple (Acer rubrum), the heaviest and most common of them, found across the eastern US and Canada. Like all our maples, it's a Maine local.As with all maples, the pale white to golden sapwood is valued more than the darker heartwood. The grain is usually straight with a fine, even texture, and it's only slightly softer than Hard Maple, so it's hard enough for most furniture.It's a little easier to work than Hard Maple, and it machines, turns, glues and finishes well. Go slowly with high-speed tools, as maple can burn, and test stains first, as it can blotch. Figure can be dramatic, from tiger stripe and fiddleback to the occasional quilt.Its extra weight makes Red Maple the most useful of the soft maples for furniture and utility work. Soft Maple is a versatile, affordable choice for cabinetry, painted furniture, boxes, turnings, millwork and veneer. For figured stock, see Curly Soft Maple.

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.

Nogal (Juglans spp.), also known as Peruvian Walnut or Tropical Walnut, is a true walnut that grows in the Andean regions of Central and South America.It's typically darker than American Black Walnut, a deep chocolate brown, often with black lines and occasionally a purple tint. Like Black Walnut, it's usually straight-grained with a medium to coarse texture and good luster, though figure is less common.It's very easy to work, stain, glue and finish, though irregular grain can tear out when planed. It's slow to dry, so it's usually cut into 4/4 boards and carefully air-dried before kilning. It's moderately durable but best kept indoors, as it can attract insects.Nogal has a density and working properties very similar to Black Walnut, making it a great alternative when you want an even darker tone. It's used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, interior paneling, gun stocks and veneer.

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.

Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimis) is an Australian hardwood from the rainforests of northern Queensland. It isn't a true oak but a member of the protea family, though it shares the look, with large rays and flecked figure that can be very dramatic on quartersawn faces.It's light to medium reddish-brown, with slightly darker rays ranging from muted brown to grey, and a silky sheen that gives it its name. It's easily mistaken for Lacewood, which looks and weighs much the same.Its coarse texture and flecks can make planing tricky, but otherwise it's easy to work, and it glues and finishes well. It's more durable than American oaks, and a clear finish makes the flecks shimmer.Supply to the US is sporadic, so it isn't widely known here. In Australia it has a long history in fine furniture and cabinetry. It's used for furniture, cabinetry, boxes, turnings, guitar backs and veneer. For a similar flecked look, see Leopardwood.

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.

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.

Ipe (Handroanthus spp.) is known across Central and South America as an extremely dense, durable wood. It covers several species, so its color and grain vary quite a bit. In flooring it's sometimes sold as “Brazilian Walnut,” though it isn't related to walnut.It can be a deep chocolate brown with a reddish tint, or more olive-toned with hints of yellow, orange or red, often with darker striping and occasional mottled figure. Left outdoors unfinished, it weathers to a silver grey.The grain can be straight, irregular or interlocked, and the texture fine to medium with good luster. It's famously hard on saw blades, so carbide tooling is a must, and you should pre-drill for fasteners. Straight-grained pieces plane and turn well, but always use your sharpest tools, and note that some boards contain a powdery yellow deposit called lapachol. Wear a dust mask, as the dust can irritate.Ipe is virtually impossible to wear out and resists insects, rot and fire, which makes it a favorite for decking, boardwalks and flooring. It's also used for outdoor furniture, handles, turnings and veneer. For a similar alternative, see Cumaru.

Iroko (Milicia spp.) is a tough, durable hardwood from tropical West and Central Africa that's often used in place of Teak. It's one of Africa's most important timbers.Its golden to medium brown color, coarse texture and interlocked grain give it a very Teak-like look. Freshly cut, it can be quite yellow, but it darkens to a richer brown with age and light exposure.It's lighter than Teak but resistant to rot and insects and strong for its weight, with good stability once dry. Despite the interlocked grain, it isn't difficult to work, and it glues and finishes well. Occasional hard mineral deposits can dull blades, and the dust can irritate, so wear a mask when machining.Iroko has long been used across Africa in many of the same roles Teak fills elsewhere. It's a great choice for boatbuilding, outdoor furniture, decking, flooring, cabinetry, countertops and general construction, and it offers Teak-like performance at a friendlier price.

