see Oak, Red

Other common names: Includes three species marketed together - E. delegatensis (alpine ash, white-top, woollybutt), E. obliqua (messmate stringybark, brown -top stringybark), and E. regnans (mountain ash, Victorian ash, stringy gum, swamp gum). 
Distribution: Grows in south eastern Australia. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Typically straight grained, sometimes interlocked or wavy, with a coarse texture. Narrow, indistinct sapwood and pale brown to light brown heartwood with a pinkish tinge. Moderately heavy to heavy, hard, moderately stiff, high crushing strength, medium bending strength, and moderately high shock resistance. Medium movement in use and decay resistance. Steam-bending rating is moderate at best (E. obliqua). Heartwood is moderately durable with sapwood that is susceptible to borer attack. 750 kg/cu.m 
Working Characteristics: Works well with hand or machine tools with only a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Glues satisfactorily and holds nails and screws well. Stains and polishes easily and can be brought to an excellent finish. Relatively easy to work, messmate both glues and bends well. It will readily accept stains, paints and polishes. 
Common Uses: Used for interior and exterior joinery, building construction, boxes, cooperage, flooring, furniture, sports equipment, agricultral implements, tool handles, plywood, and decorative veneer. One of the timbers in the Tasmanian Oak group, it is suitable for framing above ground if protected, internal flooring, paneling, plywood, protected external use, internal joinery, and furniture. 
General : Sold as Australian or Tasmanian oak but not a true oak. 620 – 720 kb m-3 Messmate Stringybark, Stringy bark, Tasmanian Oak Heartwood is pale brown with a pale yellow sapwood. Messmate displays gum veining with a coarse even texture and an interlocking grain. Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, External cladding, Finishing material, joinery, veneer

The only deciduous black oak of the western U.S. occurs in the Sierra Nevada and Coast ranges of California and North to Southwestern Oregon. A large graceful tree, sometimes 100 feet high and 4 feet in diameter, whose trunk is usually short and much branched. The wood is hard and strong but sometimes rather brash. Properly seasoned it is comparable to eastern red oaks. The lumber is used for pallets, cabinets, furniture, panelling and industrial timbers. It is also much sought after for firewood and chips.

see Oak, Red

see Oak, Red

Oak, Eastern White 

see Oak, White

WOOD OF KINGS AND KING OF WOODS The oak is the best known traditional, most widely used and best appreciated variety in Europe. It supports roofs and floors, and it improves our wine. "Heart of oak are our men" – the very symbol of resistance and long life. Distinct pale cambium. Perfect straw yellow to light brown wood. Medium to fine grain. Interior joinery: furniture, mouldings... Cask making. Exterior joinery: doors and windows. Transoms. Flooring Used in a wide variety of ways in Europe, this variety with its undisputed aesthetic and mechanical qualities could well be used more often as an export to replace other dark varieties like plantation teak.  680 - 800 kg /m3

see Oak, Red

see Oak, Red

see Oak, Red

Other common names: Northern red oak, Eastern red oak, gray oak, American red oak, Canadian red oak, and mountain red oak. 
Distribution: Grows in United States, Canada, and Europe Found widely distributed in the eastern hardwood forests, with a natural range extending from New Brunswick west to Minnesota and south to Kansas, Missouri and Georgia. 
Tree Data: Maximum size 5' x 150' but averaging 2-21/2' x 90'. 
Timber Properties : Straight grained with a coarse texture and prominent rays. Light reddish tan heartwood and narrow, almost white sapwood. Hard, strong, stiff, and strong with moderate stability in use and little natural decay resistance. Machines quite well but has tendency to splinter and chip - avoid cutting against the grain. Turns and steam-bends fairly well. The heartwood is non durable. It should not be used for exterior uses. 
Working Characteristics: Somewhat difficult to work by hand. Nails and screws satisfactorily although pre-drilling recommended. Glues satisfactorily. Finishes well with most stains and finishes but relatively large pores may require a filler Red oak dries slowly and has a tendency to split, check and honeycomb so care is needed for air and kiln drying. Working properties will vary based on the density of the wood and growing area; for example, southern, fast growing red oak is considered harder, heavier and more course in textrue than northern red oak. it has a moderate blunting effect with cutters; experts recommend sharp cutting surfaces and use of carbide-tipped blades and cutters. Pre-boring is recommended for nailing. The wood will finish very well. 
Common Uses: Used for cabinets, furniture, millwork, musical instruments, plywood, flooring, turnery, boxes, caskets, pallets, heavy construction, and many other applications. One of the largest of our oaks, and a rapid grower. Red oak is also a poplar flooring material because it is heavy , hard and stiff and has high shock resistance. Other popular uses for red oak include; interior joinery, plywood, decorative veneers, wall paneling, millwork, boxes, crates, caskets, and coffins, agricultural implements, and woodenware. 
General : The wood is heavy, hard, strong, but less valuable than our native white oaks. Used for ties, poles, furniture and interior finish. Bark has a high tannin content, though not used much in the tanning industry. When used in contact with ground it must be treated with preservatives. Oak is such a commonly used wood in the United States that it could almost be described as ubiquitous. Consistently been named among the top five most used woods at the High Point Furniture Market each spring and fall. Red oak is a popular choice for kitchen and bath cabinets, contract furniture, tables, bedroom and dining room furniture and occasional pieces of all kinds. Doors, moulding and trim push its use even higher.

see Oak, White

Embothrium wickhami

Closely related to Australian Silky Oak

Heartwood is pinkish with a silver grain reminiscent of Quercus species. easy timber to work and is naturally durable

Used in cabinet work and as roof shingles.

