This page will hopefully help in deciding what your hook will look like. Wood Grain and color will vary.
This page is a work in progress.....

WOODS 
All available woods are not listed. If you have a specific wood in mind and don't see it here, send me an email.

​AFRICAN BLACKWOOD - (Dalbergia melanoxylon) - also known as Grenadilla or Mpingo, is a flowering tree in the family Fabaceae, native to seasonally dry regions of Africa from Senegal east to Eritrea and south to the Transvaal in South Africa.
Good quality "A" grade African Blackwood commands high prices on the commercial timber market. The tonal qualities of African Blackwood are particularly valued when used in woodwind instruments, principally clarinets, oboes, transverse flutes, piccolos, Highland pipes, and Northumbrian pipes.

​​AFRICAN OLIVEWOOD BURL - (Olea capensis) - also known as East African Olive, Black Ironwood, Elgon Olive, Ironwood Oliveis
Primarily grows in East Africa, though also occurring as far west as Sierra Leone and south to South Africa.

​AFZELIA BURL - is a genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae (legumes). The thirteen species all are trees, native to tropical Africa and Asia. 
Afzelia is commonly referred to as Doussie (Cameroons), Apa, Aligna (Nigeria), Mkora, Mkola, Mbambakofi (Tanzania), Chanfuta, Mussacossa (Mozambique), Beyo, Meli, Azza (Uganda) and Pod Mahogany. 
 This is a hard, dense exotic wood that ranges from light orange to dark orange/red. Similar to Ambonya. Turns well and takes a high gloss finish.   The genus Afzelia is reported to occur both in Africa and in Southeast Asia. But the name afzelia will usually refers to the African variety.

AFZELIA XYLIA LACE - (Xylia xylocarpa) Afzelia wood can have incredible figure and the most outstanding and rare is the xylia figure. It looks like raised alligator skin, which really shows best when the surface is very highly polished. This figure is from Southeast Asia and is very rare.

AMBOYNA BURL -  Narra (the tree that Amboyna burl comes from) grows extensively in the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea, Cagayan, Mindoro, Palawan, Cotabato and the Malay Archipelago.
When in the burl form, Narra’s wood is usually referred to as Amboyna Burl , that name coming from Amboyna Island, another place the trees can be found. 
​Amboyna Burl is one of my favorite woods. Its one of those woods that is pleasing to the eye and the nose. A beautiful flower scent fills the air the whole time I'm turning this wood and can linger in the shop for days.

APPLE - Also known as Crab Apple and Wild Apple. Heartwood can vary from a light reddish or grayish brown to a deeper red/brown. The grain of Apple is sometimes seen with streaks of darker and lighter bands of color, similar to Olive. Sapwood is a pale cream color. Apple has a high shrinkage rate and experiences a large amount of seasonal movement in service. Common Uses include fine furniture, tool handles, carving, mallet heads, turned items, and firewood.

APRICOT - (Prunus armeniaca)  Heartwood is light brown, sometimes with a reddish or orangish cast. Darker brown streaks are common. Sapwood is generally thin, and  is slightly paler than heartwood. Apricot is related to Cherry (Prunus genus) and is  heavier and harder than Cherry and much more scarce. Sizes are very limited, so Apricot tends to be assigned primarily to smaller, more decorative purposes. Common Uses include turned objects, musical instruments, carvings, and knife handles.

Asian Pan Burl - grows in Southeast Asian countries. It is a large tree with heights up to 160 feet tall and diameters up to 5 feet.  The wood color is usually a light pinkish red color in lumber. Burls tend to be a deep red color with more tannin present. Burls are not common and when found usually have large bark incursions, voids and  a high cost.
 Tannin is a bitter-tasting organic substance present in some galls, barks, and other plant tissues, consisting of derivatives of gallic acid, used in leather production and ink manufacture.

BLOODWOOD - (Brosimum rubescens) from tropical South America, it's heartwood is typically a bright, vivid red but can range from reddish gold to deep, deep red. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellowish color, though given the typically large trunk diameters, it’s seldom seen or included in imported lumber. Also known as Satine, it’s no wonder this wood  has grown so popular as an imported wood species. Though it poses some challenges in working characteristics, pronounced blunting effect on cutters and wood tends to be brittle and can splinter easily while being worked.  Its hardness, strength, and coloration make this a favorite.

BLOODWOOD BURL - (Brosimum rubescens) ​ 

BLUE MOHOE - (Talipariti elatum)  Native to Cuba and Jamaica; widely planted throughout the Caribbean.
Heartwood can be highly varied in color, usually grayish or olive brown colored, sometimes with streaks of green, blue, or purple. Sapwood is pale yellow and is clearly demarcated from heartwood.
Blue Mahoe is one of very few woods with an overall gray heartwood appearance, and perhaps the only commercially available wood that can exhibit a bluish hue. Common uses include cabinetry, furniture, turned objects, carvings, musical instruments, inlay, marquetry, and interior trim.

BOCOTE -  (Cordia spp) comes from Mexico and Central/South America and has a yellowish brown body with dramatic dark brown to almost black stripes. Bocote has a moderate scent when being worked that resembles dill pickles. Common uses are Fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.

BLACK AND WHITE EBONY - (Diospyros malabarica) also known as Pale Moon Ebony, is from Laos and southeast Asia. Heartwood is a pale straw color, with darker black streaks throughout; some pieces may be predominantly black rather than white. Sapwood is a paler white color, not always clearly defined. Common uses include turned objects, inlay, and other small wood projects. Black and White Ebony is an extremely difficult wood to dry, It's very prone to checking, splitting and warping. Once dry wood it's a great wood to work with.

BOG OAK - Bog oak is a catchall name for partially fossilized wood. Thousands of years ago, swamps, fens and bogs were often surrounded by huge, primeval forests full of massive oak trees.  Due to storms, floods or other natural events, these trees would sometimes fall into these adjacent wetlands.Oak trees are rich in chemical compounds called tannins or tannic acid.  Tannins are yellowish to brownish in color, astringent, and acidic in nature.  Tannins are renowned for their powers of preservation.  In effect, tannins have the ability to mummify organic matter when present in high concentrations. Any tree that fell into a bog and sank quickly had a tendency to be preserved in the tannin-rich waters.  Oak being an incredibly tough and rot resistant wood and because it naturally contains a large amount of tannins, oak gets a double-shot of tannins from the bog water.  Which lead to preserving the wood, eventually turning it into bog oak.
Most bog oak comes from the British Isles, Northern Europe or Russia.  While bog oak can form over as little as 1,000 years, it can also be almost unbelievably ancient.  Specimens are regularly radiocarbon dated to between 2,000 and 5,000 BC.  This means some trees were alive during the building of the Egyptian pyramids or Stonehenge, at the very dawn of human history!

