Monday, June 3, 2013

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)

Thursday, May 23, 2013

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

Smoketree [Chittum Burl] (Cotinus Sp)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names:
Native to Southeastern United States, these members of the Anacardiaceae family (Cotinus) can grow to 10-15 feet in height and 1.5 feet in diameter. .

Color is yellowish orange.

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

Root Burls form in Limestone deposits common in Alabama. The Burl mush be removed from the limestone by either chipping or dynamite. As such the Burls are highly sought after.

Used to make: Turning, Knife making, Carving.

Smoketree (Cotinus Sp)
Chittum Root Burl  (Cotinus Sp)

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Sp)



Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Northern Mexico and Western United States, these members of the Ericaceae family (Arctostaphylos) can grow to 16 feet in height and 1 foot in diameter. .

Color is reddish brown with pale sapwood.

Fine texture with occasional voids in the root balls commonly used , somewhat difficult to machines but turns well.  Specific Gravity: .74-.92. Avg. Dry Weight:  57 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Boxes, Turnings, Carving.

Manzanita Root Burl (Arctostaphylos Sp)

Madagascar Rosewood (Dalbergia Baronii)



Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) but available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Madagascar, these members of the Fabaceae family (Dalbergia) can grow to 50-7 feet in height and 1-3 feet in diameter.

Color is medium reddish brown with darker streaks and pale sapwood.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .75-.93. Avg. Dry Weight:  58 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Musical Instruments, Cabinetry, Carving.

Madagascar Rosewood (Dalbergia Baronii)

Locust (Robinia Sp)



Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Black Locust

Found in Eastern United States, these members of the Fabaceae family (Robinia) can grow to 100 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter. .

Color is greenish yellow to medium brown.

Medium texture, machining can be troublesome but turns well.  Specific Gravity: .66-.82. Avg. Dry Weight:  51 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Flooring, Cabinetry, Turning.

Locust (Robinia Sp.)

Lacewood (Panopsis Sp)



Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Tropical South America, these members of the Proteaceae family (Panopsis) can grow to 50 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter. .

Color is pale brown with flecking that gives the appearance of a lace-like grain.

Medium to Course texture, machines well and turns well, but may tear out with planing.  Specific Gravity: .43-.53. Avg. Dry Weight: 33 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Fine Furniture, Cabinetry, Musical Instruments.

Lacewood (Panopsis Sp.)

Kingwood (Dalbergia Cearensis)



Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Brazil to Central America, these members of the Fabaceae family (Dalbergia) can grow to 30-60 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. .

Color is dark purplish brown with pale sapwood.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .98-1.2. Avg. Dry Weight:  75 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Inlays turnings etc.

Kingwood (Dalbergia Cearensis)

Katalox (Swartzia Sp.)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Mexican Ebony

Found in Central America and Northern South America, these members of the Fabaceae family (Swartzia) can grow to 100-130 feet in height and 2-4 feet in diameter. .

Color is dark reddish brown with pale sapwood, often with a strong purple hue.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .94-1.15. Avg. Dry Weight:  72 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Flooring, Cabinetry, Fine Furniture.

Katalox (Swartzia Sp)

African Padauk (Pterocarpus Soyauxii)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Central and Western African Tropics, these members of the Fabaceae family (Pterocarpus) can grow to 100-130 feet in height and 2-4 feet in diameter. .

Color is Pinkish Orange to reddish brown darkening with time.

Course texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .61-.74. Avg. Dry Weight:  46 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Flooring, Furniture, Carving, Musical Instruments.

African Padauk (Pterocarpus Soyauxii)

Monday, April 15, 2013

My other blogs


http://MTSStudios.blogspot.com - Michael T Shue Studios, the place for the newest pieces of art.

http://MTSS-woodblog.blogspot.com - Michael T Shue Studios Wood Blog - replaces the content of Russianwolfstudios.com and is easier to search. Wood pictures and info for all the species that have come through my studio.

http://russianwolfstudios.blogspot.com - Russianwolf Studios - directing people to the new blogs with occasional information of interest.

http://russianwolfwoodworks.blogspot.com - Russianwolf Woodworks - Occasional pieces of art and directing people to the new blogs.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Jarrah (Eucalyptus Marginata)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Australia, these members of the Myrtaceae family (Eucalyptus) can grow to 130 feet in height and 10 feet in diameter. .