see Oak, White

Other common names: Mountain Ash Tasmanian Oak, Victorian Ash, Swampy Gum & Stringy Gum, Australian Oak 
Distribution:  
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Heartwood is pale straw to pink colour often similar to sapwood. coarse textured, straight grained with frequent gum veins. 650 - 710 kg m-3 Colour varies from straw colour to reddish-brown with intermediate shades of cream to pink. The timber has straight, open and even grain with a texture that is open, uniform and fairly coarse. Tasmanian oak is a warm dense, hard wearing hardwood with high impact resistance. In-ground durability of heartwood is moderate to poor. It performs well if painted or protected from persistent moisture. 530-800 kg/cu.m Sapwood Not always easily distinguishable from the heartwood.Heartwood Pale light-brown to red-brown and dark brown.Texture Medium to coarse, grain mostly straight, occasionally interlocking. Tasmanian Oak & Victorian Ash are the same speciesTasmanian Oak  is a straw to tan colored wood, all of which is rift sawn, and is similar in appearance to straight grain American Oak. Tasmanian Oak  depending on the areas it is sourced from, can have a medium high degree of color variation from a pale straw color, some with pinkish highlights, through to tan colors and some medium gray/brown colors. Tasmanian Oak  over time undergoes a slight degree of color change with a muting of the overall color variation and an ambering of the straw colors to a slightly darker tan 
Working Characteristics: Mountain Ash works fairly readily, bends well and glues satisfactorily.The heartwood is not durable, but could be used externally in sheltered locations. Does not take preservative treatment readily Tasmanian oak exhibits excellent acceptance of stains and paints. It nails, screws, machines, glues and turns well although some nailing may require predrilling. Tasmanian oak is a readily workable and a highly finishable species. It is moderately bendable. 
Common Uses: One of the timbers in the Tasmanian Oak group. Mountain ash is used in flooring furniture, joinery, plywood, flooring, panelling, general construction, handles and cooperage. Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, External cladding, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, External cladding, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Tasmanian oak is a warm and highly resilient, easily worked, and readily available hardwood. It is used for framing, laminated beams, boarding, stairs, panelling, flooring, mouldings, furniture, veneers and finishing. Tas oak has also been used untreated and internally in marine craft construction and bridges. Its structural uses in treated poles, posts, piles, sleepers etc. are considerable. 
General : 

Other common names: blush tulip oak, booyong, crowsfoot elm, blackjack (A. actinophyllum ssp. actinophyllum), brown tulip oak, highroot, stavewood, booyong, brown crowsfoot elm, brown oak, hickory (A. trifoliolatum), red tulip oak, red crowsfoot, red crowsfoot elm (A. peralatum) Other tulip oaks include A. polyandrum, A. sp. aff. A. trifoliolatum, A. actinophyllum ssp. diversifolium, and A. sp. aff. A. peralatum. 
Distribution: A. actinophyllum ssp. actinophyllum and A. trifoliolatum occur in scrubs and rainforests along the east coast of Australia 
Tree Data: The tulip oaks can grow up to 50 m in height. The bases of large trees are usually prominently buttressed. Leaves with white or silver on underside. 
Timber Properties : Heartwood pink-brown for A. actinophyllum ssp. actinophyllum and brown for A. trifoliolatum. Sapwood not always readily distinguished. Heartwood pink to red-brown for A. peralatum, with whitish sapwood. Grain is usually straight and open, sometimes interlocked or wavy and irregular producing some beautifully figured wood. Attractive figure on tangential face and large ray fleck on radial face are prominent features of the tulip oaks.800-925 kgm-3 Untreated sapwood susceptible to lyctid borer attack.Difficult to impregnate with preservatives.Careful drying under cover required to minimise degrade. Partial air drying before kiln drying at low temperatures is recommended. Prone to collapse if dried too rapidly. 
Working Characteristics: Not easy to work, but peels well. Moderately severe blunting effect on cutters. The cutting angle should be reduced to 20º when planing or moulding to avoid tearing the grain on quartered material. 
Common Uses: Suitable for use only in continuously dry situations under cover, well ventilated, clear of the ground and fully protected from the weather and other dampness. 
General :

Other common names: eastern white oak, stave oak, ridge white oak, cucharillo, encino, and roble 
Distribution: Grows in United States and Canada. Its range extends from Maine to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida. White Oaks are a group of closely related species that grow in the central eastern and north eastern States of USA, with the major concentration being in the Appalachian region. 
Tree Data: Attains a diameter of eight feet and height of 150 feet, but the average is much smaller. 
Timber Properties : Straight grained with a medium-coarse to coarse texture. Light tannish heartwood with narrow, nearly white sapwood. Heavy, hard and strong with outstanding wear-resistance. Moderate stability in use. Steam-bends very well. Very durable heartwood - ideal for casks and barrels. Durablity Heartwood Durable Sapwood Moderately Prone to shrinkage durable640 - 850 kg m-3 
Working Characteristics: Machines similarly to red oak but has greater tendency to chip and splinter. Turns well. Difficult to work by hand. Nails and screws satisfactorily although pre-drilling recommended. Glues satisfactorily. Stains and finishes well with no need to fill pores for smoothness. Contact with metal results in dark staining. It easily machines and sands to a high quality finish 
Common Uses: Uses include outdoor furniture, boats, cooperage, flooring, interior furniture - especially chairs and tables, turnery, baskets, trim, millwork, and veneers. Our most valuable oak suitable for the widest variety of uses. Wood used for shipbuilding, interior finish, flooring, furniture, cabinets, tight cooperage, railroad ties and fuel. Quartered oak is identical with plain- sawed oak except that the lumber is sawed parallel to the radius instead of on a tangent to the annual rings. The species is impervious to liquids, and is an excellent cooperage timber. 
General : Wood marketed as white oak may contain other white oak species but Quercus alba is primary species. The major species, Quercus alba, is similar to European Oak in both appearance, characteristics, and properties. The resource is adequate to maintain ready availability to both domestic and international markets.