BOX ELDER - (Acer negundo) also know as Manitoba Maple, Ash-Leaved Maple, is native to North America. Sapwood is a pale white, sometimes with a yellow/green hue similar to yellow poplar. The heartwood is a grayish/yellowish brown, frequently with red or pink streaks. The red stain is produced by the tree’s natural defenses when wounded—it is thought that this compound is meant to inhibit the growth of fungus that commonly colonizes the tree. 
Common uses are Turned objects, small ornamental objects, wood pulp, charcoal, boxes, and crates.

BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD - (Dalbergia nigra)  from Brazil, can vary in color from a darker chocolate brown to a lighter purplish or reddish brown, with darker contrasting streaks. The black streaks can sometimes form a unique grain pattern that is sometimes referred to as “spider-webbing” or “landscape,” very similar to ziricote. Sapwood is clearly yellowish and easily distinguish from the heartwood.

BRIAR BURL, EBAUCHON - (Erica arborea) comes from Europe (Mediterranean region). Briar burl is the tumor-like growths between the roots and stem of the shrub. Briar wood has very good heat-resistance properties, and is favored for use in making the bowls for tobaccos pipes.
In pipe-making, there are two types of burl sections: ebauchon, and plateaux.
​Ebauchon burl blocks are usually rectangular in shape and cut from the center of the burl. They tend to have a more random grain pattern and are the least expensive. 
Uses are Tobacco pipes, knife handles, and other small specialty wood items.

BRIAR BURL, PLATEAUX - (Erica arborea) comes from Europe (Mediterranean region). Briar burl is the tumor-like growths between the roots and stem of the shrub. Briar wood has very good heat-resistance properties, and is favored for use in making the bowls for tobaccos pipes.
In pipe-making, there are two types of burl sections: ebauchon, and plateaux. 
Plateaux burl blocks are cut from the outer edge of the burl, and are usually in a quarter-round shape which still includes the bark on the outside edge. They tend to have a more consistent grain pattern, and are more expensive than ebauchon burl blanks.
Uses are Tobacco pipes, knife handles, and other small specialty wood items.

​BROWN EBONY - (Libidibia paraguariensis)  from Semi-arid regions of South America. Heartwood is a dark brown, sometimes with a reddish hue. Pale yellow sapwood. Being called “ebony” first color that comes to mind is black.. Brown Ebony is not in the Diospyros genus, and isn’t considered a true ebony. Botanically, the wood is actually more closely related to Brazilwood which is well known for its use in violin bows. Common uses include turned objects; also used for heavy construction within its natural range.

BROWNHEART -  (Vouacapoua americana) also referred to as Wacapoe is native to Brazil. The heartwood color is described as dark brown or reddish-brown. Brownheart has very distinct and lighter colored vessel lines and is similar in appearance to Black and Red Palm, but not nearly as brash. It is very easy to turn and glues up well. 
​Common uses are Flooring, heavy construction, turned objects, furniture, and cabinetry.

BROWN MALLEE - (Eucalyptus socialis) Mallee is the name given to a species of Eucalyptus which grow multiple stems from one bulbous root stock. Mallee are comparatively small Eucalyptus, the largest growing only to 10 meters in height. The naturally occurring Mallee species is native to Australia and are frequently found in poor sandy soiled inland areas.

BUBINGA - (Guibourtia spp.)  Native to Equatorial Africa.. Heartwood ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. Sapwood is a pale straw color.. Bubinga is very frequently seen with a variety of figure, including: pommele, flamed, waterfall, quilted, mottled, etc. Common uses are Veneer, inlays, fine furniture, cabinetry, turnings, and other specialty items. Since Bubinga trees can grow so large, natural-edge slabs of the wood have also been used in tabletops and other specialized projects.

​BUBINGA, POMELLE

​BUBINGA, WATERFALL

​BUBINGA FIGURED

BUCKEYE BURL - There are three Species of Buckeye, Ohio Buckeye (also called Stinking Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)) which grows in the Midwest and eastern United States , Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava) which grows in the Eastern United States and Horse Chestnut (Aesculur hippocastanum) native to eastern Europe; also cultivated in temperate regions worldwide.
The wood itself is fairly soft and lightweight. It’s low strength and bland appearance limit it to basic utility purposes. The burl sections of buckeye are much more prized, and their light-on-dark knot clusters, and unique, almost black discolorations make them sought after for a variety of specialty and hobbyist applications.

BURMESE BLACKWOOD - (Dalbergia cultrata)  also know as Khamphi Rosewood and Laos Rosewood and comes from Southeast Asia.
Heartwood color is variable, and ranges from a medium olive or reddish brown to a darker purplish brown, frequently with nearly black streaks throughout. 
​Common uses are Turned objects, carvings, furniture, inlay, musical instruments (percussion), and small specialty wood items.

BURMESE PADAUK - (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) Other names are Pradauk and Asian Tiger Padauk.

CAMATILLO - (Dalbergia congestifolia)  Also called Para Kingwood & Mexican Kingwood. The deep purple heartwood is oily and takes an incredible polish with a smoothness pleasing to the fingertips.

C​AMELTHORN - (Vachellia erioloba)  also known as Giraffe Thorn is a Hardwood from South Africa. Heartwood is dark reddish brown. Sapwood is yellow. Camelthorn was named for the seeds and pods that camels and giraffes (carefully) eat from this tree, despite its long thorns.
 Considered a protected tree in South Africa, Camelthorn isn’t frequently available. It is sometimes sold as small turning squares and smaller craft blanks. 
Uses include fence posts, firewood, turned objects, and other small specialty wood objects.

CAMPHOR BURL - (Cinnamomum camphora) also known as Camphor Laurel. Native to Southeast Asia, widely planted throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Color can be highly variable depending on species and growing conditions; a light brown, frequently with shades of gray, red, or olive green.  Burls are also commonly seen, and are considered highly decorative.
Camphor is also cultivated for its aromatic oils, which are used in a variety of culinary and medicinal applications. The scent of Camphor is also reported to inhibit silver from tarnishing and ward off moths. The wood is sometimes used in trunks and chests where valuables are stored.

