Santos Mahogany (aka Cabreuva)Â is a recent addition to the palette available to woodworkers.
Know Your Woods
Know Your Woods
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African mahogany (aka 'Khaya') is perhaps the most common substitute for Cuban mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), the most celebrated and revered cabinet and furniture wood in the world.
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With the demise of many species of the esteemed rosewood family woodworkers have been looking for substitutes for these increasingly rare woods. Pau Ferro (also known as Santo's Rosewood) is a popular replacement.
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Ipe is a wood with weathering properties that make it the premium wood for exterior projects.
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With supplies of North American Mahogany dwindling, more woodworkers are turning to Sapele as a substitute wood for use in furniture and musical instruments.
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Spanish Cedar was first "discovered" during the early days of European contact with the tropical Americas. Explorers recognized its utilitarian properties.
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Jatoba is a very dense hardwood, perfect for flooring and stairs, which is one of the reasons it has become so popular.
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Bubinga is commonly used for furniture, tabletops, and flooring. Since it turns well, it is also used for bowls, pens, and decorative articles.
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Arguably the most beautiful hardwood in the world, Cocobolo's alluring qualities have captivated generations of woodworkers and artisans alike. It is a true rosewood, a member of the genus Dalbergia.
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The name says it all: widely known and appreciated for the distinctive dark brown/black stripes that resemble the African zebra, the tree itself is found in West Africa, specifically the rich volcanic soils of Cameroon.
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Hickory is considered the hardest of the commercially available hardwoods in North America. There may be a wood that is stronger or one that is denser, but none have hickory's unique combination of strength, density, stiffness and toughness.
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Southern Yellow Pine (often referred to as SYP) is a designated group of four species growing in the Southern United States.
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Noted for its brilliant red autumnal colours, Red Maple is one of the members of the 'soft maple' group. These maples are significantly softer than hard maple (Acer saccharum).
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Surfboards, table tennis paddles, structural models and the famous British World War II Mosquito bomber incorporated balsa into their designs. It carves well and is considered a fine wood for whittling.
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Teak is one of the world's most celebrated timbers, known for its outstanding durability, unmatched in a natural wood product. Indigenous to India, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thailand, and Laos.