Color is reddish brown.

Medium texture with occasional voids , machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: 1.01. Avg. Dry Weight:  ??? pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Flooring, Cabinetry, Carving.

Jarrah Burl

Irish Birch (Betula Pubescens)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Downy Birch, European White Birch 

Found in Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Asia, these members of the Betulaceae family (Betula) can grow to 33-65 feet in height and 1-2 feet in diameter. .

Color is a pinkish brown with nearly white sapwood.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .48-.64. Avg. Dry Weight:  41 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Boxes, Interior Trim, Turnings

Spaulted Irish Birch

European Beech (Fagus Sylvatica)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Irish Beech, English Beech

Found in Europe, these members of the Fagaceae family (Fagus) can grow to 100-150 feet in height and 3-5 feet in diameter. .

Color is pale cream, but can be somewhat pinkish.

Fine to Medium texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .54-.72. Avg. Dry Weight:  45 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Furniture, Cabinetry, Musical Instruments (Piano pinblocks), Carving.

Spaulted Irish Beech

Hawthorn (Crataegus Monogyna)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Common Hawthorn, Single-seeded Hawthorn

Found in Europe and Western Asia, these members of the Rosaceae family (Crataegus) can grow to 15-40 feet in height and ??? feet in diameter. .

Color is a pale brown, occasionally with darker streaks.

Finetexture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: ???? . Avg. Dry Weight:  ??? pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make:  Musical Instruments (flutes), Carving.

Irish Hawthorn

English Elm (Ulmus Procera)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: European Elm, Irish Elm

Found throughout Europe, these members of the Ulmaceae family (Ulmus) can grow to 80-110 feet in height and 3-6 feet in diameter. .

Color can vary between light to medium brown with pale sapwood.

Medium texture, machines well and turns well but tearout can occur.  Specific Gravity: .48-.64. Avg. Dry Weight:  40 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Boxes
Irish Elm Burl

Honduran Rosewood (Dalbergia Stevensonii)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened)and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Central America, these members of the Fabaceae family (Dalbergia) can grow to 50-100 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter. .

Color can vary between  light brown to deep brownish purple with pale sapwood.

Finetexture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .82-1.03. Avg. Dry Weight:  64 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Fine Furniture, Musical Instruments, Carving.

Honduran Rosewood Burl

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Honduran Mahogany (Swietenia Macrophylla)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened)and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Southern Mexico to South America, these members of the Meliaceae family (Swietenia) can grow to 150 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter. .

Color can vary between  pinkish brown to reddish brown.

Medium texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .54-.66. Avg. Dry Weight:  41 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Furniture, Cabinetry, Musical Instruments, Carving.

Honduran Mahogany

Hauli (Dalbergia Odorifera)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: Haunghauli, Xinhauli,  Flowering Yellow Pear

Found in Southern China and Northern parts of Vietnam and Thailand, these members of the Fabaceae family (Dalbergia) can grow to 30-45 feet in height and ??? feet in diameter. .

Color can vary between species from Reddish Browns and Yellows. unlike many Dalbergia that darken with age, this species tends to form a yellow patina.

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


Used to make: Ming and Qing Dynasty furnature (exceptionally rare as they were made solely for the the elite in Chinese society. One of the most expensive woods in the world if sources from dynastic furniture.

Hauli

Grey Box (Eucalyptus Sp.)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Australia, these members of the Myrtaceae family (Eucalyptus) can grow to 180 feet in height and 4.5 feet in diameter. .

Color can vary between species from Browns and Yellows.

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


Used to make: Bowls, turnings, etc.