CAPE BEECH - (Rapanea melanophloeos), also known  Kaapse Boekenhout or IsiCalabi, is a dense, graceful, evergreen tree that is native to the forests of Southern Africa. Outside forests they are also commonly encountered along stream banks and in gullies.​

CEDAR - The name cedar covers many types of trees; Aromatic Red Cedar, Juniper, Spanish Cedar (Cedrela Odorata),  Eastern Cedar (Juniperus virginiana).
Cedars are aromatic woods that tend to be natural insect repellents, hence their use in blanket chests and the like. The wood is pink to orange-red with creamy yellow-white sapwood. It is lightweight and rot resistant. Eastern cedar trees are found in the US and Canada. Spanish Cedar from South and Central America is traditionally used in humidors and cigar boxes, and is aromatic and tight grained. ​

CEDAR ROOT BURL -

 CEDAR ELM - (Ulmus crassifolia Nuttor)  is a deciduous tree native to south central North America, mainly in southern and eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, with small populations in western Mississippi, southwest Tennessee and northwestern Florida, it also occurs in northeastern Mexico. The tree typically grows well in flat river bottom areas referred to as Cedar Elm Flats.

CEDAR ELM, SPALDED - (Ulmus crassifolia Nuttor)  

CEYLON OAK, BURL -  (Schleichera oleosa) also known as Kusum, Lac Tree, and Macassar Oil Tree, is a beautiful tree with a broad, shady crown, found widespread in Tropical Himalayas (Punjab to Nepal), India, Ceylon, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China, Malaysia. This tree is mostly noticed because of its bright red leaves when they are new. In India this happens around March. 
Kusum oil is a type of oil extracted from the seed of the Ceylon Oak tree. 

CHAKTE VIGA -(Caesalpinia platyloba) also known as Paela and Mexican Pernambuco  is best known for its beautiful, golden orange wood and subtle grain pattern.  The sapwood is yellowish to white. The heartwood is reported to vary.  It is initially light salmon to reddish orange brown, or pale pink to rich red-brown.
Chakte Viga is dense and polishes to a high luster.  It is also known for its excellent carving properties.

​CHAKTE VIGA, CURLY - Caesalpinia platyloba)

CHECHEN - (Metopium brownei)  also known as Chechem, Black Poisonwood and Caribbean Rosewood. Comes from Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico. Heartwood color is highly varied, with red, orange, and brown contrasted with darker stripes of blackish brown. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellow. Its alternate name, Black Poisonwood, comes from its toxic sap, which turns black and causes severe skin reactions similar to poison ivy. The wood itself is safe to handle. 
Common uses are Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, turned objects, and small specialty wood items.

​CHECHEN BURL - (Metopium brownei) ​

CHESTSNUT, AMERICAN -  (Castanea dentata) heartwood is a light to medium brown, darkening to a reddish brown with age. Narrow sapwood is well-defined and is pale white to light brown. Wormy Chestnut is also seen, which is chestnut that has been damaged by insects, leaving holes and other discoloration in the wood.
The Chestnut Blight of the early 1900s, caused by an accidentally introduced of Asian Bark Fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica), the Blight was responsible for killing over three billion chestnut trees.

CHITTUM BURL - (Cotinus obovatus) is a native of North America. It's a small to medium tree. The  flowers  are clustered in a large, loose branching cluster with a fluffy grayish-buff appearance resembling a cloud of smoke over the plant giving it name Smoke Tree (American)

COCOBOLO - (Dalbergia retusa)  ​Is a Central America wood. Cocobolo can be seen in a kaleidoscope of different colors, ranging from yellow, orange, red, and shades of brown with streaks of black or purple. Sapwood is typically a very pale yellow.
One of the prized lumbers for its outstanding color and figure; yet also one of the most infamous for its difficulty in gluing, and its tendency to cause allergic reactions in woodworkers.
Common uses are fine furniture, musical instruments, turnings, and other small specialty objects.

COCUSWOOD -  (Brya ebenus) also called Jamaican Rain Tree or Jamaican Ebony, comes from the the Caribbean primarily Jamaica and Cuba.
The heartwood is brownish-yellow to dark brown often with a greenish tinge. It is usually beautifully veined with darker streaks. The wood is hard and heavy. It is well known for its use in woodwinds such as flutes, piccolos, and bagpipes because of its fine and uniform grain, its beautiful coloring and its resonance. 

​COFFEE BURL - 

COMMON HOOK AND THORN BURL

COOLIBAH -  (pronounced cool-a-bah) burls showcase a deep, rust red color with swirling figure and tight eyes. Coolibah (sometimes spelled coolabah) is a eucalyptus species native to Australia. Coolibah comes from one of the hardest and strongest trees in the world. This species is widely distributed over Northern Australia, generally along rivers and in heavy soils of flood plains. This premium exotic burl wood offers unmatched color and grain patterns. This deep reddish-brown burl is perfect match for high-end turnings.

COSTAL WILD OLIVEWOOD BURL -

COTTONWOOD - (Populus deltoides)  also known as Eastern Cottonwood. Grows in Central and Eastern United States. Heartwood tends to be a light brown. Sapwood is a pale yellow to nearly white and gradually blend into the heartwood. So named for its cotton-like strands that accompany the tree’s seeds in the spring. Eastern Cottonwood is the state tree of Kansas and Nebraska. Pioneers on the Oregon Trail would look for such trees, as their shade and firewood was a welcome respite, and their presence usually meant that water was nearby.
Common uses are boxes/crates, veneer, plywood, and various utility purposes.

​

​COTTONWOOD, CURLY - ​(Populus deltoides)

COTTONWOOD, BURL - (Populus fremontii)  California Cottonwood is a large growing species native to California and several other Southwestern States. Occasionally there are burls on the trunks. The wood is easy to work and finishes well. There is a very stark contrast between bronze colored heartwood and creamy yellowish-white sapwood, which yields showy woodworking projects.

DESERT IRONWOOD - (Olneya tesota)  grows mainly in Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico.  Heartwood color ranges from an orangish yellow to a darker red or brown, with darker violet to black streaks. Some pieces may be almost entirely black. Sap wood is narrow and yellow. Desert Ironwood is perhaps one of the most sought off woods in knife-making It has  high density, stability, and grain patterns and colors creating a unique combination of characteristics that’s ideal for decorative handles.

​
DESERT IRONWOOD BURL-  ​(Olneya tesota)

 EAST IDIAN ROSEWOOD - (Dalbergia latifolia) - grows in Tropical America, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar.
   Heartwood of East Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. It has as a distinct, rose-like scent when being worked.
   East Indian Rosewood is a true rosewood and and is prized for both veneers and hardwoods, this specie is found in many Asian antiques. 

ELM, AMERICAN - (Ulmus americana) also known as Soft Elm, Water Elm grows in Eastern to Midwest United States.
Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown. Paler sapwood is well defined.
Once one of the largest and most prevalent of the North American elm species, preferred as an ideal shade tree for urban roadsides. American Elm is susceptible to Dutch elm disease so large and mature American Elms are  uncommon.

