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Domestic Wood Species

Below is a listing of Domestic Woods that Spindle Factory has to offer. If you have any special requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. You can find our contact information here.

Listing of Domestic Woods available from the Spindle Factory

Alder

Alder is the most commonly used softer hardwood in the Pacific Northwest. Closely related to birch, alder is almost white when first cut but quickly changes once exposed to air, becoming light brown with a yellow or reddish tinge. Only the older trees produce hardwood when there is no visible gap between sap and heartwood. The wood is fairly straight-grained with a uniform texture. Alder is an exceptional wood to machine or turn, and paints or stains to a good finish. When stained, it blends with walnut, mahogany or cherry. Knotty Alder, a lower grade alder containing knots, is commonly used for the southwest look.

Ash Fraxinus americana

The color of ash is somewhat lustrous; cream to very light brown heartwood with lighter colored sapwood. Ash has a straight moderately open grain. It is heavy; hard; strong; stiff, high in shock resistance with excellent bending qualities and above average workability.

Aspen Populus tremuloide

Also known as the Quaking Aspen, it is native to North America. The sapwood is cream-coloured and the heartwood is tan. This is a soft, weak wood, used primarily in the manufacture of mouldings, toys and coffins.

Birch Betula Alleghaniensis

The Birch is found in North-eastern North America. Abundant in Quebec, it has been its emblem since 1993. The sapwood is usually pale yellow and the heartwood is reddish brown. It offers an economical alternative to Maple, since its grain is similar, but it is softer than Maple (1,260 on the Janka hardness scale). Used for furniture, floor coverings, mouldings, architectural carpentry and turnery.

Cherry Prunus Serotina

It is found mainly in the Eastern United States. The color of cherry is light reddish-brown in the heartwood and the sapwood is nearly white. The heartwood color will darken with age and on exposure to light. Cherry is usually straight-grained; satiny, with some figured. Small gum pockets are normal markings. Cherry is easy to machine, nail and glues well and when sanded and stained, it produces an excellent smooth finish. The wood is of medium density with good bending properties, it has low stiffness and medium strength and shock resistance. It is a very stable, semi-porous wood.

Hickory Carya spp.

Hickory is generally straight grained and coarse textured. It is known for its appealing appearance. Strong, bold grain patterns show through colors ranging from bright white to rich, deep red/brown. The brown to reddish brown is heartwood and the white, is nearly white sapwood. Hickory is one of the hardest, heaviest and strongest woods in the United States. It is mainly used for applications requiring strength and toughness.

Maple, Hard Acer Saccharum

It is heavy; hard; strong; close-grained; tough; stiff; uniform texture. With care it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained to an outstanding finish. The wood is hard and heavy with good strength properties, in particular its high resistance to abrasion and wear. Pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. Hard White Maple is distinguished by its whiteness and superior uniformity of color. Our grading of maple exceeds all industry standards.

Oak, Red Quercus Rubra

Red oak is in high demand for its reddish graining. It works well and finishes easily. However, a pre-drilling before nailing is recommended.

Pine

Western pines (Ponderosa, Sugar and Idaho White Pine) are one of North America’s most abundant wood species. Ponderosa Pine is perhaps the most beloved of Western pines. Its soft texture and light color distinguish it from Southern pines; its wood is the most distinguished of all pines. Sapwood is nearly white to pale yellow; heartwood is light to reddish brown. While slight resinous, pine has its own unique scent loved by many. Knotty pine contains knots that foster the log home look.

Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera

The sapwood of yellow poplar ranges from light yellow to white, the heartwood varies with color ranging from tan to light brown and even greenish brown. Poplar has an even grain pattern. It is extremely stable, and rather lightweight. Poplar is known for its ease in manufacturing and moulding. It stains, paints, and finishes extremely well.

Walnut Juglans Nigra

Also known as the American Walnut, it is heavy with a yellowish-brown sapwood and a purplish-brown heartwood. Used for furniture, parquet floors, turnery, musical instruments and gunstocks. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, and strong. Walnut works easily, stains and finishes well.