Wood Species

Wood is the essential ingredient in every product we make here at DG Woodworks. For the pure craftsperson, nothing is more essential than creating a piece from the right material.  

Being a natural product, no two pieces of wood are alike.  That is what I love about working with wood.  I can make several different bottle stoppers or multiple sets of coasters and each one will be different, each one has a unique story to tell. 

This wood species guide should help with some of the back story behind each wood.  Where it comes from, how it might grow, and what special things to look out for when buying a piece from us made of a particular wood.

Enjoy!

  North American Woods

Ash - White Ash is one of the most commonly used hardwoods in North America. When stained, ash can look very similar to oak.

Birdseye Maple - Not a distinct species of Maple, birdseye maple is so called because the tiny knots in the grain resemble small bird’s eyes. The figure is caused by conditions in which the tree attempts to start numerous new buds to get more sunlight. With poor growing conditions the new shoots are aborted, leaving behind a number of tiny knots, or bird's eyes.

Black Walnut - Black Walnut is a favourite or many woodworkers because of its deep dark colour. Walnut trees provide edible nuts in the fall. The tight grains are close together and prevent bacteria from seeping down into the pores, making it an excellent choice for cutting boards.

Cherry - Wild Cherry is reddish in colour and has beautiful grain patterns. It is a hardwood with tight grains, which make it great for cutting boards.

Hard (Sugar) Maple - This is the same tree that produces maple syrup. It has a very light coloured heartwood that is almost white and has very consistent grain patterns making it a wood with many uses.

Red Oak - Arguably the most popular hardwood in North America, Red Oak is a ubiquitous sight in many homes. Red Oak is also the most common wood used for making the barrels used for aging wine and spirits.

 Central-South American Woods

Bocote - With its striking, zebra-like contrasts, and bold figuring, Bocote is a very eye-catching wood most commonly used as an accent in musical instruments.

Jatoba - Although it’s widely named “Brazilian Cherry,” the Jatoba tree bears little relation to the domestic Cherry that is found in North America, except perhaps that its natural colour closely matches the common reddish-brown colour used in "cherry" stains.

Leopardwood - Similar to lacewood, Leopardwood is usually medium to dark reddish brown with grey or light brown flecks, which resemble the spots of a leopard.

Purpleheart - This colourful Latin American hardwood is tremendously popular for furniture and other designs that call for a unique splash of colour.

 European Woods

Olivewood - The olives harvested from these trees are used to make olive oil. The wood has a yellowish hue that contrasts well with the darker grain lines. This wood is most commonly used for food & kitchen items like charcuterie boards and wooden spoons.

 African Woods

Bubinga - An immensely popular African hardwood, Bubinga may be loved as much for its quirky name as it is for its strength and beauty. Bubinga features a host of stunning grain figures, which make this wood truly unique.

Paduk - Padauk has a very unique reddish/orange colour making it a great choice for small, specialty wood products.

Sapele - Sapele is a golden to dark reddish brown and tends to darken with age. This wood is similar to mahogany, but has a ribbon pattern that is quite beautiful when it catches the light.

Wenge - Pronounced WHEN-ghay, this wood has a reddish or yellowish hue, with dark or nearly black streaks. This wood is quite beautiful and unique.

 South Asian Woods

Indian Rosewood - Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks and is most commonly used for acoustic guitar fret boards.

 Australian Woods

Banksia Pods - Banksia pods originate from southwestern Australia and grow on the Banksia tree. These pods are commonly compared to pine cones, though Banksia trees are not conifers and aren’t related to pine trees—the seed pod itself is considered the fruit of the tree.