West Africa Creamy white to pale yellow. Faintly striped when quartered Soft, light weight, firm, medium grain, and even in texture. Furniture, interior fittings, joinery, flooring, boat building, and veneer and plywood. 

A soft light timber liable to crumbling

see Guarea

see Guarea

see Rosewood, Brazilian

Scottelia coriacea

Light yellowish hardwood with a prominent silver grain if quarter cut has a shallow interlocked grain with a fine even texture giving a mildly lustrous surface

Used for furniture, parquetry and plywood manufacture.

Seasoning and kiln drying moderately difficult

Non durable

see Iroko

Daniellia ogea

Light red brown hardwood with sometimes dark streaks, moderately coarse textured with interlocked grain

Mainly used for interior joinery

Non durable lightweight timber

Native to central eastern U.S. Nowhere abundant. A tree usually not over 30, but occasionally 70 feet high; with a trunk rarely 2 feet in diameter, though occasionally 3 feet. Wood light, soft, fine-textured, not strong, and often blemished by dark lines of decay, nearly white. Used for artificial limbs, drawing boards, wooden ware and paper pulp. This specimen is from Zaleski, Ohio.

see Utile

see Gaboon

Okoume has a pale red, sometimes pale brown appearance and is the queen of African species for plywood manufacturing for use both as central ply and face veneers. However, this variety, often compared with Asian Merranti, is increasingly being used for interior joinery. Used this way, it is often not intended to show but is painted over. Origin: Central Africa - Gabon Natural colour: light salmon pink to dark pink, darkening with exposure to light. Fine to medium grain. Light counter-grain frequently occurring. Fine silver grain. End uses:Interior joinery: furniture elements, moulding. Panels: plywood and blockboard. Easy to work and available in large quantities, Okoume offers you a cheap supply alternative to Merranti. 650 kg /m3 Okoume is easy to work and dries quickly.

See Ayan

see Albizia

Mediterranean

low tree of spreading growth, long lived and slow growing

light brown timber sometimes with a greenish tinge,straight or shallowly interlocked grain with a firm very close texture

Timber works well and is exceptionally good for carving and turnery

Fine seasoning checks are commonly found

Timber works well - is used mainly for veneers, tool handles and cabinet work

Oleo hochstetteri

Handsome timber with irregular dark markings on a yellowish brown background.

Timber is difficult to work but is popular for panelling and decorative flooring.

Also known as Bilinga, Kusia, or Badi, Opepe is most commonly used as a strustual timber for pilings, wharf and jetty decking, and other marine work. It has a distinctive yellow / orange colour, and it's heartwood is resistant to insect attack, particularly termites and marine borers.

see Osage-Orange

See Alder, Red

see Cedar, Port-Orford

see Maple, Bigleaf The largest maple of the West. Occurs from Alaska south through coastal British Columbia, western Washington, Oregon and California, and on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada to southern California. Reaches its greatest size on rich bottom lands in Oregon, sometimes 100 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. Elsewhere the trunk is shorter and not straight. Wood is lighter, softer and weaker than eastern hard maple but valued for furniture, interior trim, and handles.

see Laurel, California

see Douglas Fir           see Ponderosa Pine

see Queensland Walnut

see Osage-Orange

Other common names: osage, bow wood, bois-d'arc, bodark, bodare, hedge apple, and horse apple. 
Distribution: Grows in United States and Canada. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Straight grained with an uneven texture and a high luster. Golden-yellow to bright orange heartwood and narrow, light yellow sapwood. Darkens with age. Heavy, hard, tough, and resilient. Exceptional decay resistance (best in North America) and dimensional stability. 
Working Characteristics: Works with difficulty due to hardness. Glues satisfactorily. Nails and screws hold well but hardness may require pre-drilling. Finishes easily enough but oils will accelerate natural darkening. 
Common Uses: Used for wheel rims, bows, fenceposts, stakes, railroad ties, turnery, novelties, and musical instruments 
General :.

Other common names: amazoue, amazakoue, anokye, ehie, and hyeduanini 
Distribution: Grows in tropical west Africa, primarily the Ivory Coast and Ghana. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Straight to interlocked grain with moderately coarse texture. Yellow brown to chocolate brown heartwood with grayish-black stripes. Heavy and moderately hard with high stiffness, strength, and shock resistance. Moderate decay resistance and dimensional stability in service. Steam-bends poorly. 
Working Characteristics: Works fairly easily with hand or machine tools but saws slowly. Silica content has moderate blunting effect. Reduced cutting angle recommended during planing to prevent tear-out. Turns well. Glues easily, holds nails and screws well, stains and polishes satisfactorily, and can be brought to an excellent finish. 
Common Uses: Used for cabinetry, fine furniture, doors, shop and office trim, domestic flooring, handles and other turned items, plywood, decorative veneer, and paneling 
General :..

see Maple, Bigleaf

see Hemlock, Western

Other common names: Pacific Maple is the common trading name for a number of S.E.Asian hardwoods Sometimes just called Maple, the individual specie names are also used when identified. The species are;Lauan,Meranti and Seraya.  Meranti is by far the dominant specie in this Shorea timber grouping but all have similar properties. 
Distribution:  
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : The timber of these species are usually divided into two groups ie Light Red and Dark Red, and is more based on wood density than on heartwood colour.  Timber Properties Density(average) Light Red 500kg/m3 dry Dark Red 680kg/m3 dry Durability The heartwood is of variable durability and must be classified as unsuitable for external applications.  Light Red of the species are the more common , with the timber relatively easy to work. Heartwood is pale to mid red-brown, while the Sapwood is usually yellow, pink or grey and easily distinguised. Texture is course but even. Grain interlocked which may give a stripped or ribbon affect to the radial surface. The sapwood is Lyctid borer susceptible and is typically treated against this pest. 
Working Characteristics:  
Common Uses: skirting, architrave, door jambs, panelling and plywood. 
General :

see Western Red Cedar

see Yew, Pacific

see African Padauk This stuff is bright orange when you first cut it.  The orange dust gets everywhere, and really sticks out.  If you want the wood to stay that color, you’ll need to use a finish that includes a UV inhibitor.  Otherwise, it will eventually turn a brownish hue similar to walnut.  Padauk is strong, stable, not too expensive, and has a clear tone similar to maple.  Like maple, it can be used for necks or fretboards, but is probably a bit on the heavy side for bodies.  (If you ever decide to take up acoustic guitar building, don’t use padauk for the sides – it will usually crack instead of bending.)  