​ELM BURL - 

EUCALYPTUS BURL (African) - Eucalyptus are a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia. 
Like a lot of trees some have found their way to Africa.

GABON EBONY - (Diospyros crassiflora)  also known as Gaboon Ebony, African Ebony, Nigerian Ebony, Cameroon Ebony. Grows in Equatorial West Africa. 
Heartwood is usually jet-black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Occasionally dark brown or grayish-brown streaks may be present.
Gabon Ebony got it's name because historically most of the wood was exported from the nation of Gabon, though today it’s much more likely to be sourced from Cameroon.
​Common uses are Small/ornamental items, such as piano keys, musical instrument parts, pool cues, carvings, and other small specialty items.

GONCALO ALVES - (Astronium spp) Also known as Goncalo Alves, Tigerwood, Jobillo. Heartwood is typically a medium reddish brown with irregularly spaced streaks of dark brown to black.
Goncalo Alves is commonly referred to as “Tigerwood” or “Brazilian Tigerwood” among flooring dealers. The wood has superb stiffness, strength, hardness, and durability. 
Common uses are Flooring, veneers, furniture, cabinetry, carving, turned objects, and other small wood specialty objects such as: pool cues, archery bows, knife handles, etc.

HARD PEAR BURL (African) - 

HOLLY - (Ilex opaca)  Quality grade Holly has a very uniform, pale white color with virtually no visible grain pattern. Knots are common, which can reduce the usable area of the wood. holly can develop a bluish/gray stain if not dried rapidly after cutting. Holly is usually cut during the winter and kiln dried shortly thereafter to preserve the white color of the wood and avoid the staining.
.Holly is typically used only for ornamental and decorative purposes. It has a fairly large shrinkage rate, with a lot of seasonal movement in service, and its strength properties are low for a hardwood.
Common Uses are Inlays, furniture, piano keys (dyed black), broom and brush handles, turned objects, and other small novelty items.

​HOLLY (BLUE) -  White Holly , stabilized and dyed blue.

​HOLLY (GREEN) - White Holly , stabilized and dyed green.

​HOLLY (PURPLE) - White Holly , stabilized and dyed purple.

​HOLLY (PINK) - White Holly , stabilized and dyed pink.

HONDURAN ROSEWOOD - (Dalbergia stevensonii)  Also known as Honduras Rosewood comes from Belize (British Honduras). Heartwood color can range from a deep brownish-purple to a light-brown. Most common is a brownish-mauve color. Sapwood is a pale yellow.
Honduran Rosewood is known for its acoustic properties, possessing an excellent tap-tone, making it great for acoustic guitars, xylophone keys, and other acoustic musical instruments.
Common uses are fine furniture, musical instruments, veneer, turned and other specialty wood objects.

​HONDURAN ROSEWOOD BURL - (Dalbergia stevensonii) ​

HORNBEAM -  (Carpinus betulus) also known as European hornbeam, Yoke-elm.
Sapwood Color is not distinctly different from the heartwood. Heartwood white to cream, sometimes green grayish.
Common Uses include flooring, musical instruments, tool handles, veneers.

JARRAH BURL - (Eucalyptus marginata)  A great burl from Australia. Heartwood color ranges from a light red or brown to a darker brick red. Thin sapwood is a pale yellow to pink.
Jarrah is a useful timber for exterior projects in Australia. Its vibrant red color, and high density add to its marketability for use as a flooring material. Jarrah burl is also prized among wood turners, with its tight knots, swirling grain, and rich colors giving an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Jarrah Burl is a fantastic wood. The burl can be difficult at times to work with as it's prone to voids. I have two other version of Jarrah where the voids are filled, one with Turquoise the other Copper.
Common uses are flooring, heavy construction, veneer, cabinetry, outdoor furniture, and turned objects.

KANISTA BURL - (Pouteria campechiana) is a medium to large tree and grows in Central America. It is often referred to as the Eggfruit Tree because of it's egg shaped fruit.

KAREE, RED BURL - Red Karee is from Southern Africa.

KAREE, WHITE BURL - Other common names are Willow Karee, River Karee. White Karee is from Southern Africa.

​KINGWOOD - (Dalbergia cearensis)  grows in Brazil, South America, a true rosewood and the densest of all rosewoods. Kingwood got it's name from several French kings (Louis XIV and Louis XV) that preferred the wood in the use of fine furniture. 
Heartwood is a dark purplish or reddish brown with darker black streaks. Sapwood is a pale yellow.
Common uses are Inlays, veneers, tool handles, and other small turned and/or specialty items.

KOA - (Acacia koa)  also known as Hawaiian koa, you guess it, it grows in Hawaii. Color can be highly variable, Usually it's medium golden or reddish brown, similar to Mahogany. There are can be contrasting bands of color in the growth rings. Figured with wavy and/or curly grain are also not uncommon.
Koa is widely considered to be the most beautiful and useful of Hawaii’s native hardwoods, along with Monkey Pod and Mango.
Common uses are veneer, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments (especially guitars and ukuleles), canoes, gunstocks, carvings, bowls, and other turned/specialty wood objects.

KOA, CURLY -

KOU -  (Cordia subcordata)  is known by a number of local names outside of the Hawaiian Islands, such as Bird lime tree, Glueberry, Kerosene wood, Manjak, Mareer, Marer, Narrow-leafed bird lime tree, Snottygobbles, and Tou.
Kou is considered a rare wood. It grows in the coastal regions of the Hawaiian islands.  Kou was almost totally destroyed by a moth in the 1800’s.
This wood was prized by Hawaiian royalty for food use: poi bowls, calabashes and utensils as Kou does not impart a taste to food.
Legend says the Gods choose who can work with Kou. 

KNYSNA BLACKWOOD -

LACEWOOD - (Panopsis spp.)  Also know as Brazilian Lacewood, South American Lacewood and grown in Tropical South America.
Lacewood is a reddish brown with grey or light brown rays, which result in a lace pattern when quartersawn. The name “Lacewood” is used and misused to identify a number of different wood species. In its vaguest sense, the term “lacewood” is used to describe any wood that displays figuring that resembles lace. Which lead to a lot of confusion. In my experience, if it light in color and weight less, it's Lacewood. If darker and very heavy it's Leopardwood.
​Common uses veneer, cabinetry, fine furniture, musical instruments (guitars), and turned objects.

LEADWOOD BURL -

LEOPARDWOOD - (Roupala montana) is a medium to dark reddish brown with grey or light brown rays, which resemble the spots of a leopard. It has the most pronounced figure and displays the largest flecks when perfectly quartersawn.
Leopardwood (Roupala spp.) can usually be identified from most species of Lacewood (Panopsis spp.) based upon its darker color and heavier weight..
Veneer, cabinetry, fine furniture, musical instruments (guitars), and turned objects.

