Different Types of Wood

There are as many different types of wood as there are different types of trees. Wood has been one of the favorite materials used for making furniture since ages. They come in a wide range of hardness, colors and grains, and they can be hewn and shaped into various aesthetic designs. Plus, they are durable, are generally low maintenance, and have enduring value. In fact, beautiful pieces of wooden furniture is often handed down from generation to generation, and become quite priceless with age.

Different types of wood are generally categorized according to their hardness and softness, and they range from softwoods like redwood, pine and fir and hardwood like teak, mahogany, and cherry, and various types in between. Each type of wood also has distinctive characteristics in their grain. The grain in wood is the stripes that are created due to growth rings. While some may be tight, indicative of slow growth, others may be widely spaced, which indicates fast growth, and various types in between. For example, woods like cherry, alder, and maple are tight-grained types of wood, which are smooth and take finish evenly, whereas walnut, ash, and oak have open pores, which give pieces of furniture unique textural effects.

Also, different types of wood have distinctive 'figures', or markings, such as spalting, fiddleback, birdseye, pomelle, ray, and quilting. These so-called figures in wood are created due to different coloring in the wood, which are most probably caused by the grain of the wood, with the names being associated with the patterns that are formed.

Given below are a few different types of wood with their unique characteristics:

Teak: Ranging in color from dark brown to yellowish-brown, it has mineral streaks that give it a contrasting grainy structure. The texture of teak is oily, and it is a strong and durable wood, which is resistant to warping and insects. This is a popular wood for making various types of furniture pieces.

Cherry: The color of this wood ranges from reddish-brown to light pinkish. It is a close grained wood with markings like gum pockets and pitch pockets. The figure in this wood varies from highly mottled to plain. When polished, it can become glowing and deep red. It is used to make all types of furniture from chairs to cabinets.

Maple: This wood ranges from cream-white to snowy-white, although during the off season you do get a few that are yellowish in tone. It has mineral streaks and sugary specks, and also sometimes contains figures that are quilted, blistered, fiddleback, or curly. One of the hardest woods is hard rock maple. When hand-rubbed with oil it can be given a golden-ivory warm color.

African Mahogany: This wood is tan-brown, reddish-brown, or pinkish in color. Its grain is distinctive, often being ribbon-striped, when it is straight, although it can also be quite plain, or in broken stripes.

North American Walnut: This is available in color ranging from purplish brown to a rich, deep brown. The wood is open-pored and is quite hard. It is used for making a variety of furniture pieces.

Brazilian Rosewood: This comes in a number of shades, from dark brown, to chocolate brown, to purplish on a background that is reddish. It has black pigmentation lines or eye-catching dark brown streaks.

White Ash: The wood from the heart of the tree ranges in color from light brown to cream, whereas the sapwood is lighter in color. Its grain is moderately open and straight. It is a strong, elastic, and hard wood and therefore is used for making sports equipment like baseball bats, hockey sticks, tennis racquets, and polo mallets. The wood is fairly light and is flexible.

English Brown Oak: This is a form of the European Oak, and a fungus infection during its growth causes the color of the wood to turn a beautiful, rich honey brown. There may be some sap type of streaks where the fungus does not affect the wood.

Lacewood: This is widely grown in Australia, and is a fairly soft wood, with a grain structure that is unusual, appearing like hammered copper. It makes lovely veneered tabletops.

Granadillo: This is found in Southern Mexico and has a tan coloring with dark brown streaks. This beautiful wood is close grained hard wood, and is selectively harvested to use it in a sustainable manner. It is used to make a variety of furniture.