see Muninga

see African Padauk

A medium-sized to tall tree growing in the mangrove swamps. Attains a diameter of about 21/2 feet. Wood is hard and heavy, and easily worked. It contains much salt and causes nails to rust. It is used for houses and bridges, poles and paving blocks and is said to resist the teredo well.

Other common names: red silkwood, bauvudi, sacau (Fiji), pencil cedar (Papua New Guinea), faibaru, maliolo (Solomon Islands), nato, red nato (Philippines), pali, njatuh, balam, punti, nantu, siki, soko, (Indonesia), kha-nunnok (Thailand) Other species of Palaquium are sold under the standard trade names nyatoh (with other genera of the Sapotaceae family), nyatoh-batu (harder, heavier species) and red silkwood (P. galactoxylum harvested from Queensland 
Distribution: The trees occur on sites as varied as coastal peat swamps to mountainous regions. Their wide distribution includes Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji. 
Tree Data: Tall hardwoods to 30 m high and 1.0 m diameter. Some species are buttressed. Colour of the outer bark varies between species from brown, to grey to red 
Timber Properties : Heartwood colour varies between species, but is generally pink to red-brown. Sapwood is pink-brown and not always distinct.Grain is straight to interlocked with a moderately fine texture. 
Working Characteristics:  
Common Uses:  
General :. 

see Rosewood, Brazilian

see Cocobolo

A species of Acacia, Palo Verde boasts a thin green "skin" type bark and horrible nasty thorns.  They say if a Mountain Lion is chasing you and you come to a Palo Verde tree, you are better off to face the mountain lion than to try to climb the Palo Verde tree.  (Don't worry, we will de-thorn the wood before we send it to you.)  The sanded and finished wood is a rich creamy green with a subtle grain similar to  Curly Maple.  Twice a year the Palo Verde produces small yellow flowers that irritate allergy sufferers. Most logs do not exceed 6" in diameter.

see Rosa Peroba

see Lignumvitae

see Birch, Paper

see Brazilwood

Also known as Brazilian pine. Grows in S. America, primarily in the Brazilian state of Parana. Very attractive wood with straight grain, very close density, honey coloring, and very subdued growth rings. Similar in strength and hardness to United States yellow pines but has much better working qualities. Rates medium in bending and crushing strength and low in stiffness, shock resistance, and decay resistance. Stable in service but can distort significantly if not seasoned properly. Glues and finishes without difficulty and holds nails and screws quite well. Used for staircases, trim, sash, doors, cabinet framing, vehicle components, furniture, turnery, general construction, plywood veneers, and pulp.

Also known as Tiete Rosewood Found in Paraguay / Bolivia Patagonian Cherry is a unique pinkish red, rose colored wood which is extremely dense exhibiting a wide range of color variability between pale pinks to darker purplish reds with occasional dark striping. Patagonian Cherry undergoes a medium degree of color change from a pink red to a slightly deeper medium red with the muting of the initial color variation.

Paraguayaka brazilian maplePatagonian Maple is a dense, cream-colored wood widely used as an American Maple substitute in furniture. Brazilian Maple / Patagonian Maple has distinctive "curl" markings somewhat similar to "curly" American Maple but which run in varying angles as opposed to running at right angles as in American Maple. Patagonian Maple offers a medium range of color variability, ranging from pale cream colors to yellowish cream tones. In the lower grades, the darker tan/brown colors of the heartwood can be found. Brazilian Maple / Patagonian Maple undergoes a medium degree of color change, with a slight ambering over time to a more golden cream color and with a muting of the color range found when freshly sanded. 

Brazil, Paraguay & BoliviaPatagonian Rosewood is a highly figured wood with pronounced black striping. Patagonian Rosewood offers an extremely wide range of color variability from light cream colors through to almost black pieces. Patagonian Rosewood undergoes a dramatic color change from when fresh milled to when fully aged.  Initially the background wood (to the black striping) varies from cream to orangish tones and then over times changes to deep dark orangey/reddish brown making the black stripes less pronounced.

Paraguay & Southern BrazilPatagonian Walnut is in the same family as Brazilian Walnut / Ipe.  It is a lighter brown color than Brazilian Walnut and offers golden/tan highlights. It also offers more rowed grain/curl figure than Brazilian Walnut. Color Range: Patagonian Walnut ranges in color from a golden tan to a medium brown color. Some pieces may have some darker brown graining. Color Change: Patagonian Walnut exhibits a medium degree of color change as the the wider color range in the freshly milled wood will quickly mute to a more uniform range and in color will also darken from a fresh milled gold/greenish color to a medium brown tone with golden highlights. 