LIGNUM VITAE, ARGENTINE - (Plectrocarpa sarmientoi)    Heartwood color ranges from pale yellowish olive to a deeper forest green or dark brown, with pale yellow sapwood is clearly discernible from heartwood. Quartersawn grain will have a unique feathered or herringbone pattern when viewed up close.
Argentine Lignum Vitae  comes from the Gran Chaco region of South America.
Common uses are tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, boatbuilding, pulley wheels,  and turned objects.

LIGNUM VITAE,  GENUINE (GUAYACAN) - (Guaiacum officinale)   Heartwood color can range from olive to dark green/brown to nearly black, sometimes with a reddish hue. The heartwood color of genuine lignum vitae tends to be darker than that of Argentine Lignum Vitae.
Genuine Lignum Vitae comes from Central America and northern South America
Genuine Lignum Vitae  dulls cutters, and the wood is considered very difficult to work. Due to its high oil content, it’s very difficult to get strong and reliable glue joints. Finishing can also be problematic as well. However, lignum vitae turns well on a lathe.
Common uses are tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, pulley wheels, and turned objects.

 LOGAN BERRY - (Euphoria longana) - commonly known as the Longan, is a tropical tree native to South and Southeast Asia.
The Logan Berry tree can grow up to 20 to 25 feet in height, and the plant is very sensitive to frost. Longan trees require sandy soil and temperatures that do not typically go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
  Longans and lychees bear fruit at around the same time of the year.The Longan translated literally as "dragon eye" is so named from its transliteration from Amoy because its fruit, when it is shelled, resembles an eyeball (the black seed shows through the translucent flesh like a pupil/iris). The seed is small, round and hard, and of an enamel-like, lacquered black. ​

LONDON PLANE - 

MACASSAR EBONY - (Diospyros celebica)  also known as Striped Ebony and Amara Ebony grows in Southeast Asia.
Heartwood has dramatic striped appearance, somewhat similar to Zebrawood. Yellow to reddish brown body with darker brown or black stripes. Sapwood is pale gold color.
Macassar is name after it primary port of export, Indonesian port-city of Makassar.
Common uses are veneer, high-end cabinetry, billiard cues, musical instruments, and other small specialty items.

​MADRONE - (Arbutus menziesii)  also known as Pacific Madrone is from the Western coast of North America. Color tends to be a cream or pinkish brown color, but can also have dark red patches. Madrone is known for its burl veneer, which has many closely-packed clusters of knots and swirled grain.
Madrone burl is highly prized as a decorative veneer, while Madrone lumber is a very dense and finely-grained hardwood that’s similar in appearance to fruitwoods.
​Common uses are Veneer, turned objects, and other small specialty objects.

​MADRONE BURL - (Arbutus menziesii)

​​MALAYSIAN BLACKWOOD - (Diospyros ebonasea)  Grows almost exclusively in Malaysia.
Heartwood ranges from a medium brown to nearly black. Sometimes  with black veining and contrasting brown or reddish streaks. Sapwood is a pale yellow to tan color.
This wood is classified as a true ebony in the Diospyros genus, and it’s price and scarcity fully reflect that.
Common uses are acoustic guitars, turned objects, knife handles, and inlay.

MALLEE, BROWN - (Eucalyptus dumosa)  comes from down under Southeastern Australia. Heartwood generally medium brown, sometimes with an orange cast. Pale yellow to gray sapwood. Almost always seen in burl form.
Usually smaller and shorter than trees, mallees grow multiple smaller-diameter stems from a common root system. Because of this, most mallee species are ill suited for lumber, though they do have a propensity for burl growths that can be harvested and used for turning and other small specialty projects.
Brown Mallee doesn’t refer to a specific tree of the same name, but rather describes burl pieces from various Eucalyptus species where the wood itself is brown in color.
Common uses are turned objects, knife and gun grips, and small specialty objects.

MALLEE, RED -  (Eucalyptus oleosa)  Grows in Australia. Heartwood ranges from pink to orangish red. Pale yellow to gray sapwood  Nearly always seen in burl form.
Usually smaller and shorter than trees, mallees grow multiple smaller-diameter stems from a common root system. Because of this, most mallee species are ill suited for lumber, though they do have a propensity for burl growths that can be harvested and used for turning and other small specialty projects.
Turned objects, knife and gun grips, and small specialty objects.

MANGO - (Mangifera indica)  Because of the spalting that is commonly present, the wood can be a kaleidoscope of colors. Under normal circumstances, heartwood is a golden brown, while other colors such as yellow and streaks of pink and/or black can also occur. Curly or highly figured grain patterns are also common.
Common uses are Furniture, ukuleles, veneer, plywood, turned objects, and flooring.

MANZANITA ROOT BURL - (Arctostaphylos spp)  comes from Shrubland regions of western North America. Heartwood is brownish red, sometimes with a bright orange hue. Sapwood is a pale off-white to light brown; clearly distinguished from heartwood. Burls and wild or swirled grain is common.
Manzanita grows in fire prone areas and it has developed a survival tactic of a large root ball to survive. The top may burn off and new growth will sprout from the root ball. This ball contains some real spectacular wood figure. The draw back is it's a root and will contain dirt, rocks and what ever the root grows around. 

MAPLE - (Acer saccharum)  also known as Hard Maple, Sugar Maple, Rock Maple and grows in Northeastern North America.
The sapwood of hard maple lumber is most commonly used rather than its heartwood. Sapwood color ranges from nearly white, to an off-white cream color, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue. The heartwood tends to be a darker reddish brown.  
In tree form, hard maple is usually referred to as sugar maple, and is the tree most often tapped for maple syrup. 
Common uses are flooring, veneer, paper, musical instruments, cutting boards, butcher blocks, workbenches, baseball bats, and other turned objects and specialty wood items.

MAPLE, BIRD'S EYE is a figure found most commonly in hard maple, though it’s also found less frequently in other species.

​MAPLE, CURLY

MAPLE, SPALTED - Spalting a fungal discoloration of wood, and can be found on a wide range of wood species. It is found in wood that has begun to decay. Drying the wood preventing further decay. Spalting gives the wood some dark contrasting lines and streaks and can produce colors where fungus has begun to attack the wood.

MARBLEWOOD - (Zygia racemosa)  Grows in Northeastern South America.
Heartwood is yellow to golden brown, with irregular brown, purple, or black streaks. Paler sapwood is about one inch thick and is solid yellow.
The high contrast between the golden body and the much darker streaks give it an appearance somewhat similar to natural marble, hence the common name of “Marblewood”.
​Common uses are Flooring, sliced veneer, turned objects, cabinetry, and fine furniture.

