Joinery and Cabinet Timbers
Click the name for details

American Ash
European Ash
European Beech
Cedar of Lebanon
American Black Cherry
European Cherry
European Sweet Chestnut
American Red Elm
Iroko
European Larch
Siberian Larch
European Lime
American Hard Maple
American White Oak
European/Native Oak
European Pear
Sapele
European Sycamore
American Tulipwood
Utile
American Black Walnut
European Walnut

American Ash ( Fraxinus americana, F. pennsylvanica)

American Ash is often prefixed with Tough, soft etc. This is indicative of the species and area of production. We stock Tough White Ash sourced from the North Appalachian area. Do not be misled by the word "white" the colour is best described as light brown.

Average weight at 12% MC = 660Kg/m2

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European Ash ( Fraxinus excelsior) (Limited range of stock available)

Our production in this timber is almost entirely "Native" . We saw younger trees with a higher % of sapwood for a whiter production. Native Ash is lighter in colour than it's American cousin; vessel size is also smaller giving a smoother appearance.

Average weight at 12% MC = 690Kg/m2

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European Beech ( Fagus sylvatica )

Our stocks are sourced from Denmark and Germany and are of side board quality. Special attention is paid to grading to ensure evenness of colour and a minimum of stick marks. Existing customers will know that we have changed our thinking on Beech. The stock is more expensive than "Native Beech" but this is compensated by the superior quality. We offer both Steamed and White Beech

Average weight at 12% MC = 670Kg/m2

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Cedar of Lebanon ( cedrus libani )

This is a true cedar and not to be confused with Western Red which only resembles it. The heartwood of this species is strongly scented and somewhat resinous, it is of a light brown colour, usually distinct from the paler sapwood. Annual rings are clearly marked by the contrast between springwood and the dense summerwood zones.

Average weight at 12% MC = 560Kg/m2

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American Black Cherry ( Prunus seotina )

Do not be confused by the word "Black" in the title of this timber. This is a fine even grained wood similar in nature to "European Cherry". American Cherry tends to be more red in colour as against golden brown for "European" stock. Please note we stock this product both as lumber ( square edged ) and as log sawn.

Average weight at 12% MC = 500Kg/m2

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European Cherry ( Prunus avium ) (Limited range of stock available)

The shortage of British log has meant that we have had to look to the near continent for stocks of this timber. The price of this stock means that it is now included on our exotics list. European Cherry will always be prized for fine cabinet work because of its fine texture and colour.

Average weight at 12% MC = 600Kg/m2

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European Sweet Chestnut ( Castanea sativa ) (Limited range of stock available)

Chestnut was often referred to as "poor mans Oak" but due to export demand for logs prices have risen in recent years. Chestnut does have it's own character and is being used as itself rather than being disguised as other things. Our stocks are mostly " Native " with some substitution from France.

Average weight at 12% MC = 540Kg/m2

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American Red Elm ( Ulmus rubra )

Sourced as a replacement for European Elm, Red Elm has a reddish brown to dark brown heartwood with a narrow sapwood band of greyish white - light brown colour. 'Green streak' can also be present within Red Elm, giving it the appearence of Wych Elm.

Average weight at 12% MC = 593Kg/m2

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Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa, C. regia)

Very durable African hardwood. May be distinguished from Teak by its somewhat coarser texture, and the lack of characteristic smell and greasy feel when dry.

Average weight at 12% MC = 640Kg/m2

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European Larch ( Larix decidua, L. europea )

Larch is the only deciduous softwood species. Larch is a valuable home grown softwood; when well grown it is straight grained and free of knots; the resinous heartwood is pale reddish-brown to brick-red in colour, sharply differentiated from the narrow light-coloured sapwood. Annual rings are clearly marked. Larch is one of the heavier softwood timbers. We offer this material kilned by ourselves.

