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what are your favorite woods?

4K views 77 replies 52 participants last post by  SteveMI 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
If someone asks me what my favorite wood is, I would say it depending on the project. Still, the truth is that I like some woods more than others. So here I will identify my top 5 in 3 categories and invite others to respond.

Domestic (common) hardwoods - Mahogany, maple and cherry

Reasonably priced exotics - Bubinga

Expensive - Brazilian Tulipwood (a.k.a. Pau Rosa).

Note that I am not specifying finer breakdowns beyond the general name. For example, I am not saying waterfall bubinga or quilted maple. My definition of "reasonably priced" is less than $25/bf.

How about you?
 
#4 ·
For me, it's whatever I'm working with at the time.

A few years ago, a customer asked for a houseful of ultra contemporary cabinets in Beech with a clear finish. I hadn't used Beech before, and hadn't really done much in the contemporary style, but as I built them, they became the prettiest cabinets I had ever made.

Right now, I'm making a shop cart for my new mortiser. I'm using some redwood that I bought in '80 or '81 for a deck. These boards were reused for an open storage shed in the mid-90's when I rebuilt the deck. I replaced the shed earlier this year and the redwood is now being milled for my mortiser cart. It's dead straight, and has aged to a dark red color. It will get a clear finish and I think that it will look fabulous. A couple of the neighbors have said that my shop cabinets and carts look nicer than their living room furniture. - lol
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
Cocobolo's hard to beat for me.
For domestics, I like plain old walnut.
Now you've got me thinking about tulipwood. The colors are fantastic.
I can see why you like bubinga if you like tulip; you must like color.
I had some highly figured eucalyptus that I wouldn't mind having more of.
.
And Sawkerf, redwood in my area is seriously like $15/bf. The only piece I own is one that Dan from the handplane thread gave me.
 
#6 ·
Rich,

My absolute hands down all time favorite is cherry. Any way you look at it, it has something of beauty to show you. It is a challenge, but rewards you. I like maple walnut, oaks, and sycamore (quartered), but I LOVE cherry.

My favorite exotics are sapele and bloodwood. My idea of 'reasonable' price is <$7.00/bd.ft. I suffer, I fear, a bit more pecuniary embarrasment than do you. If I have to, I'll use poplar actually a nice wood) or pine (another nice one) when I run out of money for better woods.

Steve
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
A few reactions - -

I also like cocobolo and have worked with it quite a bit. In my opinion, the beauty of cocobolo can vary a lot, even within a single piece of wood. Some portions can be amazingly beautiful and others quite dull. By contrast, the beauty of bubinga is quite consistent. I think of bocote as a slightly better cocobolo. It's also a little more expensive.

I also like cherry, but it bothers me that it darkens so much over time. It also bothers me that it burns so easily.

I also like walnut, but only if the piece has no sapwood. Walnut often has a lot of sapwood.

I've used quite a bit of bloodwood recently and like it very much. It is very good at retaining its color for the long term. So many exotics (purpleheart, padouk and others) loose their color over time). When I compare bloodwood and bubinga, I think of bloodwood as being like bubinga (color wise) but without the exciting grain.

About "reasonably priced: - In that category I am only talking about the exotics that can vary from $10 to over $100 dollars. Within the exotics, I consider $25/bf to be the break point between reasonably priced and high priced. As an FYI - I own some (no much) pink ivory, ebony (several variations) and ambroyna burl that costs between $60 and $80 per board foot. When wood cost this much you save it for the very special project and, in reality, that very special project never comes along. I've owned a piece of pink ivory for over 5 years and have not used any of it yet.
 
#9 ·
Bertha -
Redwood is pretty common around here - although really good stuff can be hard to find. When I bought it in the early '80s, 2×6, Conheart S4S, cost ~69 - 70 cents /linear foot. Much higher these days, of course. - lol
 
#10 ·
Rich, it is like picking your favorite child! I cant do it…but I will say I really am not that fond of the neighbor kid, aka red oak. I will use it, but I like so many others more.

Exotics…I like paduak, zebrawood, and sapele. But the budget generally only stretches for those to be used as accents.

If push came to shove, and I only had one for eternity, it would probably be figured walnut.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
For working qualities, I like black walnut and mahogany. After that, they're all just colors on a palette. Their working qualities are what they are and I just have to deal with it the best way possible. As to what I enjoy looking at… hmmm…. That's a tough one.

It's probably easier for me to answer which one I DON'T like-flat sawn red oak. Because it's just so dang EVERYWHERE!

always,
J.C.
 
#14 ·
Whoever said Bloodwood, I'll agree that I like the look of it finished, but it is a PAIN to work with! I started using it on my scroll saw and the stuff constantly burns for me. I recently turned a few projects with it, and the stuff is so splintery! If I try to brush off the shavings on my shirt, I am sure to get a splinter or two in my skin. Ugh!
Alan
 
#15 ·
Alan - I have never scrolled or turned with Bloodwood so I cannot relate to that. I have used it extensively with a table saw.

If you look at my recent projects you will see a series of projects I did for our church with oak as the primary wood and bloodwood as an accent. I never encountered a splintering problem and the burning was very slight and easily sanded out.

I chose bloodwood because I did not want any distracting grain within the accent pieces and it has a reputation for retaining its color for the long term.
 
#17 ·
I only work with common, sustainable domestics, or recycled exotics (I have gotten some exotics in the form of pallet wood). I will not pay for imported wood. Just a legacy of growing up in Oregon and watching the lumber industry struggle so much… I guess it is how some folks feel about buying import tools…

My top 5 favorites to work with are (not in any particular order)...

#1. Black Walnut, not the safest to work with, but manageable with a respirator and dust collection…
#2. Curly Maple.
#3. Quarter Sawn Red Oak.
#4. Mesquite.
#5. Pecan / Hickory.
 
#18 ·
dbhost - - I appreciate your opinion and comments. You surprised me by specifying Quarter Sawn Red Oak.

Can you comment on why you prefer red oak to while oak?

Oak is not at the top of my list, but with respect to oak, I much prefer white oak.
 
#23 ·
Yeah Rich, but then you get those wackos who think $25/bd.ft is reasonible and $14,000 Fein electric pocket knife/lint pickers are just dandy. But yes, this is more relaxing. Bloodwood is great for flat work, sands to a beautiful polish, but is too hard for scroll sawing unless very thin. I've never turned it, but I suspect that as Allen said, it would be a bit rough> VERY sharp tools would help, aand I don't think it would hurt to wet it as you turn it. Does that make sense to you?

Steve
 
#26 · (Edited by Moderator)
Rich, Jatoba is probably my favorite but I really like quarter sawn Sycamore and quarter sawn red oak. The qs red oak has smaller flecks and rays but they are more colorful without the need to dye. Many are very red/iradescent. I have a bunch of walnut so probably take it for granted but it is beautiful. Hell, now that I think about it I love all wood. I even found some birdseye PINE that was very special! Great thread. You always come up with good topics. Thanks.
 
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