​MASUR BIRCH - Masur Birch is not a particular species of birch, but is rather a grain figure that is most commonly seen in Downy Birch and Silver Birch. It is also sometimes known as Karelian Birch—with Karelia being a region between Finland and Russia. Supply of this wood is very limited.

MATUMI BURL (Breonadia salicina ) as it is called in South Africa is also know  Mugonha (trade name), Adina (Uganda); Adina (Tanzania); Mulamandia (Kenya); Adina (Kenya); Muonha (Mozambique); Mugonha (Mozambique).
The tree reaches a height of 100 feet, with trunk diameters of 30 inches. The bole is straight and not always regular, medium to highly fluted, with buttresses.
Grows naturally in East and South Africa along water ways and in gallery forest. 

MESQUITE - (Prosopis glandulosa)  also called Honey Mesquite grow in Southwestern North America .
Heartwood tends to be a reddish brown. Sapwood is yellow in color, and tends to be thin.
Considered by some to be an invasive species, Mesquite is known to produce great firewood with a high thermal value. Honey Mesquite is prized by segmented woodturners and others for its exceptional stability. Honey Mesquite exhibits very little movement due to environmental changes in humidity.
Common uses are Fence posts, flooring, turned objects, cabinetry, and furniture.

​Mesquite Burl -

MORADO - (Machaerium spp.)  also known as Pau Ferro, Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood grows in Brazil and Bolivia. 
Color can be highly varied, ranging from reddish/orange to a dark violet/brown, usually with contrasting darker black streaks. Sapwood is a pale yellow.
​Common uses are Veneer, musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring, interior trim, turning, and other small specialty wood objects.

 MOVINGUI - (Distemonanthus benthamianus) also known as Ayan, Nigerian Satinwood and comes from  West Africa.
Heartwood is yellow to orangish brown, sapwood id white. Movingui frequently exhibits figured grain patterns such as mottle or ripple.
​Common uses are Veneer, cabinetry, furniture, and flooring.

MULBERRY - (Morus alba ) is the "fruitless" mulberry planted in many Texas landscapes. Heartwood is light orange-yellow and sapwood is white. Because it is durable in contact with the soil it is sometimes used for fence posts. 

MYRTLEWOOD - (Umbellularia californica)  also known as Oregon Myrtle, California Bay Laurel, Pepperwood.
Heartwood color can be variable, from light orangish brown to gray or olive, sometimes with darker streaks present. Sapwood is Pale and well defined. Figured grain patterns (curly, mottled, burl) are not uncommon

MYRTLEWOOD ​BURL - 

NARGUSTA BURL -   (Terminalia amazonia)  also known as Canxan Negro grows Mexico to Brazil. Heartwood varies from light to medium brown, sometimes with a golden or olive cast. Occasionally seen with darker reddish brown streaks.
Common uses are turned objects, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, and general construction.

​NARRA - (Pterocarpus indicus)  Grows in Southeast Asia it's heartwood can vary widely in color, ranging from a golden yellow to a reddish brown and sapwood is pale yellow.  Quartersawn surfaces can display ribbon-stripe figure, and the wood is also seen with mottled, beeswing, or curly figure. Narra burl that's full of well-defined knot clusters is known as Amboyna and highly valued.

OLIVEWOOD - (Olea europaea)  comes from Europe and Eastern Africa. Heartwood is a cream or yellowish brown, with darker brown or black contrasting streaks. Color tends to deepen with age. Olive is sometimes figured with curly or wavy grain and burl.
Olive trees are commercially important throughout the natural regions where they grow. The olives harvested from the trees are made into olive oil.
High-end furniture, veneer, turned objects, and small specialty wood items.

OLIVEWOOD (FIGURED) - (Olea europaea) ​

Osage Orange - (Maclura pomifera)  also known as Horse Apple, Hedge Apple, Bois d’arc grows in the South Central United States. Heartwood is golden to bright yellow, sapwood is white.
Found primarily in a limited area centered on the Red River valley in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, they were planted as living fences - or hedges - along the boundaries of farms, and have spread widely from these restricted, linear beginnings.
​The name of the tree comes from the Osage tribe, which lived near the home range of the tree, and the aroma of the fruit after it is ripe.  Find one of the fruit that has been sitting in the sun on a balmy Indian Summer day and notice the pleasant, orange-peel smell of the skin.  Not all of the trees will have fruit because Osage Orange are either male or female, and only the females will bear fruit.     

PADAUK - (Pterocarpus soyauxii)  also known as African Padauk, Vermillion, is from Central and tropical west Africa.
Padauk is moderately heavy, strong, and stiff, with exceptional stability. 
Other names this wood is identifed by are Padouk, Paduk and Paduak, they are all just misspellings/mispronounced of Padauk.
Padauk is pronounced   pah-DUKE.
Common uses are Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects.

PADAUK - (BURMA) - (Pterocarpus macrocarpus)  also know as Burmese Padauk and Pradauk, from Myanmar (formerly Burma), and Thailand.
Heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale golden yellow to a deeper reddish brown. Sapwood is Yellow.
Burma Padauk is the heaviest and hardest of all types of Padauk (Pterocarpus genus) commercially available.
​Common uses are Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects.

PAELA BURL - Caesalpinia platyloba)  comes from the Chakte Viga tree and yields a very peculiar and highly figured wood, its rarity also adds expense.  Paela Burl is very hard to work with hand tools or on a lathe because its grain is twisted and interlocked, causing it to chip and chatter unpredictably.  The color varies between deep orange and reddish color. Paela Burl comes from South America.

PALM, BLACK - (Borassus flabellifer)  also known as Palmyra Palm and comes from Africa and Tropical Asia.
Palm is neither a softwood nor a hardwood, palm falls into the category of monocots, which also includes bamboo, grass, banana, rice, wheat, corn, etc.
Black Palm has a medium to fine texture, though it is by no means even or uniform on account of the contrast between the dense, darker fibers, and the soft, lighter cellulose structure of the wood. Grain is very straight, and contains no growth rings, knots, or defects.

NOTE ON PALMS - Palm wood consists of fibers embedded in a lighter tan or light brown colored body. Fibers are more densely packed toward the outside of the tree trunk, becoming more and more sparse toward the center of the tree. The center core of the tree is soft and contains none of the darker vascular bundles that give the wood its characteristic look and hardness. Which is opposite of the typical outer sapwood/inner heartwood combination found in most trees.

