Throughout the history of furniture building, craftsmen have been using different wood species to create their designs. In the early days
people where mainly confined to use only the wood readily available to their area. Now, in the modern day, furniture makers have access to wood
products from all over the world. The typical mainstays for North American artisans remain to be species such as cherry, oak, mahogany, maple and
ash. These products are readily available and a highly sustainable resource. On this page you will find many resources to help you in selecting
the wood species that meets your preference. As always, be sure to consult your craftsman to determine availability and price before settling
on a wood selection.
Hardwoods
Hardwoods are the primary type of wood used for furniture making.
Natural hardwoods produce beautiful one of kind pieces that will last for generations. The reason for this longevity is they are
extremely durable and can stand up to the modern everyday use of
today's family lifestyles.
Below we have compiled a set of wood samples that can be
used to aid in selecting the type of wood you would like to use in your next project. The list is not all encompassing and we will
continue to add samples as the come available. It is important to note that not all of the samples are readily available in all parts of the
country; in addition, certain species will cost more than others. So always be sure to contact the furniture maker to discuss the options
available.
The folks at
Woodfinder.com have a great wood library if you are interested in learning more about a particular
species of wood. In addition they offer links to suppliers of each
species.
Solid Wood vs. All Wood
It's important to understand what the difference is between "Solid Wood" and "All Wood". Since the beginning of time, man has been
developing ways to improve upon the techniques and products used in furniture making. Many of the mass produced furniture pieces you
see in the furniture stores are made using wood products that would be considered as substandard to a skilled furniture artisan. These
furniture pieces may be marketed at "All Wood" construction in an attempt to convince a shopper that the piece is of high quality when in
fact is just particle board overlaid with wood grain pattern or low quality veneer. The terms "oak, maple, and cherry finish" may simply
refer to the color or the photographic reproduction of the wood's grain – it does not necessarily mean it is the authentic, natural hardwood.
"Solid Wood" furniture on the other hand, is constructed using all wood plank and no particleboard or plywood. Wood pieces
are glued together to make larger panels in solid wood furniture. These boards in these panels would be glued either end to end or edge to
edge and the glue joints would follow all the way through the panel. In addition, you can generally spot solid wood furniture by examining
the joints. Dovetail joints, for example, would indicate solid wood construction.