New Zealand

Strong “Boxwood” Texture 850 kg m-3  Brush backs, turnings, flooring

see Tulipwood, Brazilian

(a.k.a. Bolivian Rosewood, Morado) 

Pau Ferro isn’t really a rosewood, but has similar properties.  It has slightly brighter tone than rosewood, and a smooth feel similar to ebony.  It is fairly inexpensive and easier to glue than rosewoods.  Consequently, it’s liable to catch on more amongst major manufacturers.  Fender’s Stevie Ray Vaughan Strat ® comes with a pau ferro fretboard. 

see Pau Marfim

Also known as moroti, guatambu moroti, quatamba, farinha seca, pau liso, kyrandy, and ivorywood. Grows in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Dense, fine textured, mostly straight grained with a creamy white color. Little contrast between sapwood and heartwood although heartwood sometimes has darker streaks.  fine grained strong Heavy, 800kg m-3 tough, and strong with excellent shock resistance and wear properties. Stable in use. Low decay resistance. tool handles, turnings, chairs Relatively easy to work although it can quickly blunt cutting edges. Excellent for turnery. Nails, screws, and glues without difficulty. Takes stains well and polishes to a smooth, fine finish. Used as a substitute for maple and birch, especially for flooring - due to exceptional wear resistance. Also used for tool handles, oars, textile rollers, drawing instruments, cabinetwork, furniture, paneling, and veneer.

see Tulipwood, Brazilian

see PurpleHeart

Sapwood is lighter in colour and is only moderately well-defined from the heartwood, which is yellow-brown with a slight green tinge. A dark grey-brown striped core is found in some logs. Grain is shallowly interlocked. Texture is moderately fine and even. 

Fast growing

Pale blond to light honey timber with gradual transition from sapwood to heartwood. Large growth rings which diminish in width as tree matures.

Lightwieght straight grained timber mostly knot free and odourless. High strength to weight ratio, low shrinkage coefficient. Excellent working properties  giving a silky finish. easy to cut, plane and carve.  See www.worldtreetech.com

Paulownia is a revered wood in Asia. Very light and a good contrasting colour to cedar or other dark timbers. Very fast growing, plant a sapling now and you can build a kayak from it in 5 years time. Paulownia is softer than cedar and not as strong. It makes up for this by being less brittle and slightly more flexible. It is reputed to be hard to work unless tools are very sharp. A new and interesting alternative.

see PurpleHeart

see Jelutong

Slender tree of small growth

Closely related to Almond, plum and Cherry

Timber is reddish with a variable grain but has a fine uniform texture

An attractive silver grain is apparent if quarter sawn

Difficult to work but gives a good finish.

Non Dyrable.

Used in inlays and marquetry

Sarcocephalus esculentus

Yellowish heartwood with coarse uniform texture, is normally straight grained

Non durable

Works well and is used for carving and locally as a general utility timber

Closely related to Opepe

Other common names: peartree, pearwood, and common pear. 
Distribution: Grows in North America, Europe, and parts of western and southeast Asia. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Typically straight grained with a tight, uniform texture. Pinkish brown heartwood and sapwood with little dilineation between them. Heavy, hard, and tough (difficult to split) with moderate strength, low stiffness, good dimensional stability, and low decay resistance. Color: reddish wood, darkens with older trees red-brown after Characteristics: hard, heavy wood  Non durable 
Working Characteristics: Works well with tools in any direction due to uniformity of fibers. Exceptional turning, carving, and polishing properties. Accepts stains and finishes extremely well. 
Common Uses: Prized for fancy turnery such as tool handles, knife handles, umbrella handles, and bowls. Sliced into decorative veneers for cabinets, paneling, marquetry, and inlay. Other uses include rulers, engravings, printing blocks, and musical instruments. 
General : Disadvantages: is inclined to tearing 

see Tupelo, Black

see Pear

see Pear

see Pear

Other common names: pecan nut, pecan hickory, sweet pecan, nogal morado, and pecanier. 
Distribution: Grows in United States and Mexico. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Tight, generally straight grain with a coarse texture. Pale to reddish brown heartwood and whitish sapwood. Very heavy, hard, strong, stiff and shock resistant. Good dimensional stability and low decay resistance 
Working Characteristics: Turns and otherwise machines well but can be difficult to work with hand tools. Glues, screws, and nails well. Stains satisfactorily and polishes to a nice shiny finish. Ideal for applications where strength and elasticity are important. 
Common Uses: Used for tool handles, farm implements, vehicle parts, baseball bats, flooring, veneers, paneling, long-wearing chair parts (legs, backs, rungs), dowels, poles, ladders, turnery, and interior furniture. 
General :. 

see Pecan Hickory

see Pecan Hickory

see Pecan Hickory

See Baldcypress

Sapwood is grey-brown on exposure and is well-defined from the heartwood, which is redbrown with a purple tinge when fresh, becoming dark red-brown on exposure. Grain is interlocked or spiral. Texture is rather fine and even. Suitable for all forms of heavy construction, railway sleepers, transmission posts, heavy-duty furniture, parquet flooring, posts and tool handles.  

see Incense-Cedar                see Cedar Eastern Red

see Sapele

Sapwood is well-defined from the heartwood, which is dark brown. Grain is straight to only shallowly interlocked. Texture is slightly coarse but even. Suitable for all forms of heavy construction, heavy-duty furniture and heavy-duty flooring 

see Kawakawa

see Tupelo, Black

Other common names: Laurel, California.  brown beech 
Distribution:  
Tree Data: A medium sized hardwood, pepperwood grows to a height of 35 m with a spread of 6 m. The bole is straight and somewhat buttressed, with reddish-brown or light brown bark occasionally scaly on larger trees. 
Timber Properties : Heartwood is very pale pink, pink-brown or straw to golden brown. Sapwood is pale to light brown and not easily distinguishable from the heartwood. Usually very straight grained. 480 kgm Untreated sapwood susceptible to lyctid borer attack. Very soft (rated 6 on a 6 class scale) in relation to indentation and ease of working with hand tools. 
Working Characteristics:  
Common Uses:  
General : Suitable for use only in continuously dry situations under cover, well ventilated, clear of the ground and fully protected from the weather and other dampness.

