Species Guide
Every species we carry has its own personality. Here's what you need to know about the woods in our inventory, from hardness ratings to what they're best used for.
Alder
Janka Hardness: 590 lbf
Character: Light brown with a fine, straight grain. Sometimes called “poor man's cherry” because it can be stained to mimic more expensive species.
Best Uses: Cabinets, trim, craft projects, small furniture pieces. Very popular in the Pacific Northwest for interior millwork.
Workability: One of the easiest domestic hardwoods to work. Cuts clean, sands smooth, takes stain and finish beautifully.
Ambrosia Maple
Janka Hardness: 950 lbf (same as soft maple)
Character: The dark streaks and patterns in ambrosia maple come from the ambrosia beetle, which carries a fungus into the wood as it burrows. The result is completely unique patterning in every board. No two pieces look alike.
Best Uses: Live edge tables, accent walls, mantels, river tables. The character is the selling point.
Workability: Same as regular soft maple. Machines and finishes well. The beetle damage is cosmetic only and doesn't affect structural integrity.
American Beech
Janka Hardness: 1300 lbf
Character: Fine, even texture with a subtle grain. Light pinkish-tan color. Not flashy, but clean and consistent.
Best Uses: Workbenches, tool handles, cutting boards, butcher blocks. Beech is a workhorse wood.
Workability: Machines well. Takes steam bending better than almost any other domestic species.
American Elm
Janka Hardness: 830 lbf
Character: Interlocking grain with a coarse texture. Elm has a distinctive look that's hard to mistake for anything else. The grain pattern almost swirls.
Best Uses: Tables, benches, decorative pieces, live edge projects where character matters more than hardness.
Workability: Can be tricky to work because of the interlocked grain. Tear-out is common when planing. Sharp tools are a must.
American Sycamore
Janka Hardness: 770 lbf
Character: Pale, creamy white with distinctive flecking (called lacewood or quartersawn figure). One of the most visually interesting domestic species when quartersawn.
Best Uses: Accent pieces, decorative panels, tabletops, mantels. The flecking makes it a conversation piece.
Workability: Generally cooperative. Can blotch with stain, so a conditioner or clear finish often looks better.
Black Cherry
Janka Hardness: 950 lbf
Character: Starts out pinkish and darkens to a rich reddish-brown over time with light exposure. Fine grain, satiny feel when finished. Cherry gets better looking the older it gets.
Best Uses: Fine furniture, mantels, dining tables, cabinets. One of the premier American furniture woods for good reason.
Workability: A pleasure to work with. Cuts clean, sands smooth, finishes like butter. Can blotch with certain stains, so many builders just let the natural color do its thing.
Black Walnut
Janka Hardness: 1010 lbf
Character: Rich chocolate brown heartwood with lighter sapwood. Often has dramatic figure, especially near crotches and burls. The most sought-after domestic hardwood for live edge work, and it's not close.
Best Uses: Everything. Tables, mantels, bar tops, shelving, cabinets, accent pieces, river tables. Walnut is the king of the live edge world.
Workability: Excellent. Works well with both hand and power tools. Takes oil finishes exceptionally well. The natural color is so good that most people skip stain entirely.
Butternut Hickory
Janka Hardness: 1820 lbf
Character: Strong grain contrast between light sapwood and darker heartwood. Rustic, bold look with a lot of visual movement.
Best Uses: Flooring, bar tops, heavy-use tables, any project that needs to take a beating and still look good ten years later.
Workability: Hard on tools. Pre-drilling for screws is a good idea. Not the easiest wood to finish but the results are worth the effort.
Carolina Hickory
Janka Hardness: 1820 lbf
Character: Similar to butternut hickory with strong color variation between heartwood and sapwood. The grain is pronounced and unapologetic.
Best Uses: Same as butternut hickory. Flooring, countertops, workbenches, anything requiring serious durability.
Workability: Tough to work. Dulls blades faster than most species. But once it's finished, it's practically bulletproof.
Chestnut
Janka Hardness: 540 lbf
Character: If this is American chestnut, it's increasingly rare due to the blight that devastated the species in the early 1900s. Warm brown tones, coarse grain, and a lot of history in every board.
Best Uses: Decorative pieces, mantels, accent projects. The story behind the wood adds as much value as the wood itself.
Workability: Soft enough to work easily. Often found as reclaimed lumber, so watch for hidden nails and hardware.
Cypress
Janka Hardness: 510 lbf
Character: Light tan to yellowish-brown with a straight grain. Another naturally rot-resistant species, which is why it's been used in the South for centuries in everything from boats to porch columns.
