Mahogany, South American
This species is also known as Genuine Mahogany or Honduran Mahogany. Its heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale pinkish brown to a darker reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Mahogany also exhibits an optical phenomenon known as chatoyancy. Grain can be straight, interlocked, irregular, or wavy with a medium […]
Mahogany, African
Also known as khaya or Acajou d’Afrique, this mahogany’s heartwood can vary in color from a pale pink to a deep reddish brown and can darken over time. African Mahogany has moderate rot resistance and is easy to work with overall. Its grain is straight to interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture with good […]
Leopardwood
This unique species has a very conspicuous flecking that gives this wood its namesake. The wood itself is a medium to dark reddish brown with grey or light brown rays, which resemble the spots of a leopard. It has a fairly pronounced and coarse texture and straight grain.
Jatoba
Also known as Brazilian Cherry, it has a heartwood that varies from a light orangish brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with contrasting darker grayish brown streaks. Its color tends to darken upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a light grayish yellow, clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Grain is typically interlocked, with a medium […]
Ipe
Also known as Brazilian Walnut or LapachoIpe, this species’s hartwood is olive-brown with occasional lighter or darker streaks. It has a fine texture but appears oily. Ipe is very hard and can be challenging to work with. It is incredibly resistant to rot and decay. It has a fine to medium texture, with the grain […]
Cocobolo
This beautiful wood offers a kaleidoscope of different colors, ranging from yellow, orange, red, and shades of brown with streaks of black or purple. Its sapwood is typically a very pale yellow. Colors are lighter when freshly sanded/cut, and darken with age. It has a grain that is straight to interlocked, with a fine, even […]
Ebony, Gaboon
Also known as African Ebony, Nigerian Ebony, or Cameroon Ebony, this species of ebony is among the most expensive of all available lumbers. It has heartwood that is usually jet-black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Occasionally, dark brown or grayish-brown streaks may be present. This species is extremely hard on tools. Grain […]
Cedar, Spanish
It has a heartwood that is a relatively uniform light pinkish to reddish brown; colors tend to darken with age. Random pockets of gum and natural oils are commonly present. The grain patterning and figures tend to be somewhat bland.
