Wood Species

Curly maple showcases figuring and curl that is a primarily horizontal pattern perpendicular to the wood grain. It has ripples in the grain pattern create a three dimensional effect that appears as if the grain has “curled” along the length of the board.

Padauk features slightly open grain with large pores. Premium-quality boards will have long, flowing straight grains, with a ribbon figure and dramatic chatoyance that might be confused for Bloodwood.

Black walnut is dark, hard, dense, and close-grained. Woodworkers value it for its strength, texture, and color. It polishes to an extremely smooth finish and ranges in color from milky white sapwood to dark chocolate heartwood.

Heartwood ranges from pale pink to a deeper reddish brown, sometimes with streaks of medium to dark reddish brown. Colors darken with age. Quartersawn surfaces exhibit a ribbon-stripe appearance. Grain is straight to interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture with good natural luster.

Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish color, typically 1-2″ wide. Cherry has a fine to medium texture with close grain that is usually straight or slightly wavy.