How to identify different wood types
Wood is a wide and varied resource of immense practicality and beauty, individual types having properties and benefits which differ from species to species. It is a beautiful material to both work with and visually appreciate, particularly after French Polishing has been applied. Here is a small selection of wood types we at Terry Waters French Polishing lovingly enhance and protect:
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Ash
This dense hardwood is renowned for it's strength and toughness while retaining it's flexibility. A regular substitute for Oak it begins life much lighter but can season to a yellow colour. You can distinguish it by its strong grain structure and creamy colour. You can distinguish it from Oak by the lack of medulary rays and the lack of "Black ticks" in the grain.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Ash. -
Beech
Resistant to shock and with flexible characteristics, Beech is often used for furniture due to its strength and even colour. It also does not easily splinter making it ideal for table and chair legs. It is suitable for shaping. However it hates being stained directly and will go very patchy if stained with the wrong material. It also has a tendency to swell when wet.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Beech. -
Cherry
Cherry is very popular for furniture, paneling and doors. When stained and polished its colour is second to none. However, like most "Fruit woods" it seasons very quickly. In practice this means that, where a door shuts in a jamb or a sign is hung on a door the timber around it will change colour but where it is deprived of light it will not... It changes colour so much that, if you stick a "post-it note" on a new piece of cherry at midday in summer and remove it an hour later you will see the square shape where it used to be.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry aboutCherry. -
Elm
Elm has been used extensively throughout English history for everything from wheel to chair seats and coffins (Did you know wood in a cofffin is only allowed 3 knot holes). Elm is an attractive, highly grained warm brown coloured wood and until Dutch Elm disease Britain had lots of it. It is prone to woodwork and is something of a rarity now.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Elm. -
Lacewood
This exotic wood is perfect for crafting and is extensively used in the creation of wooden ornaments and decorative boxes since - though a hardwood - it is soft enough to be easily crafted. Its lustrous beauty lends itself to veneering. Lacewood is traditionally used for interiors, ornamental inlay and the creation of fine furniture. It is also very resistant to decay and wear.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Lacewood. -
Maple
Ideal for flooring, hard Maple is often found in ballrooms, gymnasiums and indoor sports arenas. It is also popular in the creation of furniture, decorative woodwork, veneers, and countertops. Like Cherry it seasons and, like a sheet of brushed velvet it reflects light differently meaning that it changes colour depending on what angle you look at it.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Maple. -
Oak
This is a French polisher's dream. A beautifully grained wood - particularly when quarter-sawn (as it shows off it's medulary rays). It has been highly prized since the middle ages for panelling in prestigious building. It is also incredibly strong and hard, making it ideal for the structural frames of wooden buildings and previously, ships. Today Oak is used for furniture making, timber frame buildings, flooring, and veneers.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Oak. -
Steamed Beech
This highly durable wood is very popular with manufacturers thanks to its constant availability and stable pricing. Since Beech trees are often larger than most other hardwoods, the greater dimensions available only increase its demand. Steamed Beech is turned from a native white to uniform pale brown and pink tones. It is often used for cabinet making, furniture and architectural work. The flexible nature of the wood lends itself to bending. It goes easy on machine blades and is ideal for whittling, carving, and turnery.
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Teak
As a tropical hardwood, Teak is popular for creating doors and window frames, columns and beams in old style houses, and - due to it's resistance to swings in climate variation - is ideal for both indoor and outdoor furniture. It is often used for decking. Mature teak is highly sought after and can command a very high price.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Teak. -
Walnut
The variety of colouring achieved from Walnut makes it very desirable. It is sought after for furniture making and carving due to it's hardness and beautiful grain structure. More highly prized than Mahogany it makes beautiful cabinets and tables.
You can find out more at Wikipedia's entry about Walnut. -
Zebrano
Difficult to work, this heavy, coarse wood has limited use for veneers, panelling, furniture making, furniture trim, inlay bandings, marquetry and turnery. It is more likely to be used as an exotic flooring. Its strength lends itself to the creation of tool handles. In the past it has been used in the production of skis. Zebrano's exotic reputation stems from its distinctive zebra-like light and dark stripes.