Best Uses: Outdoor projects, live edge pieces, mantels, tables with a lighter, Southern feel. The natural durability makes it a good choice for items that will see moisture.
Workability: Works easily with hand and power tools. Glues and finishes well.
Eastern Hemlock
Janka Hardness: 500 lbf
Character: Light reddish-brown with a fairly straight, even grain. Not to be confused with the poison plant. Hemlock is a softwood with a coarse texture and a rustic, understated look.
Best Uses: Timber frame accents, rustic furniture, mantels, decorative beams. Works well in projects where a rougher, more natural aesthetic is the goal.
Workability: Easy to work but can be splintery. The grain is sometimes uneven, so take your time with finishing.
Eastern Red Cedar
Janka Hardness: 900 lbf
Character: The classic "cedar chest" wood. Reddish-brown heartwood with creamy sapwood, tight grain, and the unmistakable aromatic scent that naturally repels moths and insects. Often has beautiful color variation between heart and sap.
Best Uses: Cedar chests, closet lining, jewelry boxes, decorative pieces, small accent furniture. The aroma and insect resistance make it a natural choice for storage applications.
Workability: Easy to work with hand and power tools. The wood is somewhat brittle and can split, so pre-drilling for screws is wise. Takes finish well, though many people prefer to leave it unfinished to preserve the scent.
Flaming Box Elder
Janka Hardness: 720 lbf
Character: The red/pink flame figure in box elder comes from a fungal colonization in the living tree. The color ranges from subtle pink streaks to intense red flames running through otherwise pale wood. Truly one of the most dramatic looking domestic species.
Best Uses: Live edge showpieces, wall art, accent tables, anything where visual impact is the goal. This is wood that stops people in their tracks.
Workability: Soft and easy to work. The figured areas can be somewhat punky or soft, so sharp tools and careful sanding are important. Finish with care to preserve the color.
Flowering Dogwood
Janka Hardness: 2150 lbf
Character: Extremely hard for its size. Fine, tight grain with a smooth texture. Historically used for textile shuttles because of its ability to withstand constant friction.
Best Uses: Small specialty items, tool handles, mallet heads, inlays. Not typically available in slab form, so when it shows up, it's worth a look.
Workability: Very hard. Takes a beautiful polish but will test your tools.
Green Ash
Janka Hardness: 1200 lbf
Character: Light colored with a prominent, cathedral-style grain pattern similar to oak but usually with a wider, more sweeping figure. Emerald ash borer is making this species increasingly scarce, which has pushed up its value.
Best Uses: Tables, mantels, tool handles, flooring. A great all-around hardwood that deserves more attention than it gets.
Workability: Works well across the board. Machines cleanly, takes stain and finish without fuss.
Live Oak
Janka Hardness: 2680 lbf
Character: One of the hardest North American species. Dense, heavy, with a tight interlocking grain. The trees themselves are iconic across the Deep South.
Best Uses: Specialty projects where extreme durability is needed. Heavy furniture, outdoor applications (naturally rot-resistant), statement pieces.
Workability: Very challenging. This wood fights back. Carbide tooling recommended. Pre-drill everything. But the finished product has a presence that lighter woods simply can't match.
Northern Red Oak
Janka Hardness: 1290 lbf
Character: Strong grain pattern with a pinkish-red tone. Open pores give it a distinct texture. One of the most widely recognized hardwoods in America.
Best Uses: Tables, mantels, cabinets, bar tops, flooring. Red oak has been a staple of American woodworking for generations.
Workability: Good all-around. Machines well, takes stain well (which is useful because the natural pink isn't everyone's favorite). Not great for outdoor use due to the open pore structure.
Pecan
Janka Hardness: 1820 lbf
Character: Part of the hickory family, so it shares that toughness. Color ranges from light cream to reddish-brown, often in the same board. The contrast can be striking.
Best Uses: Flooring, countertops, bar tops, heavy-use furniture. All the durability of hickory with a slightly more refined look.
Workability: Similar to hickory. Hard on blades, but machines well with sharp carbide tooling.
Post Oak
Janka Hardness: 1360 lbf
Character: A white oak relative with similar hardness and rot resistance. The grain tends to be a bit wilder and less uniform than standard white oak, which gives it personality.
Best Uses: Outdoor furniture, bar tops, mantels, tables. Its natural durability makes it a good choice anywhere moisture is a concern.
Workability: Comparable to white oak. Solid performer across the board.
Rainbow Poplar
Janka Hardness: 540 lbf
Character: Don't let the name fool you. This is tulip poplar with mineral streaks running through it in shades of green, purple, red, and gray. The colors are natural and vary wildly from board to board. One of the most surprising species we carry.