Tree of 20 the 45 meters of height, gift in the Amazon region. Its wood is used for carpentry, pisos, carrocerias, civil and naval construction, alizares, vestibules, etc. 810 kg very durable

Sapwood is light yellow-brown and is sharply defined from the heartwood, which is dark brown with a red tinge and streaked alternately with lighter and darker stripes. Grain is straight or shallowly interlocked.  Texture is moderately fine and even. 

see Brazilwood

Other common names: Manglillo Distribution: Peroba rosa has been heavily exploited in the past because of its durability, and is now sought because of its beauty. Peroba rosa is becoming increasingly scarce outside of parks and preserves and is now very rare in parts of its original range. Tree Data: The Tree: Peroba rosa is a tall canopy tree, averaging 100 feet in height in the natural rainforest, with a straight cylindrical bole 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Larger specimens may reach 130 feet, with trunks up to 4 or 5 feet in diameter. Timber Properties : Peroba rosa is a very attractive wood, light brown to pinkish to rose-red and often variegated or streaked with pink, purple or brown. The texture is fine to medium and uniform, with a medium luster and straight to interlocking grain. Peroba rosa is moderately heavy, weighing 47 pounds per cubic foot and has a specific gravity of .66. Working Characteristics: It turns and shapes easily, glues well, and readily takes a high polish. It is stronger than teak and rated very durable. Common Uses: Peroba rosa is favored for fine furniture and cabinetry, decorative veneers, joinery and millwork, flooring, interior trim, sash and doors. It is also used for specialty items in turnery and carving. General :

Other common names: white ebony, date plum, possum wood, simmon, boa wood, butter wood, and bara-bara. Distribution: Grows in central and southern United States. A native of the Southeastern quarter of the U.S. extending north into Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Tree Data: Ordinarily a small tree but in the Mississippi Valley it sometimes reaches a height of over 100' and a diameter of over 2'. The tree produces a small but luscious and popular fruit. Timber Properties : Straight grained with a fine even texture and little figure. Creamy white sapwood mottled with grey spots with small core of dark brown to black heartwood. Primarily available as sapwood. Very heavy and dense, hard, tough and strong. Very resistant to impact and wear. Large movement in service. The wood is hard, heavy, strong, highly shock-resistant and fine-grained. Only the very oldest trees possess heartwood, which is jet black like the ebony from a related species. Working Characteristics: Somewhat difficult to work due to hardness but turns and sands well. Requires pre-drilling for screwing or nailing. Glues satisfactorily. Finishes to a high polish and retains smoothness under heavy use (similar to dogwood). Common Uses: Used for golf-club heads, textile shuttles and bobbins, shoe lasts, handles, turnery, and ornamental veneers. General : Principal uses include golf heads and shuttles, for both of which it is the preferred wood. A tropical species produces the ebony of commerce, while Japanese species are planted in orchards for their fruit.

see Cedar, South American

Sapwood is dark yellow-brown or light red-brown and is moderately defined from the heartwood, which is red-brown to purple red-brown, darkening on exposure. Grain is interlocked. Texture is fine and even. 

see Rosewood, Brazilian

Bocote Replacement

see Porokaiwhiri

Other common names: White Baltic pine Norway Spruce. 
Distribution: A medium sized softwood native to Europe, quite extensive in the Baltic and Scandinavian areas. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Timber Properties Density (average) 450kg/m3 dry Durability Class 4 Stength Group S7 green SD7 dry Heartwood and Sapwood is indistinguishable, the general colour being white to pale yellow with growth rings not being very prominent. The sapwood is susceptible to Anobium borer and should be regularly inspected.Although small tight knots are common the timber is usually straight grained and with a fine texture. Hardness Rating (average) 1.5 kN green 2.1 kN dry420 kg m-3 
Working Characteristics: The timber is easily worked with hand or machine tools and when planned comes to a very smooth clean finish. 
Common Uses:  
General : flooring and cladding.These days however it is considered too soft for high wear flooring areas and should only be used as weatherboards in protected applications

see Sugar Pine

see Ponderosa Pine

see Ponderosa Pine

see Parana Pine

Podocarpus elata

Australia

General utility softwood ranging in colour from pale to dark brown with little figuring

see Ponderosa Pine

Other common names:  Distribution:  Tree Data:  Timber Properties : Celery Top Pine has a pale straw colour, darkening to a beautiful gold, with age. There is an occasional hint of red. The timber has a straight, fine and even grain with a close even texture. A sturdy versatile and durable, workable timber admired and used for its stability, finishing qualities and its light base colour. t is highly durable, resilient, and exhibits low shrinkage across the grain. In ground durability of heartwood is very good, generally satisfactory for internal and external use above ground. 640 kg m-3 Working Characteristics: Celery Top Pine can be worked to a smooth flat surface. It planes well with the grain, drills cleanly to size, bends and turns well, and accepts paints, stains and varnishes readily. Seasoned Celery Top can be difficult to nail and may need to be predrilled. Common Uses: Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, External cladding, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Celery top pine has been used for boat building, benchtops, flooring, decking, joinery,indoors outdoor furniture, external cladding, wall panelling, beams and poles. General : I

see Pine, Eastern White

Naturally durable general purpose softwood

light yellow colour with red or brownish figuring, moderately fine and uniform texture