Grey Box Burl

Greenheart (Chlorocardium Rodiei)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names:

Found in NorthEastern South america, these members of the Lauraceae family (Chlorocardium) can grow to 75-100 feet in height and 1.5-2 feet in diameter.

Color is Pale Olive Green with darker streaks. Sapwood is paler yellowish green.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well but will dull tools quickly.  Specific Gravity: .85-1.06. Avg. Dry Weight:  66 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Boats, Desking, Posts, fishing rods and pool cues.

Greenheart

Gaboon Ebony (Diospyros Crassiflora)


Status: Endangered (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: Gabon Ebony

Found in Western Africa, these members of the Ebenaceae family (Diospyros) can grow to 50-60 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter.

Color is nearly jet black but can appear more dark brown.  Sapwood is pale.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well but prone to splitting.  Specific Gravity: .78-1.03. Avg. Dry Weight:  65 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Pool Cues, Furniture, Musical Instruments and turnings.

Gaboon Ebony

Thursday, March 14, 2013

English Yew (Taxus Baccata)


Status: Least Concern (Low Risk) and available.

Other Common Names: European Yew, Royal Yew

Found in Europe, Northern Africa and into Western Asia, these members of the Taxaceae family (Taxus) can grow to 30-65 feet in height and 3-5 feet in diameter.

Color is Orangish Brown with occasional dark streaks. Sapwood is pale.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .55-.67. Avg. Dry Weight:  42 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Bows (Archery), Furniture, Musical Instruments and turnings.

English Yew
Irish Bog Oak and Irish Bog Yew (approx. 5000 years old)

English Walnut (Juglans Regia)


Status: Near Threatened and available.

Other Common Names: Circassian Walnut, French Walnut, Turkish Walnut

Found in Europe and Western Asia, these members of the Juglandaceae family (Juglans) can grow to 80-115 feet in height and 5-6 feet in diameter. .

Color is pale to medium brown with darker stripes.

Medium texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .51-.66. Avg. Dry Weight:  41 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Flooring, gunstocks and turnings.

English Walnut
Curly Turkish Walnut

East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia Latifolia)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in India, these members of the Fabaceae family (Dalbergia) can grow to 100 feet in height and 2-4 feet in diameter. .

Color is golden to purplish brown.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .75-.92. Avg. Dry Weight:  57 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Fine Furniture, Musical Instruments and turnings.

East Indian Rosewood

Burmese Padauk [Amboyna Burl] (Pterocarpus Macrocarpus)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Dragon's Blood Amboyna Burl

Found in SE Asia, these members of the Fabaceae family (Pterocarpus) can grow to 60-80 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter. .

Color is Orange to deep reds.

Course texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .75-.87. Avg. Dry Weight:  54 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Musical Instruments, Flooring and turnings.

Dragon's Blood Amboyna Burl

Desert Ironwood (Olneya Tesota)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in desert SW US and Mexico, these members of the
Faboideae family (Olneya) can grow to 30 feet in height and 1-2 feet in diameter. .

Color is orangish yellow to reds and darker browns with violet to black streaks. Sapwood is pale. Wood displays a chatoyance that allows for great depths and coppery flashes.

Fine texture, machines well and turns well but will dull tools quickly. take a wonderful luster with polish.  Specific Gravity: .97-1.21. Avg. Dry Weight:  75 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: knife handles, carvings and turnings.
Desert Ironwood Burl

Desert Ironwood

Okoume (Aucoumea Klaineana)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: Okume

Found in Gaboon Africa, these members of the Burseraceae family (Aucoumea) can grow to 90-120 feet in height and 3-7 feet in diameter. .

Color is pale brown.

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

Used to make: plywood and musical instruments

Curly Okoume

Koa (Acacia Koa)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Hawaii, these members of the Fabaceae family (Acacia) can grow to 65-100 feet in height and 3-5 feet in diameter. .

Color is medium golden brown to reddish brown.