Kingwood (Dalbergia cearensis), also called Brazilian Kingwood or Violetwood, is one of the densest rosewoods and one of the most colorful. It grows in northeastern Brazil and has been prized by European furniture makers since the 17th century, when it was a favorite for royal cabinetry and marquetry.The reddish-brown heartwood is streaked with dark violet to black, and the pale yellow sapwood often adds dramatic contrast. The grain is usually straight, sometimes wavy or interlocked, with a fine, even texture and natural luster.Logs tend to check and crack, so clean, defect-free boards are rare, especially in larger sizes. It's very rot- and insect-resistant, and its oils can make gluing tricky, so wipe joints with a solvent first. It's also hard on tools, but it turns beautifully and polishes to a glassy finish.Kingwood is a favorite for fine inlay, banding, custom knife handles, pens and turnings, and it's also used for gun stocks, small boxes and veneer. For a softer-colored rosewood, see Tulipwood.

Koa (Acacia koa) is one of Hawaii's most beautiful native hardwoods and grows only on the Hawaiian Islands. It's sometimes compared to mahogany in appearance, and it holds a special place in Hawaiian culture, traditionally used for canoes and surfboards.It's generally medium to reddish brown, though color varies a lot, from golden to deep chocolate. Figured boards with strong curl and chatoyance are highly prized and can seem to glow under finish.It's quite stable and fairly easy to work, except where the grain is highly figured or interlocked, where sharp tools and light passes help. It glues and finishes well, and a clear finish brings out its depth.Koa is a very popular instrument wood with a rich, warm tone, used widely for guitar backs and sides, tops and ukuleles. It's also used for fine furniture, gun stocks, turnings, boxes, veneer and specialty pieces. Supply is limited, and highly figured boards command a premium. For a similar look at a friendlier price, see Australian Blackwood.

Leopardwood (Roupala brasiliensis), also called Brazilian Lacewood, is a South American hardwood named for the tightly grouped flecks that cover its surface.It's almost always quartersawn to show off this leopard-spot figure, which comes from the wood's large rays. It's medium to dark reddish-brown, and before sanding, the raised flecks give the surface a real three-dimensional look. Its color deepens with age, and a clear finish makes the flecks stand out.It's fairly hard to work, and its uneven texture can tear out when planed, so take light passes with sharp blades or use a drum sander for final surfacing. It glues and finishes well once surfaced, and it turns nicely.Leopardwood is often confused with Lacewood, which has a similar pattern but is much lighter and less dense. Its striking figure makes it a favorite for fine furniture, cabinetry, boxes, guitar backs, turnings and veneer, where a little goes a long way as an accent. For a similar flecked look, see Silky Oak.

Louro Preto (Cordia spp.), also called Laurel Negro, is a South American hardwood and a close relative of Bocote and Ziricote, though it's often overshadowed by them.The heartwood is typically medium brown with red and green tints, sometimes with bold dark brown lines and streaks, and it darkens considerably with exposure to light. The sapwood is pale and easy to spot. The grain is calmer than its cousins', usually straight or somewhat irregular, with a fine to medium texture and the impressive natural luster typical of the genus.Despite its natural oils, it usually glues well, and it's easy to work, though some boards contain silica, which can dull blades. It turns smoothly and finishes to a lovely sheen.Supply in the US has always been limited, partly because demand has gone to its flashier cousins, but Louro Preto is a handsome, understated choice for furniture, cabinetry, boxes, guitar backs and sides, turnings and veneer.

African Mahogany (Khaya spp.) covers four closely related species and is one of Africa's most commercially important woods. It grows across tropical West and Central Africa and is a strong, tough, durable wood with many of the same qualities as Genuine Mahogany.Depending on origin and species, it ranges from pale pink or muted orange to darker reddish or golden brown, sometimes with darker stripes, and it deepens in color over time. Ribbon, wavy and mottled figure and varying chatoyance can make it very attractive.The grain is straight or interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture. It works, turns and finishes easily, though interlocked boards can tear out when planed, so take light passes. It glues well and takes stain evenly.Its popularity as a mahogany substitute has led to plantations in Latin America as well as Africa. It's used for fine furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, guitar necks and bodies, turnings, millwork and veneer. For a close alternative, see Sapele.

