WHAT IS THAT WOOD FOR? | California Hardwood

What is that wood?

Its not unusual for customers walking into our office to not really knowing what they are looking for. They don't have any idea what kind of wood there is or what they want all they know is that they want a mantle or a table top or have decided to try out their hand at epoxy resin. With no idea of color, species, uses or how much that 9 foot tall piece of walnut really is. The other most challenge we run into is someone will come and they know exactly what they want until they see the variety of woods available and how each one can be so different. So I thought it would be helpful to have a page that gave a bit of information on our best sellers and what you can use them for.

Domestic Hardwoods

Red Oak: Hardwood;1290 hardness rating; Open grain with pink undertones, takes stain easily and it planes well however on a lathe it known to tear and its not recommended for outdoor use or very moist areas. Used for fine furniture, Flooring and used extensively for cabinetry.

White Oak: Hardwood; 1360 hardness rating; Unlike Red Oak White Oak is water resistant and is golden brown with grey undertones. Durable and stable takes stain evenly and easily. Most commonly known for its use for wine barrels. Good for outdoor use and application since it has tannic acids that protect it from insects and fungi.

Maple Hardrock: Hardwood; 1450 harness rating; Light in coloring and commonly has brown/black streaks through it known as mineral streaks. also the most common to have " birds eyes". Not good for staining as the stain can become spotty and blotchy looking. Most known and oddly known for being used in bowling alleys for pins as well as flooring.

American Cherry; 950 hardness rating; Reddish brown with a medium density. commonly used for furniture, tobacco pipes and medicine, still used today the bark of black cherry tree is used as a medicine for asthma.. It is considered to be one of the most versatile and widely used woods available.

Walnut; English: 1360 Hardness rating; light in color usually tan with darker tones through it. An easy wood to work with and doesn't rot easily has been known to have insects. Used for furniture and veneer.

Redwood: (softwood) old growth 480 Hardness Rating/ Young growth 450 Hardness rating. Pink to reddish heartwood with light cream color sapwood.

One of the most commonly used and important commercial woods in the united states. Most commonly used for decking and pergolas.

Cedar: (soft wood)western red 350 Hardness rating: Usually a rich orange color in the heart wood and a cream colored sap wood. A kin to redwood family

it is used for garden beds, posts, Adirondack chairs, shelving as well as the shavings being used for animal bedding.

Cedar Eastern red:(aromatic cedar) ; Hardwood; 950 Hardness rating: Deep Red heartwood with a cream color sap Unlike its soft cousin eastern red cedar is quite a bit harder and has a wonderful scent which is why it is used most often as closet and wall paneling.

Cedar White: Softwood; 320 Hardness rating ; The softest wood on the Janka scale. Doesn't rot or get eaten by bugs and for being soft its a pretty useful wood and most commonly known for fencing, benches and building

Hickory: Hardwood; 1820 Hardness rating; Beating oak in the janka scale hickory is the hardest domestic wood. beautiful cream color with dark knots and dark mineral streaking. Used for tool handles and furniture because of durability and strength which is great for axe handles and tools but not a very good beginners wood.

Elm

Alder

Birch

Poplar