Some of our most frequently asked questions are nearly the properties of various woods types and how the wood stains.

HARDWOOD OR SOFTWOOD

Wood is more often than not classified as a hardwood or softwood. The terms refer not so much to density but to the style the wood is grown and the molecular construction of the wood.

Hardwood come from a broad-leafed tree, meaning a tree with no needles. These include Ash, Birch, Blood-red, Mahogany, Maple, Oak, Poplar, Teak, and Walnut.

Softwoods are derived from needle-begetting evergreen trees with Pine and Cedar being the virtually popular for woodworking and furniture.

Wood Grain

The grain of the forest refers to the arrangement or pattern of the wood fibers and is a major factor in the appearance Wavy Figured Bubinga Woodof the wood.

The most common wood grains are:

straight

crossed

irregular

diagonal

wavy

spiral

Unfinished wood shows the grain design with stain often accentuating the grain. Every woods species stains differently.

The softer the wood, the more easily information technology absorbs stain and paint. Many darker wood look best when not stained allowing the natural beauty to shine. A simple varnish or woods protectant is all that is needed.

Stain Chart

TIPS FOR STAINING Forest

1 – Test stains on a slice of bit wood.

ii – Apply with a castor or rag rubbing with the grain. Use a overnice, generous coat of stain on the wood.

3 – Wipe off immediately for a lighter tone or exit on for several minutes for a darker tone. It is recommended to wipe off quickly and add more stain later if you demand a darker tone.

4 – E'er utilize a cease on superlative of stained wood to preserve and protect the woods.

The nautical chart on the left shows how various shades of stain affect the look of the woods.

The post-obit is a listing of some pop wood species highlighting some of the wood' features.

ALDERAlder

Alder is part of the Birch family and is a softer hardwood grown in the Pacific Northwest. Alder is popular for furniture making and is ideal for carving and its uniform acceptance of stains. Information technology is known for its consistent color.

Alder offers the wait of more expensive hardwoods at a value cost.

ASH

Ash is a medium-density, lite-colored wood with similar grain to Oak.

Often used to brand baseball bats, this difficult wood is pliable and stains well. Mutual furniture uses include chairs, stools, floors, molding, and architectural millwork.

Ash can be stained to look similar more expensive woods.

Aspen

ASPEN

Aspen if a softer, fifty-fifty-grained hardwood from the Northeastern and North Central US. Unfinished, this member of the Populus family appears to have little grain, just the grain is more visible when stain is added.

Members of this grouping include cottonwoods and poplars. Like Ash, Aspen can exist stained to resemble more expensive woods like Walnut or Cherry.

BIRCHBirch

Birch is ane of the harder wood species along with Hard Maple. This light-colored, close-grained wood is often used for butcher blocks and for structural beams.

It stains well. Alder and Maple are often used on cabinets considering they resemble Birch.

Birch is besides used to brand speakers, drum sets, and guitar bodies considering information technology gives a rich bass tone and resonance no other wood can match.

CHERRYCherry

Crimson is a round-grain wood that is popular with cabinetmakers. Information technology is stake pink when cut, just darkens to a cerise dark-brown every bit information technology ages.

Often considered a luxury wood, Scarlet is used for 18th century and traditional style furniture. Maple and Alder are often substituted for Cherry and can be stained to expect like Cherry.

HICKORYHickory

Hickory heartwood is a straight-grained, coarse-textured woods that varies in color from tan to brownish-carmine. The sapwood is nearly white. Woods Magazine notes that, "not ane commercially bachelor wood can lucifer Hickory in the combination of hardness, bending strength, stiffness, and stupor resistance."

At that place are some 16 species in North American and several in China, Asia, and United mexican states with Pecan beingness the most notable. Mutual uses for Hickory are tool handles, tables, stools and rocking chairs.

MAHOGANYMahogany Genuine

Mahogany trees are among the largest copse harvested and produces large boards. A tropical, medium-to-difficult wood, Mahogany grows in South and Central America and Africa. It is excellent for etching.

It is a very stable wood with directly, shut grain and kiln dried to remove moisture content. Its color ranges from greyness to reddish-brown. Information technology is prized by cabinet and article of furniture makers.

MAPLEMaple

Maple is a durable hardwood common in the Eastern and Western Us. The low-cal-colored wood has fine texture and even grain and is easily stained. Maple is grouped into Hard Maple and Soft Maple.

Popular species include Bigleaf Maple, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Striped Maple, and Box Elder.

Maple is often stained to resemble Reddish, Walnut, and more expensive wood species.

OAK

Oak is a very hard, Oak Redopen-grained wood from deciduous and evergreen copse in the US, Canada and Europe. At that place are nearly 600 species of Oak worldwide with many living 700 to 1,000 years. 2 popular types in the US are Red Oak and White Oak. Red Oak has a pinkish look while White Oak has a greenish tone.

Oak is pop for furniture making and stains well in any color due to its course texture and prominent grain. Oak is considered a warm wood and ages to a golden honey color. Most Amish furniture is fabricated of Red Oak. Wine and whiskey barrels are as well fabricated of Oak.

Pino

Pine grows worldwide and has been a popular wood for furniture making for centuries. A conifer in the genus Pinus, species include Ponderosa Pine, Eastern White Pine, and Sugar Pine.

Pine has a light-yellow color with natural grains and knots that give a warm look. Eastern White Pino is a pop species with evengrain and medium texture. It is easy to piece of work with with machines and tools and is splendid for staining. Information technology is widely used for construction lumber, carving, and millwork.

POPLARPoplar

Stake in color, Poplar is a softer wood similar to Beech and Alder and grown throughout North America, Europe and Asia. It has a straight, compatible grain with medium texture.

Due to its softness, poplar can leave a nappy surface and so fine grain sandpaper is recommended to go a smooth surface. Poplar is one of the to the lowest degree expensive hardwoods and is often used for plywood. It closely resembles Aspen.

RUBBERWOODRubberwood

Grown in Prophylactic tree plantations in the tropical rainforests, Rubberwood, as well chosen Parawood, is a durable, medium-density hardwood. Known every bit an environmentally-friendly wood, information technology is kiln dried so it has footling shrinkage making it ideal for furniture.

It is non suitable for outside use equally excessive moisture can make it warp and rot. Rubberwood is grown in Southward America and Southeast Asia peculiarly Malaysia and Thailand.

WALNUTWalnut

Highly-valued past high-terminate chiffonier and furniture makers, Walnut is an extremely difficult wood that has a rich chocolate dark-brown color.

The wood is known for its strength, hardness, straight grain, medium texture, and natural luster. It is commonly used for countertops, floor, and furniture. The wood is easy to cut and sand and tin be steam-aptitude with splendid results.