Walnut or maple?

mahogany might be easier to bend. it also has a very consistent grain pattern. definitely a different ‘look’ than maple or walnut – so if you need the look of one of those, than it wouldn’t work too well.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Maple is difficult to get a consistent look when staining dark… finishing would probably be more work/experimentation on maple, especially if you haven’t done it before. You can look at my project if you want to see how it comes out with a dye stain:

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/7296

Never worked with walnut, so I can’t give you advice there… what is a “pub table”, by the way?

-- -- Kevin in Mentor, Ohio

Kevin,
A pub table (at least my definition) will be a small diameter table that’s about bar height
The kind of thing that ~3 people would stand around or use bar stools.

That’s some really nice grain on your bookcase, by the way. Really jumps right out at you.

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio

PurpLev is right about mahogany if you are looking for easy bending and consistent grain. Personally, I just prefer the look of walnut, so that would be the way I’d go. Maple would be my last choice, because of the problem of getting it stained a consistent dark color.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Walnut for me too.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

I would have to agree with the walnut choice as far as the color and appearance goes. I have never done a bent lamination with walnut but it should work fine. Walnut is such a gorgeous wood in its own right and finishes up beautifully. While maple also is a nice wood to work with I have had trouble getting a consistent color on it when staining.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I’ve never worked with maple, but I’ve always liked Walnut. When I picture what I think you’re picturing in my mind, I’m thinking Walnut will do it for you.

Thanks everyone for your help. Walnut it is. I’ve always had a thing for walnut anyways

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio

I know you’ve already decided Walnut, but the way it was related to me last year was ‘Have you ever heard of a blonde dying her hair brunette?’ Since then I keep the colors of wood species pretty close to their natural colors.

Just my 2 cents.

-- Splintered Board Podcast - Woodworker Un-extraordinaire