Average weight at 12% MC = 590Kg/m2

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Siberian Larch ( Larix siberica ) (Sorry! stock no longer available)

Siberian Larch has a beautiful warm grain and colour ranges from light yellow to orange and golden brown in the heartwood. It grows very slowly, upto 20 growth rings to the inch is normal. Extremely dense and hard, the natural durability of the timber makes it a well-priced substitute for Western Red Cedar.

Average weight at 12% MC = 700-800 Kg/m2

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European Lime ( Tilia spp. principally T. vulgaris )

This is a classic pattern making wood which takes well to staining.

Average weight at 12% MC = 540Kg/m2

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American Hard Maple ( Acer saccharum, A. nigrum )

Sourced from the Northern Appalachians this light coloured timber is popular for kitchens and cabinet work. The price for Hard Maple increased in 1997 and many importers substituted stock with Soft Maple, we feel this is an inferior product and will continue to stock only Hard Maple from northern shippers.

Average weight at 12% MC = 720Kg/m2.

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American White Oak ( Quercus spp )

Due to its broader rays this American Oak is more similar to European Oak than American Red Oak. White Oaks cover a large geographic area and comprise of a group of up to seven species. Structure and quality vary widely according to conditions of growth. Oak from the northern Appalachian area is usually slow grown producing a comparatively lightweight, mild type of wood. Oak from the southern States is typically fast grown with correspondingly wide growth rings, producing a harder and tougher timber. Apart from "wide stock" all our White Oak is from the northern Appalachians and emphasis is placed on drawing stock from a relatively small area.

Average weight at 12% MC = 750Kg/m2

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European/Native Oak ( Quercus robur, Q. pedunculata, Q. patraea, Q. sessilflora )

Hybrids are common in European Oaks and it is almost impossible to distinguish between samples of native and say French Oak. However there are subtle differences between stocks caused by soil types, grading , etc. Broadly speaking French Oak is forest grown and tends to be larger, straighter grained and more even in colour than native stock. For interest and features Native Oak is recommended.

Average weight at 12% MC = 720Kg/m2 (native) / 670Kg/m2 (central Europe)

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European Pear ( Pyrus communis ) (Very limited range of stock available)

Typically pinkish - brown in colour this timber is straight grained with a fine even texture. This is a small tree and the timber has a tendency to distort so it is best not used in large sections.

Average weight at 12% MC = 700Kg/m2

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Sapele ( Entandrophragma cylindricum )

A 'mahogany' look-a-like, dark red hardwood from West Africa. Suitable for interior and exterior joinery.

Average weight at 12% MC = 620Kg/m2

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European Sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus ) (Limited range of stock available)

Sawn in the winter months when the sap is down Sycamore is perhaps the most lightly coloured of all native hardwoods. Until recently this timber has been modestly priced but the vogue for white furniture has pushed log prices upwards as more Sycamore is exported for veneer.

Average weight at 12% MC = 610Kg/m2

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American Tulipwood ( Liriodendron tulipifera)

A light yellow colour, sometimes with a slightly greenish cast. This is the "beech" of America and is used wherever a utility hardwood is called for. Paints and works well.

Average weight at 12% MC = 420Kg/m2

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Utile ( Entandrophragma utile )

A fine grained dark red hardwood from West Africa. This is a very fine timber both for joinery and cabinet work.

Average weight at 12% MC = 660Kg/m2

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American Black Walnut ( Juglans nigra )

A rich dark timber with excellent working and finishing properties. Tends to be straighter grained and more even in colour than European Walnut.

Average weight at 12% MC = 640Kg/m2

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European Walnut ( Juglans regia ) (Limited range of stock available)

A fine figured timber much prized for cabinet work. The colour is more varied than the American stock and the characteristic black lines are more pronounced.

Average weight at 12% MC = 640Kg/m2

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Compiled by Duncan Lees BSc (Hon) Wood Sci, AIWSc

Bibliography.

Handbook of Hardwoods HMSO
Handbook of Softwoods HMSO
Temperate Hardwoods of the USA, American Hardwood Export Council.