Here are some of the wood types that I try to keep in stock. Each of the descriptions below will show you the character of the wood, and why I use it.
I also added a little value symbol that is due to change at any moment.
The cost of wood has been very high lately, with some of the wood being very expensive. Hopefully our $$ will help you to know the current value of different types of wood and the reason for differing prices with different wood types.
The photo is just a general representation of how this wood looks.
Keep in mind that the color of each type of wood varies with many factors - humidity, age, geographic source, etc.
Ipe
Ipe Wood is also called Brazilian Walnut, a quite famous wood material that is used in building decks and is considered exotic because of its looks and physical characteristics.
Elements that are made out of Ipe wood are usually strong in nature and are resistant to mold, rot, or weather. They are mostly found in darker brown to medium brown in color. Ipe is rated over 4,000 on the Janka Hardness scale, making it one of the hardest woods in the world. I use Ipe quite a bit for dark line contrast in design, as well as dark strong hard borders. $$$$
Yellowheart
Yellowheart, an exotic wood also called Pau Amarello, can grow to more than 130 feet tall and 30" in diameter.
It has large leaves upwards of 10" long and 4" wide. It has a wonderful show of creamy white, fragrant flowers. Pau Amarello trees are found almost exclusively in the State of Para, Brazil. I use Yellowheart wood mainly for bright yellow accents in our boards. $$$
Teak
Teak (Tectona grandis) is a tropical hardwood tree species in the family Lamiaceae.
It is a large, deciduous tree that occurs in mixed hardwood forests. Tectona grandis has small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters (panicles) at the end of the branches. These flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers). The large, papery leaves of teak trees are often hairy on the lower surface. Teak wood has a leather-like smell when it is freshly milled and is particularly valued for its durability and water resistance. The wood is used for boat building, exterior construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and other small wood projects. I use Teak because of its strength even when it’s wet. $$$
Tigerwood
(Not the golfer)
Tigerwood is one of the most radical exotic hardwoods found on the United States market today. It comes from the upland, neotropical forests of South/ Central America, mainly Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and the largest exporter, Brazil. I use Tigerwood because of the beautiful striations in the color and grain. Deep dark grain in deep red base. $$$$
Walnut
Black Walnut heartwood is rich dark brown to purplish-black and is usually straight grained.
Wavy or curly grain is sometimes present. Texture is coarse. We use Walnut mainly because it is very commonly used in making boards. I often couple walnut with maple for the dark and bright contrast. Walnut boards made from only walnut have a rich deep dark finish. $$
Cedar
Cedar wood is a versatile and durable domestic hardwood that grows on both the East and West coasts of the US.
Although there are many different types of cedar trees, the ones most commonly used for their lumber are Eastern and Western Red Cedar. Cedar is prized for many reasons. I love working with cedar, the aroma makes the shop smell so good! Cedar is softer than most woods I use, so I only use cedar in serving and charcuterie boards. I do not use cedar on cutting boards due to its softness. $$
Maple
Unlike other hardwoods, Hard Maple is usually sapwood and not heartwood.
It is known for its durability and strength and is commonly used for flooring, butcher blocks, and large furniture. I use Maple as a standard. It works very well in boards of all types. $$
Hickory
Hickory wood is currently used to make home decor, such as flooring, cabinetry, and furniture, as well as tool handles (hammers, picks axes, etc.), sporting goods equipment, and industrial applications.
In the past, hickory was used for carriage wheels and spokes, ladders, and for home construction. I use hickory occasionally due to its reasonably ease of acquiring. Many of the other types of wood I use are hard to get at times. Hickory seems to be readily available. $$
Purpleheart
Peltogyne, commonly known as purpleheart, violet wood, amaranth and other local names (often referencing the color of the wood) is a genus of 23 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae; native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America; from Guerrero, Mexico, through Central America, and as far as south-eastern Brazil.
The purple timber is desirable, but difficult to work with. I use Purpleheart mainly as an accent piece in our boards, the deep purple color is never mistaken, it’s beautiful. $$$
Padauk
Padauk has a very unique reddish orange coloration, and the wood is sometimes referred to by the name Vermillion.
Unfortunately, this dramatic color is inevitably darkened to a deep reddish-brown color. Padauk is moderately heavy, strong, and stiff, with exceptional stability. I use Padauk mainly for sharp red highlights and accents, however occasionally we’ll come across a large face grain and use it as a large portion of a board. Padauk is perhaps the most frequently misspelled (and mispronounced) wood species, with Padouk, Paduk, and Paduak being common misspellings. The most common pronunciation is pah-DUKE, it is sometimes mispronounced as Paducah, a city in Kentucky. $$$
Angélique
Angélique, also known as BacoWood, is a hardwood that grows in northern South America, in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
A distinction is made between red and gray, with the same properties, as well as white Angélique wood. I use the darker Angelique occasionally in some boards because of the availability and how it looks nested with the much whiter maple. $$$
