Sources: United States and Canada
Characteristics: Straight grain with fine texture and tight pores. Medium to hard density.
Workability: Machines easily with sharp steel or carbide blades and bits. Good bending properties. Drill pilot holes first for nails or screws.
Finishing: Takes finishes well, but penetrating wood stains may produce blotching
Price: Inexpensive to moderate
G. HICKORY
Uses: Sporting equipment, handles for striking tools, furniture, plywood and veneers
Sources: Southeastern United States
Characteristics: Straight to wavy grained with coarse texture. Excellent shock-resistance.
Workability: Bends well, but lumber hardness will dull steel blades and bits quickly. Resists machine burning.
Finishing: Takes stains and clear finishes well
Price: Inexpensive where regionally available
H. ASPEN
Uses: A secondary wood used for drawer boxes, cleats, runners and other hidden structural furniture components. Crafts.
Sources: United States and Canada
Characteristics: Indistinguishable, tight grain pattern
Workability: Machines easily with sharp steel or carbide blades and bits. Takes routed profiles well.
Finishing: Better suited for painting than staining. Tight grain provides smooth, paintable surface.
Price: Inexpensive
I. WHITE ASH
Uses: Furniture, boat oars, baseball bats, handles for striking tools, pool cues, veneers
Sources: United States and Canada
Characteristics: Straight, wide grain pattern with coarse texture. Hard and dense with excellent shock-resistance.
Workability: Machines easily with sharp steel or carbide blades and bits. Drill pilot holes first for nails or screws. “Green” ash often used for steam bending.
Finishing: Takes stains and clear finishes well
Price: Inexpensive
J. POPLAR
Uses: Secondary wood for furniture and cabinetry, similar to aspen. Carving, veneers and pulp for paper.
Sources: United States
Characteristics: Fine-textured with straight, wide grain pattern. Tan to gray or green in color.
Workability: Machines easily with sharp steel or carbide blades and bits. Not prone to burning when machined. Drill pilot holes first for nails or screws.
Finishing: Better suited for painting than staining. Tight grain provides smooth, paintable surface.
Price: Inexpensive
COMMON SOFTWOODS
A. WHITE PINE
Uses: Indoor furniture, plywood, veneers and trim, construction lumber
Sources: United States and Canada
Characteristics: Straight grain with even texture and tight pores
Workability: Machines easily with sharp steel or carbide blades and bits. Not prone to burning when machined. Lower resin content than other pines, so cutting edges stay cleaner longer.
Finishing: Stains may blotch without using a stain controller first. Takes clear finishes and paints well.
Price: Inexpensive
B. WESTERN RED CEDAR
Uses: Outdoor furniture, exterior millwork, interior and exterior siding
Sources: United States and Canada
Characteristics: Straight, variable grain pattern with coarse texture. Lower density and fairly light-weight. Saw-and sanding dust can be a respiratory irritant. Naturally resistant to deterioration from UV sunlight, insects and moisture.
Workability: Soft composition machines easily but end grain is prone to splintering and tear-out
Finishing: Takes stains and clear finishes well, but oils in wood can bleed through painted finishes unless primer is applied first
Price: Inexpensive to moderate where regionally available
C. AROMATIC CEDAR (TENNESSEE)
Uses: Naturally-occurring oils seem to repel moths, making this wood a common closet and chest lining. Also used for veneers and outdoor furniture.
Sources: Eastern United States and Canada
Characteristics: Straight to wavy grain pattern with fine texture. Red to tan in color with dramatic streaks of yellows and creams. Distinct aroma emitted when machined, and dust can be a respiratory irritant.
Workability: Machines similarly to western red cedar
Finishing: Takes stains and clear finishes well
Price: Inexpensive
D. REDWOOD
Uses: Outdoor furniture, decks and fences, siding
Source: West coast of United States
Characteristics: Straight, fine grain with few knots or blemishes. Relatively light weight. Reddish brown with cream-colored sapwood. Naturally resistant to deterioration from UV sunlight, insects and moisture.
Workability: Machines and sands easily
Finishing: Takes stains and clear finishes well
Price: Moderate to expensive and not widely available in all nominal dimensions
E. CYPRESS
Uses: Exterior siding and boat building. Interior and exterior trim, beams, flooring, cabinetry and paneling.
Source: Mississippi delta region of the United States
Characteristics: Straight, even grain pattern with low resin content. Naturally resistant to deterioration from UV sunlight, insects and moisture.
Workability: Machines and sands easily
Finishing: Takes stains and clear finishes well
Price: Inexpensive where regionally available
SAMPLING