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Quilted Maple, scientifically known as Acer macrophyllum, is a species of maple tree renowned for its distinctive grain pattern resembling ripples or waves, resembling the appearance of quilted fabric. This unique figure is caused by irregularities in the tree's growth, resulting in stunning visual depth and complexity. Highly prized by luthiers and woodworkers, Quilted Maple is often used in the crafting of high-end musical instruments, fine furniture, and decorative veneers, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to any project.Its iridescent figuring and vibrant color variations make it a favorite choice for creating visually captivating pieces that stand out with natural beauty.

boxmaking, cabinetry, furniture, interior panelling, knife handles, lutherie, musical Instruments

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Blackwood - Malaysian

Diospyros ebonasea, commonly known as Malaysian Blackwood or Malaysian Ebony, is a species of tree native to Southeast Asia. It is prized for its dense, dark heartwood, which is highly valued for its use in high-end woodworking, such as in musical instruments, fine furniture, and luxury items. With its distinctive color and durability, Malaysian Blackwood is cherished by artisans and craftsmen worldwide for its exceptional quality and beauty.

boxmaking, cabinetry, crafting, fine furniture, lutherie, musical Instruments, specialty items, turnings

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Box Elder - Flaming

From the same genus as Maple, this species has a similar yellow/light brown base color. Pink/red streaks can provide a wonderful contrast to that base color. It is not very hard or dense, but that softness does make it easy to work with.

This is a recent addition to our species offering and we are delighted to be able to offer it in 4/4 and 8/4.

bandings, boxmaking, crafting, inlay, specialty items, turnings

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Kosso

Gorgeous colors and grain patterns have resulted in the exploitation of this beautiful species for use in production of "Hongmu" furniture. It looks similar in appearance to Kiaat/Muninga, another member of the Pterocarpus genus. We only have a few hundred BF of this endangered species left and don't expect to get any more when it runs out.

boxmaking, cabinetry, inlay, knife handles, specialty items

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Osage Orange - Argentine

This South American species is closely related to the domestic Osage Orange.The lumber it yields is typically a bit cleaner with less defects.It is pretty hard and dense making it tough on tools, but it turns and finishes well.

boxmaking, cabinetry, carving, crafting, inlay, specialty items

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Tamarind - Spalted

Spalted Tamarind comes from South East Asia. The decay/spalting gives the wood awesome spiderweb type patterns that add character and excitement to its appearance. The spalting is most prevalent in the sapwood which is prone to attack from bugs and fungus which cause it.It is moderately difficult to work, but turns and finishes well. Sometimes the rot is more endemic than is obvious from looking at the surface of the lumber result in some wastage (lost pieces).Take care to use good dust collection and a dust mask, as the fungal spores add more to the air than dust alone.

boxmaking, inlay, specialty items, turnings

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Common Uses

Birch - Yellow

Heartwood can vary from pale yellow to a light, muted reddish brown; sapwood is grayish-white. There are many species of Birch, worldwide; it is one of the most popular woods, ironically, for both veneer and utility applications. Figured pieces are the more desirable for veneer, with wide, dramatic curly figuring (similar to Cherry) decorating the surface.

American Birch works easily -- it turns, glues and finishes well -- although most boards have very little natural luster. It's a versatile wood that can be used for a number of different applications, but it needs to be protected, as the wood will decay when exposed to the elements. (... and if left unprotected will rot.)

boxmaking, cabinetry, crafting, flooring, furniture

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Maple - Soft Curly

The term "Soft Maple" is not a reference to any particular maples species, per se, but a segment of the Acer genus known for its lighter weight and density (as well as its propensity for displaying the classic maple "curl" figure). Of these lighter maples, Red Maple has the most weight and density, and is also the most prevalent -- growing in areas scattered all over the Eastern US and up into (Eastern) Canada. As is the paradoxical case with all maples, its beautiful pale white / pale yellow / pale golden sapwood are more coveted than its darker heartwood.Its more heavy, dense nature lends Red Maple to a greater variety of utility applications, versus its less substantial Soft Maple cousins. Its figuring can be quite dramatic; tiger-striped, veined, fiddleback and sometimes even quilt figuring are sometimes present.Our Soft Curly Maple generally varies from light to medium figure.

boxmaking, specialty items, turnings, utility lumber, veneer

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Canarywood

Canarywood grows across South America from Panama to Southern Brazil. Its heartwood can range from pale yellow to pink, orange and dark reddish -brown. Some of the prettiest pieces can have all the color variations in one piece. Other pieces, more consistent in color, tend at times to resemble Cherry.Being both durable and relatively hard, but still fairly easy to work, it gives woodworkers the opportunity to work with a hardwood species from South America that has good color variation, but is still reasonably priced.

bandings, boxmaking, inlay, specialty items, turnings, veneer

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Thuya Burl

Our Thuya Burl comes from Morocco.¬† Reddish brown in color, its figure can vary in density from block to block.¬† It has a distinct odor similar to that of Western Red Cedar.¬† The figure makes the species prone to tear-out.¬† It must be worked carefully with only the sharpest of tools.¬† Highly figured pieces look simply stunning as knife handles or other accent pieces.

boxmaking, inlay, specialty items

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Ash - Swamp

Swamp Ash draws its name not from a particular Fraxinus-genus species, per se, but is a reference to any species of Ash (Fraxinus) whose roots system lies submerged, or partially submerged, in water. It is the softest of all ashes, which makes it the most desirable for electric guitar builders; lightweight and resonant, yet still stable enough for instrument building. Swamp Ash is shock resistant, very easily workable by hand or machine, responds well to steam bending and is easy to sand, glue and stain.

boxmaking, flooring, musical Instruments, turnings

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Yellowwood

Yellowwood is an even-grained, lightweight South African wood that has been used historically for hundreds of years, and a variety of purposes. It was extensively used in railway sleepers, as well as in multiple phases of construction. Its tough, durable nature saw it used as an exterior wood in the region. (It is still very popular throughout Southern Africa for indoor carpentry and floors, as it is also dimensionally stable.) The heartwood is pale yellowish brown, and not easy to distinguish from the sapwood; reddish streaks are sometimes present (in the heart). Grains are typically straight, though occasionally wavy; its texture is fine and consistent, with a nice natural luster.

boxmaking, fine furniture

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Oak - Bog

English Oak that has been salvaged from a peat bog.

As per wood database:

"The¬†extremely low oxygen conditions of the bog protect the wood from normal decay, while the underlying peat provides acidic¬†conditions where iron salts and other minerals react with the tannins in the wood, gradually giving it a distinct¬†dark brown to almost black color."

boxmaking, furniture, knife handles