Best Uses: Accent pieces, craft projects, wall art, decorative furniture. Not the hardest wood, but the color makes up for it.
Workability: Very easy to work. Soft, lightweight, machines beautifully. Takes paint well, though most people want to show off the natural color.
Red Maple (Soft Maple)
Janka Hardness: 950 lbf
Character: Lighter and softer than hard maple, but still very much a legitimate hardwood. The grain is often more interesting than hard maple, with more character and movement.
Best Uses: Tables, mantels, cabinets, turned pieces, live edge projects. A versatile choice that works in a lot of applications.
Workability: Easy to work compared to hard maple. Cuts and sands cleanly. Can blotch with stain, so test first or go with a clear finish.
Shagbark Hickory
Janka Hardness: 1880 lbf
Character: Among the hardest and strongest domestic hardwoods. Pale sapwood with a darker tan heartwood. The grain is aggressive and full of energy.
Best Uses: Tool handles, flooring, bar tops, anything requiring serious structural integrity and visual boldness.
Workability: Not for the faint of heart. Dulls tools quickly. Reward is a finished piece that feels like it could survive anything.
Shellbark Hickory
Janka Hardness: 1880 lbf
Character: Very similar to shagbark in performance and appearance. Slightly larger tree species, which can mean wider available slabs.
Best Uses: Same applications as shagbark. Flooring, heavy furniture, bar tops, structural accents.
Workability: Same challenges and rewards as shagbark.
Sugar Maple (Hard Maple)
Janka Hardness: 1450 lbf
Character: The classic. Pale, creamy white with a fine, uniform grain. When it has figure (curly, birdseye, quilted), it becomes one of the most valuable domestic species.
Best Uses: Cutting boards, butcher blocks, countertops, fine furniture, flooring, musical instruments. The go-to for anything that needs a clean, bright look with real durability.
Workability: Machines well with sharp tools. The density can cause burning on the router and table saw if you're not careful with feed rates.
Water Oak
Janka Hardness: 1190 lbf
Character: A red oak relative that grows in wet lowland areas throughout the Southeast. Grain and color similar to red oak but often with more character and variation.
Best Uses: Tables, mantels, decorative pieces. Less commonly available than standard red oak, which gives it some novelty.
Workability: Similar to red oak. Works well with standard tooling.
Western Red Cedar
Janka Hardness: 350 lbf
Character: Warm reddish-brown heartwood with a distinctive, pleasant aroma. Naturally rot-resistant and insect-resistant. Light and easy to handle.
Best Uses: Outdoor furniture, decking, live edge accent pieces, closet lining, mantels where a lighter, aromatic wood is desired.
Workability: Very soft and easy to work. Can crush if you're not careful with clamps. The natural oils can interfere with some finishes, so test first.
White Ash
Janka Hardness: 1320 lbf
Character: Similar to green ash with a strong, open grain and light color. Baseball bats, tool handles, and flooring have been made from ash for generations. Like green ash, this species is under pressure from the emerald ash borer.
Best Uses: Tables, mantels, tool handles, sporting goods, flooring. A strong, reliable all-purpose hardwood.
Workability: Excellent. One of the best domestic hardwoods for steam bending. Works easily and finishes well.
White Oak
Janka Hardness: 1360 lbf
Character: The gold standard for furniture wood in many shops. Warm tan color, prominent ray fleck when quartersawn, closed pore structure that makes it naturally water-resistant. White oak has had a massive surge in popularity in recent years.
Best Uses: Dining tables, bar tops, mantels, cabinets, outdoor furniture, whiskey barrels (yes, that's white oak). One of the most versatile species you can build with.
Workability: Very good. Machines well, takes finish beautifully, and the quartersawn figure is worth seeking out.
Yellow Poplar (Tulip Poplar)
Janka Hardness: 540 lbf
Character: Light greenish-yellow heartwood that mellows to a warm tan over time. Straight grain, fine texture. Often overlooked in favor of flashier species, but a genuinely useful and affordable wood.
Best Uses: Painted furniture, trim, secondary wood in furniture (drawer sides, backs), craft projects. Great starter wood for beginning woodworkers.
Workability: One of the easiest hardwoods to work by any method. Cuts, routs, sands, and finishes without drama.
Don't See Your Species?
We source directly from sawmill partners in the Southeast and can often track down specific species, sizes, or figure types on request. If you have something particular in mind, give Alan a call at (208) 680-2616. If it grows in the eastern half of the country, there's a good chance we can get it.