Maple ($$$) - There are more than 10 species of maple in the North and Northwest however, most maple used commercially comes from one of 5 species. The most common being the soft maples. The sapwood is very similar to the heartwood being a creamycolor. It is straight grained when plain sawn. It is moderately dense and strong however Rock Maple is denser and stronger. Rock Maple is also redder and is very lustrous. Certain Rock Maple logs are selected and peeled to create the beautiful "birds-eye" figure. Maple finishes very well.
Cherry ($$$) - Sapwood is pinkish in color while the heartwood is a pinkish brown which will grow to red-brown over time and exposure to sunlight. It tends to be straight grained, is moderately dense and strong, and takes finishing very well.
Hickory ($$$) - Sapwood is light colored, the heartwood is reddish-brown, it is dense strong wood, typically straight grained and takes stains well.
Oak ($$) - There are 200 different species of Oak. The most common has light colored sapwood with tan or yellowish brown heartwood. Oak can be straight grained but can often be irregular or cross-grained. When quarter sawn it presents a silvery figure. It is quite dense and strong and takes stain well.
Pine ($$) - Pine can be either white, yellow or ponderosa. White pine is white to straw colored, not very dense, straight grained and takes stain and paint well. Yellow pine is very similar in characteristics to white pine. Ponderosa pine has yellowish sapwood while heartwood is orange to reddish with very prominent resin duct lines. It needs special attention and surface preparation to take stain and paint well.
Paint Grade ($) - Typically Birch, Poplar, Maple or Sycamore.
Exotics (Meaning rare and/or pricey)
Mahogany ($$$$$) - Most mahogany comes from the rain forests found on the western coast of Africa. The wood is reddish-brown and the grain is typically interlocked but can be straight. It is a medium density wood but not very strong. It takes stain and polishing very well.
Walnut ($$$$$) - There are many species of walnut, American Walnut being found across North America into South America. The heartwood is dark brown and gets darker with age. It is relatively straight grained but can be wavy. It is a medium density wood but strong. It takes finishing very well. European Walnut is similar in characteristics except that the wood is more gray-brown with a pronounced wavy grain.
Ebony ($$$$$) - Ebony is a generic name for wood species with very dark or black heartwood. African and Indian ebony are common species. Ebony is typically straight grained but can be curly, wavy or irregular. It is very dense and strong but also brittle. Ebony is at its most beautiful polished to a high luster.
Grain - When looking at a piece of wood you notice the beautiful grain. In fact, you are most likely looking at the surface pattern. Grain refers to the lines in the wood running parallel to the plane of the board and intersecting the growth rings. There are eight types of grain: straight, wavy, curly, cross, diagonal, interlocked, spiral and irregular grain. All of these refer to the way the fibers of the tree run in relation to the main axis of the tree and may be affected by knots, crotches, disease, growing tensions etc.
When you look at the pattern on the surface of wood you are really looking at the "figure" which results from the type of grain the wood has, and the way the board was cut. The figure of the wood, combined with its texture and luster, can add tremendous beauty to fine cabinetry.
