Which Timber To Use
Below is a list of woods suitable for turning, some are more prone to movement and some are more expensive. Please phone for more advice.
Ash
Pale with pronounced grain.very resilient.
Car frames, tool handles.
Cedar (Lebanon)
Pale, strong grain pattern, lightweight, aromatic. Wardrobes,blanket boxes
English Oak
Strong grain pattern toffee colour. Very durable ,weatherproofs.
Jarrah
Rich dark red. Very heavy and durable. Exterior use and bowls.
Apple
Pale toffee colour tight grain. Small ornate items/cupboard handles.
Beech
White/cream.very plain medium hard. Kitchen utensils/toys.
Elm
Very strong grain pattern toffee colour. Chair seats and bowls.
Jelutong
Pale cream colour. Very little grain. Model making and carving.
American Oak
Scandinavian
Pine
Similar to English oak. Heavy durable. Furniture and exterior use.
Pale pronounced grain. Furniture staircases
Rosewood
Sapele
Very dark stripy. Hard and dense. Small ornate items
Hard mahogany species. Commonly used as veneer furniture etc
Wenge
Utile
Dark brown/black Hard brittle. Mainly used for flooring
Inexpensive Mahogany species. Open grained. Exterior use
Bubinga
Dark red stripy grain.
Dense heavy does not polish easily.
Poplar (tulip)
Cherry
Pinkish toffee colour. Tight grain. furniture.
Ebony
Black or dark striped. Small ornate objects chess pieces
Boxwood
Pale lemon colour very tight grain and heavy. Small ornate objects, chess sets tool handles
Lemon wood
Slightly lighter alternative
to boxwood
Maple
Very pale. Subtle grain. Very hard furniture
Lignum Vitae
Densest wood. Sinks in water! Very dark Previously used to make ships propshaft bearings
Southern Pine
Pale pronounced grain. Furniture staircases
Poplar (tulip)
Pale cream/green/black streaks Furniture and items for painting
American
Walnut
Dark purple/brown. Hard furniture etc.
Sycamore
(fiddleback)
White hardwood sometimes found with a ripple in the grain, used for instruments
Yew
Satin
Pale yellow. Very hard. Used for veneer and small ornate pieces
Pale cream/deep orange. Hard. Furniture and small items
