Wood Species

Alder and Rustic Knotty – Alder is found predominantly in the Pacific Northwest and often used for smoking meat and for making electric guitar bodies. A fine-textured, soft hardwood with straight grains and small knots, Alder is not as strong or wear-resistant as other hardwoods. Its color ranges from pale yellow to orange to reddish brown. It’s often compared to Cherry, though without the darkening over time. Alder accepts stains and distressing techniques well.

Alder

Rustic Knotty Alder

Cherry and Rustic Knotty Cherry – Valued by Colonial cabinetmakers, Cherry still helps define Shaker, Mission and Country styling today. This lightweight, strong and durable hardwood has excellent shock resistance. Its reddish-brown hues and fine texture feature long, smooth meandering grain lines and a rich, satiny appearance. Cherry accepts stains well and darkens considerably, in less than one year, with age and sunlight exposure, making it difficult to match replacement items.

Cherry

Hickory and Rustic Knotty Hickory – For centuries, Hickory has been used for fuel, smoking and cooking and its hardness makes it ideal for ladders and flooring. Its strength and beauty are used extensively in home décor today. Hickory has an open, coarse grain, distinguished by dramatic contrasts in colors ranging from brown to reddish brown heartwood to nearly white sapwood. Bird pecks, water spots and mineral streaks can be present. Hickory stains well and is often finished with darker stains to mildly tone down the color variance.

Hickory

Maple and Rustic Knotty Maple – Due to its hardiness, Maple has been a versatile wood used for flooring, furniture and cabinetry since Colonial times. Dense and strong, Maple resists abrasions and wear exceptionally, though its closed, tight grain makes it susceptible to swelling in increased humidity. Maple features off-white to light brown hues, which are beautifully amplified in a Natural finish. It accepts paints well, but the tight grain does not allow stains to penetrate.

Maple

Rustic Knotty Maple

Walnut – A moderately strong and very dense hardwood, Walnut has historically been used for making gunstocks. Its straight and open grain accented with distinctive burls and curls, make beautiful cabinetry for today’s homes. Walnut’s color ranges drastically from off-white to gray to medium brown. It stains nicely and tends to lighten over time with direct sunlight exposure. It is durable but not extremely dent-resistant.

Walnut

White Oak and Quarter Sawn Oak – Oak represents classic American styling. White Oak is a heavy, durable, wear-resistant hardwood with good shock resistance. Its distinctive appearance ranges in color from nearly white sapwood to gray-brown heartwood featuring straight grains, open pores and rays. White Oak accepts stains well in a variety of colors, which remain stable in sunlight exposure. Quarter Sawn Oak has an amazing straight grain pattern that lends itself to design. It is named for the unique way the oak logs are sawed at a radial angle into four quarters. Quarter Sawn Oak features dramatic flecking that provides a uniform grain pattern. It resists warping and accepts stains well.

White Oak

Quarter Sawn White Oak