Pecan (Carya Illinoinensis)

Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Native to Southern and Central United States and Mexico, these members of the Juglandaceae family (Carya) can grow to 130 feet in height and 4 feet in diameter. .

Color is Light Brown with Darker Reddish Brown streaks

Medium texture, Difficult to work but turns well.  Specific Gravity: .60-.74. Avg. Dry Weight:  46 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Flooring, Tool Handles, ladders.

Pecan (Carya Illinoinensis)

Pacific Yew (Taxus Brevifolia)

Status: Near Threatened (Lower Risk) and available.

Other Common Names: Oregon Yew

Native to Pacific Northwest region of the United States, these members of the Taxaceae family (Taxus) can grow to 50 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. .

Color is Orangish Brown, often with darker Brown to Purplish areas

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .60-.74. Avg. Dry Weight:  46 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Archery Bows, Musical Instruments, Turnings.

Pacific Yew (Taxus Brevifolia)

Ovagkol (Guibourtia Ehie)

Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: Amazique, Mozambique, Shedua

Native to Tropical Western Africa, these members of the Fabaceae family (Guibourtia) can grow to 150 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter. .

Color is yellowish brown to Reddish, often with darker streaks.

Medium to Coarse texture, machines well and turns well but can contain silica.  Specific Gravity: .67-.84. Avg. Dry Weight:  53 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Turnings, Musical Instruments.

Ovagkol (Guibourtia Ehie)

Osage Orange (Maclura Pomifera)

Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Hedge Apple, Bois D'Arc, Bodark, Horse Apple

Native to Southern and Central United States, these members of the Moraceae family (Maclura) can grow to 60 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. .

Color is often bright yellow when fresh cut darkening to brown over time.

Medium texture with many pores, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .76-.86. Avg. Dry Weight:  54 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Fence Posts, Archery Bows, Musical Instruments, Turnings.

Osage Orange (Maclura Pomifera)

Mesquite (Prosopis Glandulosa)

Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Honey Mesquite

Native to Southwestern US and Northern Central America, these members of the Fabaceae family (Prosopis) can grow to 30 feet in height and 1 feet in diameter. .

Color is reddish brown with yellowish sapwood.

Medium to Coarse texture with many pores, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .70-.82. Avg. Dry Weight:  51 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Fence Posts, Flooring, Furniture

Mesquite (Prosopis Glandulosa)

Russian-Olive (Elaeagnus Angustifolia)

Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Native to Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe/Western Asia, these members of the Elaeagnaceae family (Elaeagnus) can grow to 35 feet in height and 1 feet in diameter. .

Color is yellowish brown, often with a greenish hue.

Uneven texture with many pores, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .55-.69. Avg. Dry Weight:  43 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Knife making, Pens, Carving.

NOT PART OF THE OLIVE FAMILY. I honestly can't say this enough. Yes, the wood has a similar appearance to Olive, but it is not an olive tree. The name is derived from the fact that the fruit looks similar to an olive. But unlike olive trees, the wood contains no oils and the texture is vastly different.

Russian-Olive (Elaeagnus Angustifolia)

Stabilized Russian-Olive Burl(Elaeagnus Angustifolia)

Zitan (Pterocarpus Santalinus)

Status: Endangered (Threatened) and rarely available.

Other Common Names: Red Sandlewood, Tzu-t'an

Found in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, these members of the Fabaceae family (Pterocarpus) can grow to 25 feet in height and 1-2 feet in diameter. .

Color is reddish Orange and darkens with age. Pale sapwood.

Medium to Course texture , machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: ???. Avg. Dry Weight:  ??? pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Carving.

Used in Ming and Qing Dynasty furniture that was reserved  for the Imperial household. Due to over exploitation and smuggling into China where it is still highly sought after, the price for this wood can be astronomical. The single 5 inch long by 3/4 inch square piece below was approx $100 recovered from a damaged beyond repair piece of antique Qing furniture.

Zitan (Pterocarpus Santalinus) - Recovered from Antique Furniture