Curly Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is the figured version of American Cherry, with bold, shimmering curl running across the grain. The best boards are quite dramatic, with the stripes appearing to move as you tilt the piece in the light.Freshly cut, it's tan to light brown with a pink or red tint, and it ages to a rich reddish-brown that deepens over the years. The grain is straight to irregular, the texture fine, and the density moderate.It's one of the most cooperative hardwoods to work, and it's strong for its weight, stable and durable. Take light passes with a sharp blade to avoid tear-out in the figure, and finish with an oil or clear finish to make the curl glow. It can blotch if stained, but the natural color and figure are the reason to buy it.Curly Cherry is the most sought-after form of this classic American wood, ideal for fine furniture, cabinetry, boxes, drawer fronts and instrument parts where the figure can show. Its stability has also earned it a place in guitar necks and bodies. See also plain Black Cherry.

Amara Ebony (Diospyros celebica) is generally regarded as the same species as Macassar Ebony, with Amara coming only from Indonesia. Its different look is put down to local soil conditions, and it's a wood rarely seen in the US.It's typically deep chocolate brown with pink striping, but we've also seen boards with greens and reds, more like Malaysian Blackwood, and others with gold and orange hues. Some show “landscape” grain patterns that make them look like a cross between the two. The sapwood is tan.The grain is more often wavy or irregular than straight, with a fine texture and a nice natural luster. We've found it slightly less dense than Macassar Ebony, and despite its density it works well, turning and polishing to a beautiful finish. Sharp tools help, and the fine dust is best handled with good extraction.Amara is a distinctive choice for carving, inlay, turnings, boxes, furniture accents, veneer and specialty pieces, anywhere you want an ebony that's a little out of the ordinary.

Macassar Ebony (Diospyros celebica) comes from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and is one of Southeast Asia's best-known exotics. It's one of our favorites, with a classic striped look that has been prized for luxury furniture since the Art Deco era.Deep brown dominates, with stripes that can include green, yellow, burgundy, red, orange and even peach in the best pieces. Stripes are usually broad and bold, often twisting and overlapping, and boards with fine, tight, even striping are rarer and more desirable. The sapwood ranges from dull tan to light golden brown.Like other dense woods, it can be hard to work and hard on blades, and it's prone to checking, so store it carefully. It rewards the effort with a superb finish, polishing to a deep, glassy luster.Macassar Ebony is in constant demand for veneer and is prized by guitar makers for backs, sides and fretboards, where its density gives a bright, clear tone. It's also used for cabinetry, pool cues, turnings, boxes and inlay. See also Amara Ebony.

Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) isn't a true cedar at all. It belongs to the mahogany family, and it shares many of that family's best qualities: it's light, pleasantly aromatic and one of the easiest hardwoods to work.The heartwood ranges from a soft pinkish-brown to reddish-brown and darkens nicely with age. The grain is straight and the texture fine, so it planes, carves and sands cleanly, and it glues and finishes well. Most Spanish Cedar on the US market is plantation-grown, which is usually a little lighter in weight and color than forest-grown wood.It's best known for cigar boxes and humidors, where its scent suits tobacco and it stays stable as humidity changes. Light, stable and easy to carve, it's also the traditional wood for classical and flamenco guitar necks, and it's used in boatbuilding, cabinetry and veneer. Related woods in the mahogany family include Genuine Mahogany, Sapele and Sipo.

Cerejeira (Amburana cearensis), also known as Amburana or Brazilian Oak, is an important wood in the dry regions of central and southern South America. In Brazil, it's also famous for the barrels used to age cachaça, where it gives the spirit a sweet, spicy character.The wood is a warm golden to light brown, sometimes with an orange tint, and it often has a pleasant vanilla-like scent when cut. It's valued for its beauty, durability, strength and stability, and it works and finishes well.Left undisturbed, the trees grow very large. Big trees are cut mainly for their dramatic slabs, which are prized by South American furniture makers and slab importers worldwide, and many highly figured logs go to veneer.Cerejeira is a tough, versatile wood for furniture, cabinetry, doors, flooring and veneer. Despite its popularity with those who know it, it's still a bit of a well-kept secret in the US. For the most dramatic figure, see Cerejeira Crotch.

