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. $$
Bocote (Cordia spp.)
Origin: Mexico and Central/South America
Colour: yellow brown with dark whorls and grain
Bocote smells like dill when worked. $$