PALM, RED - (Cocos nucifera)  also known as Coconut Palm and grows throughout the tropics worldwide. 
Reddish brown fibers embedded in a lighter tan or light brown colored body. Fibers are more densely packed toward the outside of the tree trunk, becoming more and more sparse toward the center of the tree. The center core of the tree is soft and contains none of the darker vascular bundles that give the wood its characteristic look and hardness.
Common uses are Flooring, canoes, rafts, walking sticks, knife and tool handles, carvings, rafters, furniture, and turned objects.

PECAN - (Carya illinoinensis)  native to  South-central United States and Mexico, it's Heartwood tends to be light to medium brown, with a reddish hue; sapwood is a paler yellowish brown.
Pecan has slightly lower strength values than some of the other species of Hickory, but it is still among the hardest and strongest of woods native to the United States.
Pecan is the tree responsible for producing Pecan nuts commonly used in snacks and cooking recipes, and is the state tree of Texas.
Common uses are tool handles, ladder rungs, wheel spokes, and flooring.

PEPPER WOOD BURL (PERUVIAN) - Pepper wood was brought to South Africa in 1780 by Portuguese explorers.

PERNAMBUCO - (Caesalpinia echinata) is a species of Brazilian timber tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include Brazilwood, Pau-Brasil, Pau de Pernambuco, Pernambuco tree, Nicaragua wood and Ibirapitanga (Tupi). 
This tree has a dense, orange-red heartwood that takes a high shine, and it is the premier wood used for making bows for stringed instruments. The wood also yields a red dye called brazilin, which oxidizes to brazilein.        ​

PHEASANTWOOD - (Cassia siamea), also known as Thailand cassia or Senna siamea, is a rare species of hardwood, named after the black and golden figured patterns of a pheasant’s tail feathers. The flat or slab sawn face shows the most finely defined patterns with contrasting golden and black streaks. Pheasant wood is a very close color and grain match to Desert Ironwood. It is excellent for fine articles such as boxes, pens, and more.
Usually grown as an ornamental tree for showy flowers, this species is more difficult to obtain than Ebony and is a cherished wood from the Hawaiians to the South East Asians

PINK IVORY - (Berchemia zeyheri)  Sometimes called Red Ivory is native to South Africa, it's color ranges from a pale brownish pink, to a bright, almost neon pink, to a deep red. Typically the most valuable pieces of Pink Ivory are a vibrant  pink. Pink Ivory can commonly be seen with a curly or fiddleback grain pattern, further enhancing its visual impact. Sapwood of Pink Ivory tends to be pale yellow to light brown.
According to folklore the tree is considered sacred to the Zulus in South Africa and is reserved for royalty and carried a death penalty for position by non royalty. Which is just a story to help elevate the price!

​PINK IVORY, CURLY - (Berchemia zeyheri)

PINK IVORY BURL - From Africa.

 PLUM -  (Prunus domestica)  heartwood can exhibits a wide range of colors, ranging from a yellowish brown, with streaks of pink, orange, red, purple, olive, or gray mixed in. Because of the small size of plum trees, swirled or irregular grain, as well as knots and other defects are common.
​ Uses include turned objects, musical instruments, inlay, and knife handles.

​ POST OAK -  (Quercus stellata) is an oak in the white oak group. It is a small tree, typically 30-50 feet tall and 12-24 inch trunk diameter, though occasional specimens reach 100 feet tall and 55 inch diameter. It is native to the eastern United States, from Connecticut in the northeast, west to southern Iowa, southwest to central Texas, and southeast to northern Florida.

POST OAK BURL -  (Quercus stellata) ​

PURPLEHEART - (Peltogyne spp.)  also called Amaranth, grows from Mexico down to southern Brazil, when freshly cut the heartwood is a  dull grayish/purplish brown. Upon exposure the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple.
Common uses are inlays/accent pieces, flooring, furniture, boatbuilding, heavy construction, and a variety of specialty wood items.

RAMBUTAN  - (Nephelium lappaceum) also known as Southeast Asian Rambutan or Lychee is a medium-sized tropical tree that grows within about 10 degrees of the Equator. The fruit produced by the tree is also known as Rambutan.  Rambutan trees grow to a height of 35-60 ft. producing boards that are 2-5 feet long with widths of 2-8 inches. The tree grows from sea level up to 1,600 ft. and grows best in deep soil; clay loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter, and thrives on hilly terrain as it requires good drainage. It can be found with a dense flame figure that rivals the nicest curly Maple. Sharp blades are needed as the wood is extremely dense and tough.

REDHEART - (Erythroxylum spp.)  grown in Southern Mexico to Southern Brazil and Paraguay when freshly surfaced can be a very bright, watermelon red—though color can vary in intensity and hue from board to board: anywhere from a light orange/pink, to a darker brownish red. In some cases, it can look quite similar to Bloodwood, though usually with a more visible and figured grain pattern.
Common uses are turned objects, inlays, veneer, fine furniture, and small specialty wood items.

REDWOOD - 

REDWOOD, CURLY

REDWOOD BURL (LACE)

RUSSIAN OLIVE - (Elaeagnus angustifolia)  grows in eastern Europe and western and central Asia; and was brought to the United States in the late 1800s for windbreaks and erosion control. However, because of the tree’s rapid growth and it's ability to grow in poor soil, it’s now considered an invasive species in many areas of the United States.
​Common uses are Knife scales, bowls, pens, and other small woodturning projects.

​RUSSIAN OLIVE BURL - (Elaeagnus angustifolia) ​

SAPELE (ROTORY CUT, PLAIN) - (Entandrophragma cylindricum)  also know as Sapelli, Sapeli is native to Tropical Africa. It's Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown. Besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quartersawn boards, Sapele is also known for a wide variety of  other figured grain patterns, such as: pommele, quilted, mottled, wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback.
Common uses are Veneer, plywood, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small wooden specialty items.

​SAPELE QUARTER SAWN -  (Entandrophragma cylindricum)

​SAPELE,  POMPELLE - (Entandrophragma cylindricum)

SASSAFRASS - (Sassafras albidum)  Heartwood is a medium to light brown, sometimes with an orange or olive hue. Sapwood is a pale yellowish brown. Sassafras has a strong resemblance  woods like Black Ash and Chestnut.
Sassafras oil can be extracted from the root bark or fruit of the tree. These same roots were traditionally used in the making of root beer, and the familiar scent is prevalent in the leaves and wood.

SHEDUA - (Guibourtia ehie)  also known as Amazique, Amazoue, Mozambique (when in veneer form), Ovangkol (when use to make guitars) and is native to Tropical West Africa.
Shedua Heartwood has a yellowish to reddish brown with darker brown, gray, or black stripes. Sapwood is a pale yellow.. 
​Common uses are Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, turned objects, musical instruments, and flooring.

