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Wood Stories

A selection of woods I use in my pieces.

Subject to availability. Price range indicated by $ - $$$.

African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon)

a.k.a. Mpingo

Origin: Dry savanna regions of central and southern Africa

Colour: black

$$

African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii)

a.k.a. Vermillion

Origin: Central and tropical west Africa

Colour: vibrant red orange

Valued for musical instruments such as drums and stringed instruments for its tonal qualities. $

Alaskan Yellow Cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis)

a.k.a. Nootka Cypress

Origin: Northwest coast of North America

Colour: yellow, sometimes spotted

The Nootka name comes from the Nuu-chah-nulth people of Canada. $$

Amazon Rosewood (Dalbergia spruceana)

Origin: Brazil, Venezuela, and Bolivia

Colour: medium purple brown

Often used as a substitute for the endangered Brazilian Rosewood. $$$

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Origin: Eastern United States

Colour: pale brown

$

Banksia (Banksia grandis)

Origin: Australia

Colour: medium brown with dark hollow seed holes

Banksia Pods originate from the Bull Banksia tree. The Banksia seeds are feasted on by nectarivorous birds such as the Red Capped Parrot. $$$

Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Origin: Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada

Colour: pale yellow brown

$$

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

a.k.a. American Cherry

Origin: Eastern North America

Colour: light reddish brown and light yellow brown

Black Cherry deepens to a red brown with age, bringing out more detail in the grain. $

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

a.k.a. Robinia, False Acacia

Origin: Central-eastern United States

Colour: light yellow brown

The name 'locust' is said to have been given to this tree by vegetarian Jesuits who supposed that John the Baptist ate the fruit of this tree instead of grasshoppers. However, the Black Locust is native to North America, and is considered an invasive species in some areas. $

Black Palm (Borassus flabellifer)

a.k.a. Palmyra Palm

Origin: Tropical Asia and Africa

Colour: black and light yellow patterned

Neither a hardwood nor a softwood, Black Palm is a Monocot. It has no growth rings; the black and yellow pattern is a result of the contrasting hard black fiber and soft yellow cellulose. $$

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Origin: Eastern United States

Colour: light to medium to dark brown

Under forest competition, Black Walnut reaches heights of 40 meters, producing long straight grain. The fruit of the Black Walnut was used by early American settlers as a hair dye. $

Black and White Ebony (Diospyros malabarica)

a.k.a. Pale Moon Ebony

Origin: Laos and southeast Asia

Colour: black with sharply contrasting light streaks

Ebony woods are so dense they will sink in water. $$$

Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens)

a.k.a. Satine

Origin: Tropical South America

Colour: vivid red

Bloodwood is extremely dense and retains its color over time. $

Blue Mahoe (Talipariti elatum)

Origin: Native to Cuba and Jamaica; widely planted throughout the Caribbean

Colour: gray purple

Blue Mahoe has a musical quality, and is traditionally used in the crafting of guitars and lutes. The color of the wood is unique and may be gray, green, black, blue, olive brown, and purple all in one small piece. $$

Bocote (Cordia spp.)

Origin: Mexico and Central/South America

Colour: yellow brown with dark whorls and grain

Bocote smells like dill when worked. $$

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