Wood Quirks

White oak: Generally tan in color with greenish grey hews. Quarter sawn rift showing on the top. With an oil finish grain can raise tremendously when wet. Also potential for peeling and hollow spots within the rift grain. Poly finish will not be completely smooth because of the degree of grain.

Red oak: Similar to white oak but more colorful.

Maple: Light blonde in color; ages to the color of honey in a jar. Tight grain, raises slightly when wet. Has a tendency to have darker mineral streaks or even black spots due to natural mineral deposits. Doesn’t darken much if poly applied.

Cherry: Tight grain though somewhat softer than maple. Light pink if poly finish applied. Deep red if oiled. Slight grain raising when wet. Poly finish can be extremely smooth. Small black pitch pores are normal and on occasion small streaks of sap wood could show in the top.

African Mahogany: Somewhat softer than maple. Very porous and grain can raise coarsely when wet. Colors can vary to an extreme from really light to really dark making for a colorful top. Wavy grain makes for great patterns. Reddish in color. Not an extremely smooth poly finish.

Walnut: Dark chocolate in color if oiled or grays browns and blacks show if poly applied. Slight grain raising when wet. Smooth poly finish. Oil is totally different from poly in color. Softer than maple. Some sap wood may show in top as well as pin hole knots.

Jatoba: Extremely hard and dense. Minor grain raising when wet. Nice smooth finish with a poly. The most stain resistant with an oil finish. Staves can shrink or expand unevenly regardless of the finish.

Teak: Radiant colors when new with oranges, golds, greens, yellows, and blacks. Nearly always clear with exception of small pinhole knots on rare occasions. Colors calm down after several months. Beautiful grain. Extremely oily wood. Not available in a poly finish. Grain can raise when wet. Not as hard as maple. Extremely high end.

Hickory: Very hard. Beautiful color variations from light to dark. Grain can raise when wet. Fairly smooth finish when poly applied. Minor knots may be present.

Afromosia: Fairly high end. Deemed the perfect wood by our shop. Always clear. Beautiful tan and black colors. Good hardness. Smooth finish when poly applied. Minimal grain raising when wet.

Ash: Some harsh grain raising when wet. Pale yellow when poly applied. Golden and grey when oiled. Good hardness.