CATALOG

Grain is straight, with a very coarse texture. Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. However, unlike most other dark hardwoods, the heartwood of wenge can lighten (rather than darken) when exposed to sunlight. Very durable; good termite resistance.

Grain is usually straight, but can be irregular. Has a medium to coarse texture. Heartwood tends to be darker than temperate walnut species, with a deep chocolate brown color, sometimes with a purplish hue. Peruvian Walnut is rated as moderately durable in terms of decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack. Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular.

Grain is usually straight, but can be irregular. Has a medium texture. Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a grey, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular.

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.

Grain is slightly interlocked, producing an irregularly striped ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. Medium to fine uniform texture. Heartwood is golden to reddish brown. Fairly well defined sapwood is a contrasting pale brown. Moderate rot and insect resistant.

Grain is interlocked, and sometimes wavy. Fine uniform texture. Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quartersawn boards, sapele is also known for a wide variety of other figured grain patterns. Moderate to High rot and insect resistance.

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.

Poplar typically has a straight, uniform grain, with a medium texture. Heartwood is light cream to yellowish brown, with occasional streaks of gray or green. Sapwood is pale yellow to white, not always clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Moderate to non-rot resistance, can be subject to insect attack. Very easy to work in almost all regards, one of Poplar’s only downsides is its softness.