Hardwood Characteristics

Common Name	Color Heartwood	Grain	LBS/FT3	Stability	Workability	Applications
Western Alder Oregon Alder	Pale yellow to reddish brown	Fairly straight	33	Satisfactory	Excellent	Cabinet parts, furniture, laminated articles, etc.
White Ash	Grey brown tinged with red	Straight	41	Excellent	Moderate	Sports bats, oars, cue sticks, tool handles, furniture, cabinet parts
Basswood American Whitewood	Creamy white to pale pinkish brown	Straight and fine	26	Satisfactory	Excellent	Hand carving, pattern making, picture frames, toys, cabinetry
Natural Birch Red Birch White Birch	Creamy white tinged with red	Straight and fine	39	Excellent	Moderate to easy	Dowels, furniture, cabinetry, drawer sides, etc.
Tennessee Cedar Aromatic Cedar	Light brown to red	Straight and fine/medium	36	Excellent	Moderate	Construction, gates, furniture, fencing, doors, etc.
Cabinet Cherry	Rich red to reddish brown	Straight close grain	36	Excellent	Moderate to easy	Musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, boat interiors, etc.
Pecan Hickory	Brown to reddish brown	Straight to wavy w/coarse texture	49	Excellent	Difficult	Tool handles, chairs, furniture, cabinetry
Locust	Salmon red to orange brown – brown streaks	Straight to wavy w/coarse texture	56	Excellent	Difficult	Furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, floors, stair treads, construction
African	Light to dark reddish brown to deep red	Straight to interlocked medium texture	34-36	Excellent	Excellent	Furniture, cabinetry, boat building, pianos, caskets, pattern making
Hard Maple White Maple Natural Maple	Creamy white to reddish brown w/tinge of red	Straight w/fine and even texture	45	Satisfactory	Moderate	Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments
Red Oak White Oak	Pale yellow brown to biscuit to reddish tinge	Straight grain w/coarse texture	48	Satisfactory	Moderate to easy	Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, construction, mouldings
Poplar	Creamy white to grey to pale brown or pinkish	Straight grain w/fine texture	25-28	Satisfactory	Moderate	Furniture framing, drawers, cabinet parts, moulding, boxes, crates
Amaranth Violetwood	Purple violet when cut then turns to dark brown	Straight grain w/fine texture	50-60	Excellent	Difficult	Construction, dock work, water piling, tool handles, furniture
Teak	Golden brown to rich brown w/darker brown markings	Straight to wavy grain w/coarse texture	38-43	Excellent	Difficult	Ship and boat building, outdoor furniture, flooring, cabinetry, decking
Black Walnut Similar to Pecan	Rich dark brown to purplish black	Straight to wavy grain w/coarse texture	40	Excellent	Moderate	Gunstocks, musical instruments, cabinetry, furniture, clock cases