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Boxwood
Boxwood Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
While the term "boxwood" has become quite convoluted over time, this species, Buxus macowanii, is considered a close cousin to 'the original boxwood.' (Buxus sempervirens). It's pale, creamy yellowish hues make it popular with wood turners and especially carvers, as Boxwood is renowned for its capacity to hold crisp, fine details and it has a smooth, very fine texture.Trees rarely make it much passed 20 feet in height and trunk diameters max out at only 6 inches in diameter. Not surprisingly, this limits its supply to primarily small, craft-sized pieces. The very small logs (if you can even call them that) it produces are often cracked, due to its tough, dense nature. Beware of other species, similar in color and density, being sold as boxwood.The Boxwood that we carry has been carefully air dried over many years and originates from South Africa.
carving, chess pieces, handles, musical Instruments, specialty items, turnings
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Boxwood - Castello
Boxwood - Castello Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Closely related to the more well-known (in the US) Lemonwood, with both being members of the "Calycophyllum" genus, this unique South American wood is generally in short supply through US channels. Although it is not a true boxwood (of the "Buxus" genus), Castello Boxwood has a very similar pale yellow to light brown color palette and has proven popular in the domestic craft wood market, as it turns, glues and finishes well.It has fair working properties; its grains are generally straight (although sometimes slightly interlocked). It has a fine, smooth texture, and is regarded as moderately durable.Castello Boxwood is not an easy species to source in the US. It is slow-drying wood, and often sells in a green or partially-green state. It is a tough wood; its small, tightly-grouped pores can make boards somewhat resistant to being cut, despite its generally cooperative working characteristics. Trees do not grow to be large at all, so supplies are limited, and prices are generally reflective of this.
bows, carving, inlay, turnings
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Bubinga
Bubinga Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
As most of you already know, this is an extremely popular African import. Found across equatorial Africa, there are multiple species of the Guibourtia genus that are known as Bubinga, so colors and aesthetics can vary dramatically. A variety of different, quite stunning figures often decorate its grains (pommelle, waterfall, mottled and wildly flamed). The base color of Bubinga can range from a lighter pinkish red to light- to medium-brown. Trees can grow to towering proportions, so the larger specimens are often cut into large, live-edge slabs.Bubinga is well known for its use as a Rosewood substitute. Ironically, the more strikingly figured examples of Bubinga with pommelle or waterfall figuring can fetch prices greatly eclipsing typical rosewood price thresholds. This wood has become hugely popular and is constantly in demand with veneer mills & furniture craftsmen who love building desks and conference tables with the often stunning, huge slabs and progressive guitar luthiers.Its nickname, "African Rosewood," can be very misleading, as the wood is not of the Dalbergia species, and not all wood sold as "African Rosewood" is Bubinga (or is even of the Guibourtia species).
cabinetry, fine furniture, inlay, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Afrormosia
Afrormosia Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Native to West Africa, Afrormosia is a handsome, rot and bug resistant, extremely durable wood has been used as a substitute for Teak (Tectona grandis), thus earning its nickname, "African Teak". While having a similar look, it also has working and mechanical properties that mimic Teak, whilst having none of its oiliness. (Afrormosia has a well-established track record for holding up in the most extreme conditions, proving the comparisons well justified.) Its heartwood color can be a muted tan, muted gold or any of a series of light- to medium-colored browns (from very muted to slightly, in hue), highlight by darker stripes, of varying degrees and coloration, which can run the length of its typically straight or wavy (though sometimes interlocked). Despite its similar "fuzzy" appearance (to that of Teak), it is fine grained, presenting a superb natural luster when sanded. Over time, the wood will darken, rendering an appearance often more like that of Black Walnut than of Teak. Despite being considerably harder than Teak, Afrormosia is generally very workable, offering crisp joints and it turns, glues and finishes very well.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, turnings, veneer
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Andiroba
Andiroba Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Andiroba is used as both a Mahogany substitute and a general utility carpentry wood throughout its indigenous regions that are scattered across Central & South America. It is widely used for furniture and flooring in it's native geographical areas. Andiroba is generally easy to work, and the species turns, glues and finishes well. This pale reddish-brown colored lumber is a durable wood -- similar to Honduran Mahogany, in that regard. Aesthetically, its typically more on the bland side (compared to a Mahogany), although more desirable examples of the species can be quite highly-figured.Grains are typically straight, although they can be wavy or interlocked, and the wood is fine textured and has a good natural luster.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, turnings, veneer
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Ash - American
Ash - American Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Along with Hickory and Oak, Ash is one of the most commonly used utility woods in the US and is native to Eastern and  Central North America. It's toughness and excellent shock resistance, makes it a popular choice for tool handles, baseball bats, furniture and flooring Grains are typically straight, and its coarse texture has drawn comparisons to that of Oak. Combined with its modest price, White Ash's easy working properties, generally light overall color and good gluing and finishing characteristics make it a popular wood for a variety of practical and utility applications.
boxmaking, flooring, turnings
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Beech - American
Beech - American Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Both American Beech and its European counterpart are known for their pale cream coloration, which is often augmented by a pink or light- to medium-colored muted reddish-brown hue. Its medium texture and typically straight grains and sometimes wavy, give it excellent working properties. American Beech cuts, turns, glues and finishes very well and has a moderate natural luster.Flat-sawn pieces usually have very plain-looking aesthetics; the bulk of which is used for utility purposes. Conversely, quartersawn pieces typically exhibit a silvery fleck pattern -- which lends the wood well to furniture and musical instrument applications, with more exquisite examples often finding their way to veneer mills.
flooring, furniture, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Beech - European
Beech - European Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Like American Beech, this wood features pale cream coloration, also often augmented by a pink or muted light reddish-brown hue. It's large supply across the continent and typically modest price range makes it one of the most popular and commercially important hardwoods in Europe. Its straight grains and medium texture give comparable working and steam-bending properties to its American first cousin and it machines, turns, glues and finishes with ease.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, musical Instruments, turnings, veneer
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Berlinia
Berlinia Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Known in the US, primarily as either "Ebiara" or, its nickname, "Red Zebrawood," Berlinia's heartwood can range anywhere from a pale yellow to a (more typical) muted reddish-brown. Darker colored stripes in patterns (which can be symmetrical or irregular) are how the comparisons to Zebrano are drawn, although they are related: each of their respective genera are part of the Detarieae tribe, in the subfamily, Caesalpinioideae.Grains are general straight or interlocked. Although its texture is medium to coarse, it has a high degree of natural luster and can display figure and chatoyance. It works well -- cutting, turning, gluing and finishing smoothly -- although tear-out with interlocked grains is not uncommon.
cabinetry, furniture, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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