Medium to Course texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .53-.67. Avg. Dry Weight:  42 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, musical instruments, gunstocks and turnings.
Curly Koa (Exhibition grade)

White Oak (Quercus Alba)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Eastern US, these members of the Fagaceae family (Quercus) can grow to 65-85 feet in height and 3-4 feet in diameter. .

Color is light to medium brown.

Course texture with medium to large pores, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .60-.81. Avg. Dry Weight:  50 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Flooring and turnings.
White Oak salvaged from Timber Crib Dam (submerged approx. 200 years)


White Oak excavated from ancient WV lake bed (approx. 10k years old)

Red Oak (Quercus Rubra)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Eastern US, these members of the Fagaceae family (Quercus) can grow to 80-115 feet in height and 3-6 feet in diameter. .

Color is light to medium reddish.

Course texture with medium to large pores, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .56-.73. Avg. Dry Weight:  45 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Furniture, Flooring and turnings.

Red Oak

Red Oak salvaged from Timber Crib Dam (submerged approx. 200 years)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

American Poplar (Liriodendron Tulipifera)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Tulip Poplar

Found in Eastern US, these members of the Magniliaceae family (Liriodendron) can grow to 130-160 feet in height and 6-8 feet in diameter. .

Color is pale brown but can have mineral stains.

Medium texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .40-.51. Avg. Dry Weight:  32 pounds per cubic foot.

Used to make: Utility Furniture, Flooring and turnings.



Poplar salvaged from Timber Crib dam (submerged for 200 years)


Poplar







American Chestnut (Catanea Dentata)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Eastern US, these members of the Fagaceae family (Castanea) can grow to 100-120 feet in height and 5-7 feet in diameter. .

Color light to medium brown.

Course texture, machines well and turns well but tends to split easily.  Specific Gravity: .40-.48. Avg. Dry Weight:  30 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Fine Furniture, Flooring and turnings.

American Chestnut salavaged from Timber Crib dam (submerged for approx. 200 years)

American Beech (Fagus Grandifolia)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Eastern US, these members of the Fagceae family (Fagus) can grow to 100-130 feet in height and 3-5 feet in diameter. .

Color Medium to light brown.

Medium texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .54-.73. Avg. Dry Weight:  46 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Furniture, Flooring and turnings.

American Beech from a Timber Crib Dam (Submerge for at least 200 years)

Coolibah (Eucalyptus Coolabah)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: Coolabah

Found in Australia, these members of the Myrtaceae family (Eucalyptus) can grow to ??? feet in height and ??? feet in diameter. .

Color bright Reddish and Orange brown with pale sapwood.

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


Used to make: Fine Furniture, Flooring and turnings.

Coolibah Burl

Coffee Tree (Coffea Arabica)


Status: Secure and available.

Other Common Names: 

Found in Ethiopia but transplanted throughout the world (specific pieces come from Bali Indonesia Plantations), these members of the Rubiaceae family (Coffea) can grow to 25-35 feet in height and ??? feet in diameter. .

Coloris a medium brown.

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

Used to make: turnings.

Coffee Burl

Cochinchin Rosewood (Dalbergia Cochinchinensis)


Status: Vulnerable (Threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: Siamese Rosewood

Found in SE Asia, these members of the Fabaceae family (Dalbergia) can grow to ???? feet in height and ??? feet in diameter. .

Color dark Orange to Orangish brown with pale sapwood.

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


Used to make: turnings.

Cochinchin Rosewood

Claro Walnut (Juglans Hindsii)


Status: Vulnerable (threatened) and available.

Other Common Names: Bastogne Walnut

Found in California, these members of the Juglandaceae family (Juglans) can grow to 30-60 feet in height and 3-5 feet in diameter. .

Color is dark brown with light sapwood (steaming will turn the sapwood dark to match the heartwood.

Medium texture, machines well and turns well.  Specific Gravity: .51-.64. Avg. Dry Weight:  40 pounds per cubic foot.


Used to make: Gun stocks, Fine Furniture, Flooring and turnings.

Claro Walnut