Thread: Wood Types

That's like asking what's my favourite motorcycle to ride or wine to drink.
I'm not sure about you, but for me, it's about fit for purpose.

but if I had to pick one to stand out,
Alaskan Yellow Cedar - Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
A fine grained blond coloured softwood.
Durability 1
Resistant to Marine Borer.
Carves like butter
Non-splintering.
Imported into OZ in Clears, Structurally rated F7 for Pergola type work and decking.
What else do you want in a piece of wood?
Only downside I can think of is - Watch out where the Huskies go - Don't you eat that yellow snow!!!! Freshly cut - a little pungent.

I like Tallowwood "to work with" not a great looker but the tools love it, hard but has its own lubricant. Tasmanian Black wood is softer and very nice to work with and has a beautiful grain and inner glow. There are also many others depends what you're doing, furniture, carving, turning.

Free wood is good.
I guess i dont have a favourite as it depends what wood is suitable for the job in hand.

European Walnut is by far my favourite. It's not called Juglans regia for nothing! The French for wood is bois, but among French ébénistes (cabinetmakers to you and me) bois distinctly refers to Walnut.

I'm also very partial to English Elm and good quality Mahogany.

In terms of workability these are my top choices.

Coachwood
Elm
PNG Rosewood
Brush Box
Claret Ash, I am fond of the working properties of European Ash
Beech is not bad

my first and for the smell.. nsw rosewood
this is the chair and table i made from rosewood

Originally Posted by selby_osborn

my first and for the smell.. nsw rosewood
this is the chair and table i made from rosewood

As my user name suggests, love the stuff.

Originally Posted by Howdydoodle

Whats your favorite type of wood to work with?

When I'm Milling:
For aroma I like milling Marri, it smells like freshly brewed honey beer or cedurus deodar, sensational incense like aroma
For colour there's nothing that beats some jarrah, pity it never looks like this again;


Woodworking wise I don't have that wide an experience but for grain I like Allocasuarina Fraseriana (sheoak) - it's not as easy as some but the grain i worth it.

BobL, What happens to the colour of Jarrah?
Certainly a speccy looking bit of stuff u have there
Peter

I love the colour of Grevilla Robusta when you finish the cut, lift the slab, and wow! You never quite know the pattern you will see. Beautiful. Have got a mind's eye view of a dining room table I'll make with the first one I slabbed nearly four years ago.