Other common names: white pine, northern white pine, northern pine, Weymouth pine, Quebec yellow, cork pine, and pumpkin pine. 
Distribution: Grows in Canada, Mexico, and United States. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Straight grained with a fine, uniform texture. Creamy white, pale yellow or light brown heartwood and creamy white sapwood. Yellows with age. Soft, weak, and light with low decay resistance, shock resistance, and steam bending. Very stable in service. 
Working Characteristics: Works very easily with most machine or hand tools although turning is only fair. Carves quite well. Holds nails and screws well without the need to pre-drill. Glues, paints and varnishes well. Sealer recommended to prevent blotches when staining. 
Common Uses: Used for numerous applications including carvings and sculpture, millwork, sash, doors, trim, paneling, cabinetry, furniture, toys, novelties, musical instrument components, caskets, boxes, match sticks, veneer, dowels, and patterns. 
General : 

see Sugar Pine

see Sweetgum

Other common names:  
Distribution:  
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Heartwood is a pale yellow brown with a white sapwood. 530 kg m-3
 Working Characteristics: Hoop pine is easy to work. This timber glues well but is difficult to bend. 
Common Uses: Hoop pine is used in plywood, paneling, mouldings, particleboard, furniture, internal and external joinery, boxes, and flooring. Flooring, Internal lining, joinery, veneer 
General :

Western White Pine

Other common names: King Billy Pine 
Distribution:  
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Pale red when cut fading to pale yellow-pink with exposure to sunlight. Durability of heartwood in-ground is excellent. Marine craft durability is high. The timber is not susceptible to lyctid attack. 400 kg/cu.m 
Working Characteristics: King William pine is easy to work, being easily and cleanly cut, drilled, and rebated. Drill holes tend to be oversized. Nailing is easy, however a twisted shank nail is recommended. The timber makes excellent mouldings. It planes and sands well and finishing with paints and varnishes are good. Stains are generally not recommended. 
Common Uses: Internal lining, External cladding, Finishing material, joinery, veneer King William Pine is used in furniture, marine and aircraft construction, bentwork, oars, chemical vats, window sashes and musical instruments. 
General :

Knobcone pine is a small- to medium-sized tree commonly found on dry, infertile soils in the Coast, Sierra and Cascade Ranges of Northern California and Southern Oregon.Its wood qualities are similar to those of ponderosa pine. Seeds are only released after the serotinous cones have been opened by the heat of a wildfire. The resulting stands are dense, and most have little use for lumber. Hybrids between knobcone and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) combine knobcone pine's ability to grow on marginal sites with Monterey pine's rapid growth and superior form characteristics.

see Ponderosa Pine

This is a common and important pine of the Rocky Mountains where it is much used for railroad cross-ties and mine timbers. It is also found in the Sierra Nevada region of California usually at elevations of over 6000'. In the Rockies it is a small tree and grows in dense stands, but in California it reaches its greatest size, 2-3' in diameter and 100 ft. high, occasionally reaching greater size. In California the tree is better known as Tamarac pine, but logging operations seldom reach commercial stands of this species. The wood is light and soft and must be cresoted to serve well as ties and mine props.

Also referred to as southern pine and hard pine. Formerly found in forests of immense extent along the Southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The amount of virgin timber is close to exhaustion but a tremendous amount of second-growth is taking its place. It attains a maximum size of 3' x 120'. Its wood is hard, heavy, strong, tough and durable, therefore, valued for bridge and factory construction, shipbuilding, docks, ties and flooring. The bulk of our naval stores at present come from this tree. 

Western White Pine

see Pine, Eastern White

see Douglas Fir see Ponderosa Pine

see Parana Pine

see Ponderosa Pine

see Ponderosa Pine

see Ponderosa Pine

see Pine, Eastern White

see Pine, Eastern White

Other common names: Monterey Pine 
Distribution: The species originates in California USA, where it is known as Monterey Pine. In New Zealand, the species is grown in renewable plantation forests throughout the country. A number of New Zealand¡s forests are FSC certified. 
Tree Data: Through selective breeding over many generations, the New Zealand Radiata pine tree has significantly superior characteristics to those of the Monterey Pine, and also to those of Radiata pine grown in other countries. 
Timber Properties : Heartwood is a light brown to yellow. Sapwood is pale yellow to white and often indistinguishable from the heartwood. Grain is straight commonly interspersed with knotting. The durability of radiata pine relates to its exposure condition, preservative treatment and seasoning status. Untreated radiata pine is of low durability and should not be used where it is exposed to the weather. The durability of treated radiata depends on the level of treatment and the expected level of decay hazard. Properly selected and treated radiata pine is a highly durable and cost effective timber 480 - 550 kg m-3 
Working Characteristics: Radiata pine is easily worked. It cuts, glues, drills, planes, stains, paints and binds readily. Knotting can present minor workability problems with blunting of tools being moderate. Nailing is easy, however, nail holding can be a problem with low density material. Twisted shank nails may be needed. The timber is easy to kiln dry to less than 15% MC, machines and sands easily to a smooth finish, has excellent glueing and nail holding properties, accepts stains evenly, is resistant to splitting, accepts preservative chemicals very readily, and has an exceptionally high strength to weight ratio. 
Common Uses: Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, External cladding, Finishing material, joinery, veneer Radiata Pine is a widely used timber for a range of structural, decorative and ancillary uses. This includes glue laminated material, veneers, plywood and lining. 
General : 

Also known as Norway Pine, although native only to America. It is found native from New Brunswick to northeastern Minnesota and south into northeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania. Most abundant in the Lake States. The wood is light, moderately hard, fairly strong and straight-grained. Used for sash, doors, general mill work, construction, piles, spars. This specimen is 11/4" x 111/2 " x 10'10". 