Cerejeira Crotch (Amburana cearensis) is the most dramatic part of the Cerejeira tree, cut from where the trunk divides into major branches. It's prized for its detailed, almost three-dimensional figure, which shifts and shimmers as the light moves across it.Cerejeira, also known as Amburana or Brazilian Oak, comes from the dry regions of central and southern South America. It's valued for its beauty, durability, strength and stability, with a warm golden to light brown color and often a pleasant vanilla-like scent.Large trees are cut mainly for their slabs, which are prized by furniture makers and slab importers around the world, and many highly figured logs go to the veneer industry. Crotch pieces are the pick of the tree. Crotch grain changes direction a lot, so take light passes and sand carefully to avoid tear-out.Cerejeira Crotch makes standout tabletops, cabinet doors, panels, box lids and veneer, anywhere the figure can be the star. Every piece is different, so we recommend choosing by eye. For straight-grained stock, see Cerejeira.

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is one of America's most important hardwoods and a long-time favorite for fine furniture. It grows across the eastern United States, with some of the finest timber coming from Pennsylvania and New York.Freshly cut, it's tan to light brown with a pink or red tint, and it ages to the rich reddish-brown (russet) that stains on other woods try to imitate. That color change happens quickly with light exposure. The sapwood is pale yellow, and small dark gum flecks and pith marks are part of its natural character.The grain is straight to irregular, the texture fine and even, and the density moderate. It's one of the most cooperative, user-friendly hardwoods around: easy to work, strong for its weight, stable and durable. It can blotch when stained, but with color like this there's rarely a reason to stain it. Go slowly with high-speed tools, as it can burn.Cherry is used for fine furniture, cabinetry, millwork, flooring, turnings and veneer, and occasionally for guitar necks and bodies. For figured stock, see Curly Cherry.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a common, reasonably priced hardwood with a pale cream color, often tinted pink or light reddish-brown.The grain is usually straight, sometimes wavy, and the texture medium. It cuts, turns, glues and finishes very well, with a moderate natural luster, and it steam-bends nicely. It's similar to Maple in hardness and density, so it's sometimes used in its place. It can move with changes in humidity, and it isn't durable outdoors.Flat-sawn boards are fairly plain and mostly go to utility work, while quartersawn pieces show an attractive silvery fleck that suits furniture and instruments. Steamed beech veneer takes on a pleasant golden brown.Beech is used for furniture, flooring, turnings and specialty items. See also European Beech.

European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is one of the most popular and commercially important hardwoods in Europe, thanks to its large supply and modest price. It's slightly harder than its American cousin.The wood is pale cream, often with a pink or light reddish-brown tint. The grain is straight and the texture medium, and it machines, turns, glues and finishes easily. Large trees yield long, wide boards.It's strong, tough and steam-bends very well, which is why it has been used in European boatbuilding for centuries. Like all beech it isn't durable outdoors and can move in service, so well-dried, quartersawn stock is the best choice where stability matters.European Beech is used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, turnings, instruments and veneer. See also American Beech.

Berlinia (Berlinia spp.) is a West African hardwood sold in the US as Ebiara or Red Zebrawood. It's a fairly new arrival on the US market, and a moderately priced one.The heartwood ranges from pale yellow to, more typically, a muted reddish-brown, with darker stripes that can be regular or irregular. That's where the comparison with Zebrawood comes from, and the two are in fact related.The grain is straight or interlocked and the texture medium to coarse, with good natural luster and occasional figure and chatoyance. It cuts, turns, glues and finishes smoothly, though interlocked boards can tear out, so take light final passes.Berlinia suits furniture, cabinetry, turnings, veneer and specialty items, and luthiers and turners are starting to take an interest in it.

