Ash

Straight grain with coarse texture, hearwood is reddish to pinkish brown, often with streaks and bands of darker red/brown areas. Narrow sapwood is pale yellowish white. Eash to work with both hand and machine tools, dents and scratches easily due to its soft nature.

Sitka Spruce has a fine, even texture, and a consistently straight grain. Ranges from cream/white to yellow; heartwood can also exhibit a subtle pinkish red hue in some instances. Heartwood is rated as being slightly resistant to non-resistant to decay.

The grain is usually straight, but can also be wavy or irregular. Has a medium texture. When freshly cut the heartwood of purpleheart can be a  dull grayish/purplish brown. Upon exposure—usually within a few days—the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple. With further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes a dark brown with a hint of purple. Working with purpleheart can present some challenges. Rot and insect resistant, except marine borers.