Hardwood Species

WHITE OAK – Quercus alba

White Oak, renowned for its exceptional strength and weight, showcases heartwood ranging from light to dark brown, complemented by sapwood in shades of white to very light brown.

Northern White Oak boasts a uniform coloration, fine texture, and minimal sapwood presence.

This versatile wood is utilized in a variety of applications, including timber bridges, barrels, kegs, casks, flooring, caskets, doors, and paneling.

WALNUT – Juglans nigra

Walnut boasts a straight grain that lends itself well to both hand and machine tools. Its hues span from light brown to dark heartwood, with sapwood presenting a nearly white appearance.

Before kiln drying, Walnut undergoes steaming to seamlessly blend its heartwood and sapwood. Recognized for its weight, hardness, and stiffness, Walnut follows unique NHLA grading rules that account for natural defects.

This adaptable wood finds widespread use in veneer, furniture, fixtures, cabinets, interior paneling, and flooring.

SOFT MAPLE – Acer rubrum

Soft Maple shares similarities with Hard Maple but lacks the same level of weight, hardness, and strength. In Michigan, Red Leaf Soft Maple predominates. Its sapwood, which is white with fewer flecks compared to trees from other regions, distinguishes it. While Soft Maple can have wider dimensions than Hard Maple, it typically maintains a relatively straight grain, although “curly” patterns are more common. The heartwood of Soft Maple trees is generally larger, with a lighter color compared to Hard Maple.

Soft Maple finds extensive use in furniture, including upholstered furniture frames. Often serving as a cost-effective alternative to Hard Maple, Soft Maple is also utilized in cabinets, moldings, and various other applications. It is frequently stained to achieve a similar appearance to Cherry wood.

RED OAK – Quercus rubra

Red Oak heartwood ranges from light wheat to dark reddish-brown, while the sapwood appears white to very light brown.

Northern Red Oak is in high demand for its consistent light color and minimal dark mineral streaks. Oak possesses a coarse texture, and Red Oak, known for its weight, hardness, stiffness, and strength, typically exhibits straight grain. Due to its slower growth, Northern Red Oak often showcases a tighter grain pattern.

Commonly utilized in furniture, moldings, flooring, cabinets, trailer beds, and veneer, Red Oak is a versatile wood prized for its durability and aesthetic appeal.

HICKORY – Carya spp.

Hickory is renowned for its exceptional strength and resistance to shock. Both its white sapwood and heartwood transition from pale to reddish-brown hues.

Bird pecks, small blemishes in the grain pattern that may contain ingrown bark, are prevalent throughout Hickory but are typically not regarded as defects. This versatile wood is commonly used in a wide array of applications, including tool handles, baseball bats, skis, archery equipment, flooring, cabinets, furniture, dowels, drumsticks, and paneling.

HARD MAPLE – Acer saccharum

Due to the recent surge in demand for lighter wood tones, the production of Hard Maple has experienced significant growth over the past decade. Maple sapwood boasts a pristine white coloration. In Michigan-produced maple, the presence of brown heartwood is minimal, sometimes even negligible. Hard Maple exhibits a fine, uniform texture and is renowned for its excellent turning capabilities. It is characterized by its weight, strength, hardness, stiffness, and resistance to abrasion and shock. While Maple typically displays straight grain, variations such as “bird’s-eye,” “curly,” and “fiddleback” are also observed. Hard Maple is widely sought after as a veneer and is commonly used in flooring, cabinets, furniture, moldings, bowling alleys, cutting blocks, handles, and woodenware.

CHERRY – Prunus serotina

While cherry heartwood boasts a rich reddish-brown hue, its sapwood exhibits a vibrant yellow tone. Over time and with exposure to sunlight, the heartwood deepens in color. Cherry wood, characterized by its medium density, offers firmness and strength along with a fine, uniform texture. Typically, the grain appears straight, adding to its timeless appeal.