Wood is an amazing material; a natural product that can be cut, molded and joined to serve our utilitarian needs and to add aesthetic beauty to our surroundings. But we often tend to take it for granted. Do you remember the last time you paused to appreciate the rich color or grain in a piece of wood? Are you aware of the vast variety of wood species that are available?
Look at the room you are in right now. Chances are you will see oak somewhere in the room: in the floor, the window trim or the furniture. It is a readily available domestic hardwood that has great texture, can be easily machined, is durable and readily accepts stains. That makes it a favorite for builders and furniture makers. Color, texture, machine-ability, price and availability are all factors in selecting wood.
Other common domestic hardwoods that you see every day include Maple, Walnut, Cherry, Ash, Hickory and Birch. But that is just the tip of the iceberg – there are hundreds of domestic species and then there are the exotics from all over the world.
Did you know that there is a wood that is naturally bright purple? No stain, no additives – that is the way it comes out of the forest. It is called Purpleheart and it grows in South America. It probably looks very prosaic growing in its natural habitat, but imagine cutting down a tree and discovering purple wood inside! Or how about Purpleheart’s cousin Yellowheart which, as you may have guessed, is a bright yellow. Padauk is a vivid orange and Bloodwood is a deep red. Most of these exotic hardwoods come from Africa and South America.
Some of the exotic hardwoods have very descriptive names like Zebrawood, Marblewood or Fishtail Oak (which actually isn’t Oak – it comes from eucalyptus trees). Others have exotic sounding names to match their rare beauty: Cocobolo, Bubinga, Wenge, and Tzalem to name a few. They sound like something foreign and they are also just fun to say. “Bubinga” just rolls right off your tongue.
Most woodworkers have a palette of woods they prefer to work with that suit their projects and appeal to their tastes. Beyond aesthetics, cabinetmakers want stable boards that won’t bend or warp. A furniture maker needs strength for legs and rails but may want a more decorative wood for tabletops and chair seats. Carvers end to use softer woods with light, even grain to reduce tearing and avoid having their knives deflect when cutting. Wood turners on the other hand will use almost any wood and will often seek out the most figured, distinctive wood for their projects.
In my woodworking, I fell in love with contrasting the colors and grains of the more exotic hardwoods. I never use stain anymore – I like to let the colors of the woods stand on their own.
The next time you are choosing woods to work with in your shop or picking out a finished piece to buy, try expanding your ‘palette’. Look for natural contrasts and amazing grain patterns. Nature has provided a seemingly endless array of beautiful woods to enjoy. Wood is Good!