Flame Birch isn't a separate species. It's Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) with a bold, wavy flamed figure running across the grain.The heartwood ranges from pale yellow to a light reddish-brown, with grayish-white sapwood. The best boards show wide, dramatic curl, similar to figured Cherry, that shimmers under a clear finish.It works easily and turns, glues and finishes well, though most boards have little natural luster until finished. It isn't durable outdoors, so keep it protected.Flame Birch is a favorite for boxes, turnings, crafts and specialty pieces where the figure can take center stage, and the best logs go to veneer. For a darker, more stable version, see Roasted Flame Birch.

Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), also called Acacia Blackwood, is a close cousin of Hawaiian Koa, and it's growing in popularity with guitar makers and furniture builders. Despite the name, it isn't black.The tree is native to Australia, but our stock is grown in South Africa, where it was introduced in the 1800s and is now grown commercially. That shorter, more direct supply line makes it a far more cost-effective choice than imported Australian or Hawaiian woods, with the same good looks.The heartwood ranges from light golden brown to darker browns, often with streaks of other colors, and it's clearly set apart from the tan to light grey sapwood. The grain runs from straight to wavy or interlocked, with a fine texture and an impressive luster. Figured boards with Koa-like shimmer turn up only occasionally, so they're worth snapping up when they do. Apart from occasional tear-out, it works easily, and it turns, glues and finishes well.Tough, durable and good for bending, it's used for guitar backs and sides, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, gun stocks and turnings.

Bocote (Cordia spp.) is a Mexican and Central American hardwood with a golden brown base and dark brown to black stripes.Its best boards are covered in tiny “eyes” in the grain. These aren't knots and cause no trouble when machining. In pieces grown south of Mexico, the base color can be a bright, muted orange.Despite its oily nature, Bocote glues surprisingly well, and it turns and finishes nicely. Some boards contain silica, which can dull blades, so keep a spare sharp edge handy.Its striking looks make it a favorite with furniture and cabinet makers, guitar builders and turners, and it's also used for gun stocks, flooring and veneer. It's related to Ziricote and Louro Preto.

Butternut (Juglans cinerea) is often called White Walnut, and it's a true member of the walnut family. It grows across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, and it's much lighter and softer than its walnut cousins.The color is a pleasant light tan with a soft, pastel look, and some boards carry a pink or reddish tint. The grain is mostly straight with a medium to coarse texture, and the tree's fluted trunk can produce irregular, eye-catching figure. It looks a lot like a pale walnut, which makes it a handsome choice for furniture with a softer, lighter tone.Its low density makes it very easy to work by hand or machine, and like other walnuts it turns, glues, stains and finishes well. Despite being soft it's fairly durable, though like all walnuts it can be attacked by insects, and it dents more easily than harder woods.Butternut is a favorite with carvers and is also used for furniture, paneling, boxes, crafts and veneer. Many North American trees have been lost to butternut canker, a fungal disease, so good lumber is becoming harder to find. For a darker walnut, see American Black Walnut.

Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata) is a West African hardwood often called African Teak. It earned the name honestly: it's extremely durable and resistant to rot and insects, with working and mechanical properties close to Teak, but without the oiliness.The heartwood ranges from muted tan and gold to light and medium browns, often with darker stripes, and over time it darkens to a look closer to Black Walnut than Teak. The grain is straight to wavy, sometimes interlocked, and the texture fine, with a lovely natural luster once sanded.Although it's harder than Teak, it works well with hand and machine tools, gives crisp joints, and turns, glues and finishes very well. It's tough yet flexible, which is why it has been used in African boatbuilding for centuries.Afrormosia is a long-standing favorite in Europe for cabinetry, architectural trim and fine furniture, and it's also used for flooring, turnings and veneer.

Andiroba (Carapa guianensis), also called Crabwood, grows across Central and South America, where it's used as a mahogany substitute and a general carpentry wood. It's a member of the mahogany family and is durable in use.The wood is a pale reddish-brown that darkens slightly as it dries and continues to deepen with exposure to light. The grain is usually straight, though it can be wavy or interlocked, and the texture is fine with a good natural luster. Most boards are on the plain side, but quartersawn pieces can show a ribbon figure much like Sapele.It's generally easy to work and turns, glues and finishes well. Andiroba isn't often seen in the US, but it's a good choice for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, turnings and veneer, and it has a history in boatbuilding.