Wood Species
Learn the special characteristics of popular wood types.
Wood Species
Learn the special characteristics of popular wood types.
| Wood Species | Type | Uses | Weight | Strength | Grain/Texture | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder, red | Hard | Inexpensive furniture, interior trim | Light | Moderate | Indistinct, fine | ||||||
| Ash, Black | Hard | Furniture, veneer | Medium | Strong | Figured, coarse | ||||||
| Beech | Hard | Furniture, flooring | Heavy | Strong | Uniform, very little figure, fine | ||||||
| Birch | Hard | Furniture, cabinets, plywood, doors, veneer | Heavy | Strong | Uniform, fine | ||||||
| Cherry | Hard | Furniture, veneer, paneling | Heavy | Strong | Delicate figuring, fine | ||||||
| African Mahogany | Hard | Furniture, cabinets, veneer | Medium | Moderate | Figured, coarse | ||||||
| American Mahogany | Hard | Furniture, cabinets, veneer | Medium | Strong | Figured, coarse | ||||||
| Philippine Mahogany | Hard | Plywood, furniture, cabinets, flooring | Heavy | Strong | Figured, coarse | ||||||
| Maple | Hard | Flooring, furniture | Heavy | Strong | Delicate figuring, fine | ||||||
| Oak, Red & White | Hard | Flooring, furniture, millwork | Heavy | Strong | Figured, especially when quarter-sawn, coarse | ||||||
| Pine, Knotty | Soft | Construction | Light | Weak | Straight, fine | ||||||
| Pine, Ponderosa | Soft | Trim, doors | Light | Weak to moderate | Uniform, fine | ||||||
| Pine, White | Soft | Pallet, trim | Light | Weak | Uniform, fine | ||||||
| Poplar | Hard | Furniture, cabinets, siding | Medium | Moderate | Delicate figuring, fine | ||||||
| Rosewood, Brazilian & Indian | Hard | Veneer, furniture | Heavy | Strong | Figured, coarse |
