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| Red Oak Most available cuts Plain Sliced Rift Cut QuarterSawn Red Oak is certainly the most common wood species used in this area currently. It is a medium hard wood with fairly uniform grain lines. One of the reasons it is used so extensively is because it takes basically any stain color very evenly without any preconditioning or excessive sanding. Red Oak is also readily available and is inexpensive. Below are some pictures that are a fair representation of the appearance of Red Oak. Click on the images below to see a larger view |
| White Oak Most available cuts Plain Sliced Rift Cut QuarterSawn White Oak, though certainly not as common as Red Oak, has many of the same properties. It is considerably harder then Red Oak, but takes most stains just as evenly and easily. However, it seems for the most part a clear finish is usually applied to White Oak. It is chosen for its pleasing natural colors and grain lines, QuarterSawn White Oak is the most popular. Availability is good, price wise a project in White Oak is a small percentage above that of Red oak. Below are some pictures that are a fair representation of the appearance of White Oak. Click on the images below to see a larger view |
| Knotty Pine Most available cuts Plain sliced Knotty Pine is a very common wood found at almost any lumber yard or home improvement company. Although there are many different grades the majority have the same appearance. Knotty Pine can be a beautiful addition to any home, however it is a very soft wood and that must be taken into consideration. If you are looking to stain any of the Pine species it can be a tricky process of finding the right color stain. Many stain colors tend to come out very blotchy, preconditioning certainly does help the wood take stain, but it also hides a lot of the grain markings that give pine its beauty. Below are some pictures that are a fair representation of the appearance of Knotty Pine. Click on the images below to see a larger view |
| Fir Most Available Cuts Plain Sliced Vertical grain Fir is about as common as Red Oak, as well as about the same hardness level. It has a very uniform straight grain pattern when you have it cut vertically. It has all the same properties as knotty pine as far as taking stain. It can also be a very beautiful addition to any home that is looking for something a bit different from the norm. Below are some pictures that are a fair representation of the appearance of Fir. Click on the images below to see a larger view |
| More Wood Species To Come |
| ALDER Most available cuts Plain Sliced Alder is becoming more and more popular, it is a very beautiful wood with a very nice grain pattern. It has very much the same look as cherry, however it has a much lower cost. Alder is a softer wood so keep that in mind. I would put it in the middle between red oak and knotty pine for hardness. When it comes to picking a stain to use alder can be trial and error. I would suggest trying a few different stains on large pieces to get the full effect, and don't be afraid of using a preconditioner with this wood. It will even out the color quite a bit with the darker stains Below are some pictures that are a fair representation of the appearance of Red Oak. Click on the images below to see a larger view |
| CHERRY Most available cuts Plain Sliced Cherry is of course a classic choice, and is certainly an exceptionally beautiful wood. It is also quite durable, and only gains beauty and richness with age. Natural finish or stained cherry will add a touch of elegance to any project. Below are some pictures that are a fair representation of the appearance of Red Oak. Click on the images below to see a larger view |
Plain Sliced
Plain Sliced
Plain Sliced
Rift Cut
Quarter Sawn
Plain Sliced
Plain Sliced
Rift Cut
Quarter Sawn