| Types
of Timber Used in Furniture Making |
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At Rutland Woodcraft we pride ourselves on the variety of timbers
we work with and from which your furniture can be made. To help you
decide we have shown here samples of the more popular timbers. All
illustrations are for your guidance only, as the final grain pattern
and colour will vary. A relative pricing factor is included as a guide,
where • = cheapest. |
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American
Black Walnut
Whilst
American Black Walnut is shown here, and is the most commonly used
of the Walnuts, there are also European and African types available.
It is a dark, rich, timber sometimes purplish in colour with visible
growth rings. The grain is of a medium texture and sometimes shows
a wavy characteristic. It stains and polishes with ease finishing
to a fabulous lustre. |
| Price:
••••• |
Applications:
Tables, chests, chairs, wood turning (eg. table legs), decorative
inlay. |
Ash
This is a grey/brown timber lighter than the Oak and with quite visible
growth rings. It is a tough, springy, timber, hence it's use for hammer
handles. It takes a stain readily and finishes well. Both European
and American Ash are available, the European sometimes has streaks
of darker heart wood running through it. |
 |
| Price:
••• |
Applications:
Tables, chests, chairs, wood turning. |
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American
White Oak
This timber is plainer and has less figure and a slightly straighter
grain than the similar European Oak. It's colour tends to vary from
light cream to a darker brown. There is also a less common red species
available. |
| Price:
••••• |
Applications:
Kitchen furniture, tables, bookcases, chairs, |
Beech
Beech is recognised by the unmistakeable flecks in its grain. It is
pale cream to pinkish brown in colour and has a smooth even texture.
It is quite a heavy dense timber which finishes and stains well, available
in white or steamed condition. Steamed Beech is a pinker more even
colour. Growth rings may be less prominant than shown here. |
 |
| Price:
••• |
Applications:
Chairs, tables, kitchen furniture, drawers. |
 |
Cherry
(American)
Cherry is a fine grained pale orange timber which darkens and redens
on exposure to light. It is often used as a substitute for mahogany
and takes a stain well. The Sapwood is a pale cream colour. |
| Price:
••••• |
Applications:
fine cabinetry, woodturning,musical instruments. |
| Elm
Not always as readily available as most of the other timbers here,
but when we can get it is truly a king amongst beautiful timbers.
The colour is usually a dull brown, with the occasional red tinge
and swirls of grain around the knots. At the knots other colours
may also be present, such as a green tint. The texture is very coarse
and the growth rings are pronounced. |
 |
| Price:
•••• |
Applications:
Chests, tables, chairs, bedroom furniture. |
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Burr
Elm
Used primarily as a decorative timber in combination with other
timbers. Visibly it is very impacting and distinctive so we usually
recommend that it used conservatively; every board is unique. Availability
can be limited. |
| Price:
••••• |
Applications:
Table tops, panels, drawer fronts, wood turning. |
European
Oak
This is the number one popular material and is available in several
differnt grades. The standard grade is relatively straight grained
and pale creamy brown in colour. The texture of the grain is coarse
with visible growth rings. |
 |
| Price:
•••• |
Applications:
Tables, chairs, panels, doors, wood turning, drawers, carving. |
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European
Oak Quarter Sawn
This is the same as the popular European Oak, but has been cut from
the tree in a different way to produce the lovely characteristic
figure shown here. This can be used to great decorative effect,
such as table tops or door panels. |
| Price:
••••• |
Applications:
Table tops, door panels, drawer sides. |
European
Oak Character Grade
For projects where a rustic or aged look is required. This oak comes
complete with knots, splits and their attendant swirls of grain.
Otherwise its characteristics are similar to European Oak. |
 |
| Price:
•••• |
Applications:
Cabinets, doors, panels. |
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Mahogany
We use timber from managed plantation forests to reduce the load on
endangered rainforest's. The timber varies in colour from salmon pink
through to a dark red/brown and has beautiful figure due to it's interlocked
grain. The texture is medium and uniform. |
| Price:
••••• |
Applications:
Tables, chairs, cabinets, panels, drawers, carving, wood turning. |
Maple
Maple, along with it's European cousin Sycamore, is one of the palest
timbers available, being a pale cream colour. It has visible growth
rings, a dense hard structure and a fine almost invisible grain. This
makes it a very smooth timber which stains and polishes to a high
finish. Sycamore tends to be whiter and not quite as hard. Both are
often used with darker timbers for a decorative effect. |
 |
| Price:
•••• |
Applications:
Worksurfaces, chairs, doors, wood turning, decorative inlay. |
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MFC
(Melamine Faced Chipboard)
This is used extensively for kitchen carcases as it has an easy wipe
clean surface which is durable. It is available in a range of wood
grain effects and colours. Light Oak is the sample shown here. |
| Price:
•• |
Applications:
Kitchen carcase work. |
MDF
(Medium Density Fibreboard)
This is a manufactured board of low relative cost and is used as
a carcase material or for painted furniture. It is a stable material
but doesn't match the strength of a timber. It's produced from felted
wood fibres bonded under high pressure and displays no grain. Veneered
versions are available; see the Oak Faced MDF below. |
 |
| Price:
• |
Applications:
General carcase work, painted furniture. |
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Oak
Faced MDF
The core material is MDF (as above) that has been veneered on both
sides offering a decorative timber surface that is cost effective
compared to using solid timber. The same finshes can be applied as
per a solid timber. |
| Price:
••• |
Applications:
Bookcases, drawer bottoms, cabinet backs, panels. |
Tulip
Wood With Primer Finish
Also known as Canary White Wood and is often used in combination with
MDF for painted furniture for the more structural parts, such as cabinet
doors and frames. It's not a decorative timber, but its smooth surface
and texture make it ideal for painting. We can supply this material
primed, finish painted or with decorative effects. The sample shown
has a primed finish. |
 |
| Price:
••• |
Applications:
Painted furniture such as bookshelves, cornice work. |
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