see Sugar Pine

see Southern Yellow Pine

Western White Pine

Other common names:  British Honduras pitch
Distribution:  British Honduras, Central America, Cuba
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Heartwood that is pale reddish-brown is often not distinguishable from sapwood which is pale yellow. Texture is relatively coarse with a straight grain and prominent growth rings. Heartwood is durable enough to be used in some exposed contexts provided that the exposure is not harsh. 650 kg/cu.m 
Working Characteristics: Slash pine is relatively easy to work. However the high resin content, especially in green timber, may interfere with gluing and finishes at times. Nailing tends to be directed by the growth rings. 
Common Uses: Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, Finishing material, joinery Uses in ground, above ground in exposed locations, as decking, cladding and external joinery all require preservative treatment. Used as protected seasoned framing above ground. Used widely in internal flooring, paneling and joinery. 
General :

see Southern Yellow Pine

see Sugar Pine

Western White Pine

see Ponderosa Pine

see Pine, Eastern White

Western White Pine

See Pine, Baltic

Cypress Heartwood is variegated browns with a pale yellow sapwood. Cypress exhibits a straight grain with a fine, even texture. Structural, Flooring, Internal lining, External cladding White cypress pine is used in flooring, paneling, cladding, joinery, frameworks, posts, small poles. Also used in beehive construction. Care needs to be executed because of the brittle nature of this wood. Cypress pine dust can be irritant to mucous membranes in some people. Seasoned timber may need pre-drilling for nailing. Can be turned and machined reasonably well. White Cypress Pine has high resistance to termite attack in ground contact or in damp or poorly ventilated situations. Both sapwood and heartwood are resistant to preservative impregnation700 kg/cu.m

see Rosa Peroba

see Tulipwood, Brazilian

From Argentina

Piñon is an evergreen tree that grows along the foot hills of Californian's desert mountains, east to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and north to Wyoming. This tree produces a cone that bears edible seeds harvested in the late fall. When burned, the smoke is a soft smell of the Piñon that fill the air in towns and villages throughout New Mexico.

see Ponderosa Pine

see Sycamore Plane

Persimmon

see New Zealand Christmas Tree

See Balsa

See Baldcypress

Other common names: western yellow pine, California white pine, Oregon pine, bird's eye pine, knotty pine, prickly pine, blackjack pine, and pitch pine 
Distribution: Grows mainly in western United States and southern British Columbia. Most widely distributed of pines in North America. More widely distributed than any other western tree, and of greatest economic importance. Occurs native from British Columbia south to southern California, Arizona and New Mexico, east to Dakota, Kansas, and Texas. Attains best growth in the Sierras. 
Tree Data: Maximum size 7' x 200', averages much less, depending on region. 
Timber Properties : Straight grained, sometimes with a bird's eye pattern, and with a medium coarse texture. Typically has prominent dark resin duct lines and numerous small but sound knots. Light reddish brown heartwood and wide, nearly white to pale yellow sapwood. Light and soft with low strength and shock resistance, moderately low stiffness, low decay resistance, poor steam bending, and good stability in service. The wood is soft, moderately strong and easily worked. 
Working Characteristics: Works fairly well with machine or hand tools although resin can gum-up cutters. Planes, turns, moulds, routs, bores, and mortises very well. Glues, nails and screws easily with a low tendency to split. Paints and finishes fairly well although a sealer coat may be needed to handle resin bleed-out, especially near knots. 
Common Uses: Has many uses including boxes, crates, millwork, building construction, turnery (balusters, porch columns, dowels), caskets, furniture, patterns, trunks, toys, poles, posts, paneling, and plywood. Used for ties, props, poles, house construction, sash and doors, boxes, matches. See Baker white Pine board adjacent. 
General : Although this tree is a true yellow pine, its wood often approaches true white pine in appearance and technical qualities. For this reason and because the term "yellow pine" commonly infers a very resinous and rather hard wood, producers prefer to call it western white pine, Baker white pine, California white pine, Arizona white pine, etc., depending on the region of growth. Foresters and botanists call it Western Yellow Pine.

This curious and interesting type of figure is found occasionally in this pine. The cause of the figure is not definitely known in all cases but, in some cases, is caused by a "gall midge." The insect apparently punctures and stimulates the cambium to produce a malformation that may persist throughout the life of the tree. The growth ring becomes indented and thin bark becomes enclosed during the early period in the tree's life. Though not at all a general phenomenon, boards of this character are not uncommon. This type of birdseye has an entirely different origin than the birdseye in hard maple and in redwood. 

see Hophornbeam 

see Yellow Poplar     see Cottonwood, Eastern  
Other common names: Includes European black poplar, Canadian poplar, balsam poplar, cottonwood, and various varieties of aspen. 
Distribution: Grows throughout N. America, Europe, and Asia. 
Tree Data:  
Timber Properties : Generally straight grained and "woolly" with a fine, even texture. Creamy-white to pale brown heartwood and sapwood. Most species are typically soft and light with low ratings for strength, stiffness, shock resistance, decay resistance, and steam bending. Moderate movement in service White to beige according to variety. Extremely fine grain. 440 kg/m3 
Working Characteristics: Works easily with hand or machine tools but sharp edges recommended. Glues, screws and nails well. Staining can be patchy but paints and varnish are easily applied. 
Common Uses: Used for furniture framing, interior joinery, toys, turnery, matches, crates, boxes, pallets, packing, plywood core stock, veneer, and pulpwoodPanels: plywood, particle. Matches. Packing/ Crates. Interior joinery: furniture, moulding, etc Widely used for a whole range of purposes, the poplar is an easy variety to work that is readily available and can provide a competitive alternative for many industries 
General : .

see Cottonwood, Eastern

see Yellow Poplar

see Yellow Poplar

see Yellow Poplar

see Yellow Poplar

Pigeon Wood

12m. An erect small tree with thick leathery leaves that have saw toothed margins.

The sexes of Pigeon Wood are on different trees. The flowers have a strong aromatic scent.

The fruit is held in clusters of juicy fruits (drupes) which are bright redish orange when ripe.

A favourite fruit of the native Pigeon.

Abundant in lowland to mountain forests. Also found on the Three Kings Islands.

Flowering throughout spring and early summer with the berries from mid spring through summer.

see Cedar, Port-Orford

see Cedar, Port-Orford

Persimmon

see Holly, American

see Ponderosa Pine