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| | | | | | The Woodscribe is an e-mail newsletter that profiles people who love to work with wood. Click here to subscribe. | | | | | |
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|  Inexpensive woods like pine are great for some projects, but others require stronger woods like oak. Learn what type of wood is best for your project. |
| What wood is right for your project? We've listed common uses for the most popular woods.
| Wood |
Uses |
| Ash (White) |
Baseball bats, tennis rackets, pool cues, canoe paddles, tool handles and furniture. Also used for veneers and boat building.
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| Ash (Black) |
Joinery, internal cabinetry,
baskets, plywood and veneers. |
| Baku |
Furniture, cabinetry and turning. Used often for veneers. Also used often for marine plywood and boat building. |
| Balsa |
Life rafts, theater props, model making, toys, and any other
situation where a very lightweight wood is desired. |
| Basswood |
Turning, wood carving, boxes, crates and toys. |
| Birch |
Plywood, furniture, cabinets, toys and veneers. |
| Butternut |
Church altars, boat trim and veneers. The nut is used to make a
sweet syrup. |
Cedar
(Alaskan Yellow) | Boat building, furniture and veneers. |
| Cedar (Aromatic) |
Carvings and closet linings. |
| Cedar (Spanish) |
Cigar humidors (boxes), furniture, boat building and
musical instruments. |
Cedar
(Western Red) | Decks, doors, patio furniture, boat building (wood strip canoes) and exterior millwork. |
| Cherry (Black) |
Furniture, cabinetry and turnings. |
| Chestnut (American) |
Furniture, poles and paneling. |
| Cyprus (Bald) |
Docks, bridges, boats, posts and indoor and outdoor furniture. |
| Douglas-Fir |
Trimming, veneers and joinery. |
| Ebony |
Veneers, inlay, pool cues and turnings. |
| Elm (White) |
Furniture, boat building and veneers. |
| Hickory |
Cabinetry, tool handles and sports equipment. |
| Holly |
Inlays, decorative veneers and musical instruments. |
| Kingwood |
Turnings, veneers, inlays and marquetry. |
| Lacewood |
Veneers, decorative boxes and ornaments, plywood and
turning. |
| Mahogany (African) |
Furniture, boat building, veneers, joinery and plywood. |
| Mahogany (Honduras ) |
Fine furniture, cabinet making, plywood, turning, boat
building and outdoor furniture. |
Makore
(African Cherry) | Furniture,
cabinetry and turning. Used often as a veneer. Also used often in marine
plywood and boat building. |
| Maple (Hard) |
Floors, bowling alleys, turnings, furniture, cabinets,
musical instruments, veneers, cutting boards, counter tops etc. |
| Oak (European) |
Trees stained by the "beef-steak" fungus are often converted
into highly figured veneers. |
| Oak (Red) |
Furniture, cabinets, veneers and flooring. |
| Oak (White) |
Fine furniture, whiskey barrels, boat building and
cabinetmaking. |
| Olivewood |
Small turnings, carvings and inlay work. |
| Pecan |
Cabinets, furniture, drumbsticks, turning and veneers. |
| Pine Ponderosa |
Furniture, trim, turnings and veneers. |
| Pine (Southern Yellow) |
Construction, furniture, plywood and veneers. |
| Pine (White) |
Furniture, moldings, plywood, boat
building, carpentry and veneers. |
| Poplar (Yellow) |
Joinery, cabinetry, musical instruments, furniture and plywood. |
| Purpleheart |
Veneers, turnings, furniture, tool handles, etc. |
| Redwood (California) |
Decks, furniture, fences, exterior trim, posts and light posts. |
| Rosewood (Honduras) |
Musical instruments, pen turning and fine veneers. |
| Rosewood (Indonesian) |
Furniture, cabinetry, veneer, musical instruments and
turnings. |
| Walnut (Black) |
Fine furniture, carving, gunstocks and plywood. |
| Zebrawood |
Turnings, veneers, furniture, tool handles and pens. |
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