SHEOAK - 

SNAKEWOOD - (Brosimum guianense) also known as Letterwood, Amourette (this name is used for wood with little or no figure) and is native t0 the Coastal regions of Northeast South America, Surinam.
Snakewood is so called for its characteristic snakeskin patterns. Wood is typically a reddish brown, with contrasting darker brown or black patches.
As a rare and small tree, Snakewood that display the snakeskin pattern are perhaps the most expensive of any exotic lumber worldwide in terms of per-board foot cost.
Common uses are inlay, veneer, violin bows, tool handles, and other small turned or specialty objects.

TAMARIND, SPALTED - (Tamarindus indica)  Native to tropical Africa but
widely planted throughout tropical regions worldwide. All my Tamarind is from Southeast Asia.
Heartwood is a deep reddish brown, sometimes with a purplish hue—heartwood portions of Tamarind tend to be narrow and are usually only present in older and larger trees. The pale yellow sapwood is very wide and sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Spalting and other discoloration are very common in the sapwood, and the majority of the Tamarind available in the United States is spalted sapwood.
Tamarind trees are best known for their fruit, not wood.
Common uses are furniture, carvings, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.

​​​

​TAMARIND, SPALTED (BLUE)

​

​TAMARIND, SPALTED (GREEN)

​​TAMARIND, SPALTED (ORANGE)

​

​TAMARIND, SPALTED (PINK)

​


​TAMARIND, SPALTED (PURPLE)

​​TAMARIND, SPALTED (RED)

​​

​TAMARIND, SPALTED (YELLOW)

TAMARIND, VELVET (BURL) - (Tamarindus indica) The heartwood of the Tamarind tree is a deep reddish brown, sometimes with a purplish hue which give this burl it's dramatic color. It show the stark difference between heartwood and sapwood of the Tamarind tree.

TAMBOOTIE - (Spirostachys africana) also known as Sandalo is native to South Africa. Color ranges from a golden brown to a darker reddish brown, often with black streaks throughout and has a pale yellow sapwood.
Common uses are carvings, furniture, turned objects, and other small, specialty wood items.

TASMANIAN BLACKWOOD (African)

TASMANIAN EUCALYPTUS, CURLY -  (Eucalyptus regnans) known variously by the common names giant ash, mountain ash, Victorian ash, swamp gum, Tasmanian oak or stringy gum, is a species of Eucalyptus native to southeastern Australia, in Tasmania and Victoria.

TASMANIAN EUCALYPTUS BURL - (Eucalyptus regnans)  is from the family of the myrtle tree that is native to Tasmania, an island south of Australia. Eucalyptus trees are among the tallest trees in the world and grow in cool, mostly mountainous areas. They grow quickly and have an average life-span of 400 years.

TEAK - ( Tectona grandis)  heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown. Teak has been considered by many to be the gold standard for decay resistance. 
Common uses are ship and boatbuilding, veneer, furniture, exterior construction, carving, turnings, and other small wood objects.

​TEAK BURL - ( Tectona grandis) ​

THIN WIN - (Millettia pendula) Same family as wenge, only denser.  Heartwood is dark purplish-brown to chocolate brown, with very close and fine black veins.  Machines and finishes well. Comes from Southeast Asia

TULIPWOOD - (Dalbergia decipularis)  is native to Northeastern Brazil. Heartwood is streaked with yellows, reds, oranges, and pinks. 
Not to be confused with American Tulipwood also referred to as Tulip Poplar or Yellow Poplar Brazilian Tulipwood is considered a true rosewood.
Tulipwood is a stunningly beautiful hardwood which is in very short supply. The tree itself is only found in a narrow geographical area It’s a small tree growing to only 20-30 feet and a trunk of about a foot. Because of it's size it  yields very small and narrow boards. 
Common uses are veneer, fine furniture, inlay, marquetry, musical instruments (percussion), and small turned objects.

VITEX BURL - ​ From Indonesian.

​

WALLNUT, BLACK - (Juglans nigra)  ​is native to the Eastern United States.
Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks.  Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. 
Common uses are furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned items, and other small wooden objects and novelties.

​WALNUT BURL - 

WALNUT, CLARO - (Juglans hindsii )  also know as California Black Walnut native to California and Oregon.
Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a gray, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is nearly white. 
Common uses are Furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, musical instruments, veneer, turned items, and other small wooden objects and novelties.

WALNUT, FIDDLEBACK CLARO

​WILD ALMOND BURL - Almond burl is an exceptionally rare burl from Laos that contains vivid, rich colors and wildly intricate figure!  Trees average 2-3 ft. in diameter and heights can exceed 80 ft. 

WILD OLIVEWOOD BURL (African)-

BLACK WILLOW - 

VIETNAMESE ROSEWOOD - (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) - common names for this wood are, Siamese Rosewood, Thai Rosewood and Cambodian Rosewood.
This is a very rare wood!
Vietnamese Rosewood, is one of the most dense, dimensionally stable rosewoods. The wood is derived from large evergreen trees which grow in open, semi-deciduous forests. It’s primary heartwood colors are typically confined to varying brown hues, although secondary colors of red, orange and yellows are commonly present. 
Common uses are fine furniture, turned objects, musical instruments, and other small specialty wood items.

WENGE - (Millettia laurentii) native to Central Africa. Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. 
Common uses are Veneer, paneling, furniture, turned objects, and musical instruments.

YELLOWHEART - (Euxylophora paraensis) also known as Pau Amarello and grows in Brazil.
Heartwood color ranges from pale to golden yellow, darkening only slightly with age. Sapwood is a pale yellow/white.
Common uses are flooring, furniture, boatbuilding, accents, and turned objects. 

ZEBRAWOOD - (Microberlinia brazzavillensis) is native to West Africa.
Heartwood is a light brown or cream color with dark blackish brown streaks vaguely resembling a zebra’s stripes. Depending on whether the wood is flatsawn or quartersawn, the stripes can be either chaotic and wavy (flatsawn), or somewhat uniform (quartersawn).
Zebrawood is frequently quartersawn and used as veneer. Other uses include: tool handles, furniture, boatbuilding, and skis.

ZIRCOTE - (Cordia dodecandra) other spellings of the name are Ziricote and  Siricote. It can be found in southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
Color ranges from medium to dark brown, sometimes with either a green or purple hue, with darker bands of black growth rings intermixed. Ziricote has a very unique appearance, which is sometimes referred to as “spider-webbing” or “landscape” grain figure. 
Common uses are furniture, veneer, cabinetry, gunstocks, musical instruments (acoustic and electric guitars), turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.

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