|
Some Information about Wood
MAPLE The American species of maple is divided into two groups: hard maple, which includes sugar and black
maple; and soft maple, which includes red and silver maple.
Maple's scientific name is derived from the Latin word for hard. Its wood was used for making spears.
Sugar maple is the state tree of Wisconsin,
Vermont, New York, and West Virginia; for Rhode Island, it's red maple.
Early American settlers used maple ashes to make soap. Until the turn of the century, the heels of women's shoes were made from maple, as were
airplane propellers in the 1920s.
Maple has been a favorite of American furniture makers since early colonial days. Hard maple is the standard wood for cutting boards because it imparts no taste to food and holds up
well. Color: Cream to light reddish brown.
Pattern:
Usually straight-grained and sometimes found with highly figured bird's-eye or burl grain. Bird's-eye resembles small circular or elliptical figures. Clusters of round curls are known as burl.
Characteristics:
Heavy, hard, strong, tough, stiff, close-grained, and possesses a uniform texture. Maple has excellent resistance to abrasion, indentation, and shock.
Uses:
Furniture, cabinets, decorative woodwork, flooring, cutting surfaces, musical instruments, bowling pins, utensils, and bowls. Its characteristics make it ideal for ballroom and gymnasium floors, as well as cutting boards and countertops.
Finishing:
Takes stain satisfactorily and polishes well. Maple is suitable for enamel finishes and brown tones.
Relative abundance: 7.7 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available. OAK
The oaks -- red and white -- are the most abundant hardwood species found in the United States. The Latin name for oak, Queurcus, means a
fine tree. White oak is impervious to liquids, and has been used extensively for ship timbers, barrels, and casks.
It would be difficult to name a wood with a longer and more illustrious history in furnishings and
interior design. Oak was a favorite of early English craftsmen and a prized material for American colonists. It's commonly associated with Mission, country, and contemporary styles. Color: White oak -- light brown with a gray tinge. Red oak -- slightly redder than white oak.
Pattern: Quartersawn -- striking flake pattern that reflects light. Plainsawn
-- attractive figure of stripes and leafy grain. Riftsawn -- fine pinstripe pattern.
Characteristics: Heavy, very strong and hard, stiff, durable under exposure, great wear-resistance, and holds nails and screws well.
Uses: Flooring, furniture, cabinets, ships, and decorative woodwork.
Finishing: Oak can be stained with a range of finish tones.
Relative abundance: Red oak -- 3.6 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available.
White oak -- 15.1 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available. WALNUT American black walnut, the aristocrat of cabinet woods, is one of the most respected North American fine hardwoods. Its reputation dates back to the 16th
century.
Walnut mixes well with other woods and natural materials to provide a friendly atmosphere in otherwise austere interiors. The wood develops a rich patina that grows more lustrous with age. Color: Light gray-brown to dark purplish-brown.
Pattern: Plain to highly figured. This species produces a greater variety of figure types than any other.
Characteristics: Moderately heavy, very strong, and exceptionally stable.
Uses:
Furniture, cabinets, doors, flooring, architectural woodwork, gun stocks, and novelties.
Finishing: Walnut takes and holds paints and stains exceptionally well, and is readily polished.
Relative abundance: 1.9 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available. CHERRY Like all fruit trees, cherry belongs to the rose family and was used as early
as 400 B.C. by the Greeks and Romans for furniture making.
The cherry tree provided American colonists with fruit, medicine, and wood for home furnishings. The bark was used as a drug to treat bronchitis, and cherry
stalks were used to make tonics.
Cherry helped define American traditional design because colonial cabinetmakers recognized its superior woodworking qualities. Today, cherry helps express Shaker, Mission, and country
styling. Color:
Light reddish-brown. Cherry darkens considerably with age and exposure to sunlight.
Pattern: Straight-grained and satiny. Small gum pockets produce distinctive markings.
Characteristics:
Light, strong, stiff, and rather hard. Cherry grain is more subdued than some other hardwood species.
Uses: Fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and decorative woodwork.
Finishing: Cherry is unsurpassed in its finishing qualities -- its uniform texture takes a finish very well.
Relative abundance:
3.9 percent of total U.S. hardwoods that are commercially available. |
