Woods Used at Nashville Woodcraft

Welcome to the world of hardwoods.  Here’s a little bit of information about the types of woods we commonly use at Nashville Woodcraft.  There’s quite a few of them.  And while we have nothing against the use of wood stain, we always figure that if you’re going for a certain color, then why not just use a wood in that color spectrum and showcase it’s natural beauty… For example, if something darker and richer is what fits the vision, then let’s use Walnut.  If you need something in the reddish tone, then perhaps Mahogany. Etc. 

 

We almost exclusively use hardwoods for look and durability purposes, instead of softer woods like cedar, pine and other conifers.  Softer woods tend to be a bit cheaper and can be scratched with say your finger nail.  Soft woods are sourced from trees that are often very young - as they’re commonly used for construction purposes and need to be grown and harvested ASAP to meet this demand. As a result, this is why soft woods often have knots in them, and is one way you can identify a soft wood.

 

Ash

A light colored hardwood that has a very present and beautiful grain pattern. This wood is very hard which makes it very durable.  The somewhat “louder" grain pattern makes it great for home decor pieces that seek to showcase the natural beauty of the wood and grain.

 

Walnut

Likely our favorite wood to use.  It’s a dark hardwood, the colors of which can vary from a light caramel to a coffee color in its natural state.  The grain patterns in this wood are striking and very pronounced.  Everything pops beautifully when a finish like danish oil, lacquer or polyurethane is applied.  

 

Hard Maple

An industry standard for making butcher blocks and other serving type stuff.  It’s very light in color, and the grain patterns are not very loud or pronounced. It’s a hard wood that takes abuse well.  It’s hard enough to be durable and great for kitchen ware, however, not so hard like a bamboo or something which can quickly dull and damage your knives and other cookware. 

 

Tiger

Been on the PGA tour for decades now.  Came in hot at the masters in the early 2000’s.  Enjoys donning one of his many green jackets before driving really fast down some winding California roads.  Wears red on Sundays. 

 

Elijah

Almost won an Oscar in the “master of the terrified facial expressions” category for his work in the Lord of the Rings movies.  Was pretty good at wandering around middle earth in effort to destroy the one ring that ruled them all.  A frustrating character, he almost screwed the whole thing up many times, but we’re glad he pulled through and Sauron is dead.

 

Purple Heart

Super hard wood and very striking purple color to it.  It’s technically more of an exotic wood and doesn’t grow in the continental United States.  We typically use this wood for accents, due to cost, weight, and availability. 

 

Mahogany

Classic rich, reddish brown colored wood.  Also quite hard and durable and can do great for making high end furniture.  

 

Zebra Wood

Another exotic wood, this one sticks true to it’s name sake.  It’s a lighter wood that has very striking black stripes running through it.  It’s a very hard wood, however due to supply, weight and cost, we typically use this one more for inlays and accents.  Nots something you’d likely make a whole table out of.  

 

Cherry

A very pretty hardwood and very common in the United States.  As one might expect, the color is more on the reddish end of the spectrum.  We use this type of wood mostly in charcuterie boards and butcher blocks, as it shares some similar characteristics to hard maple that make it good for cutlery. 

 

Poplar

Light colored wood that can also have some grays, greens and purples in it.  Very common type of wood to use and used frequently in cabinet making.  It takes paint and stain very well.  On the softer side compared to other hardwoods, but still much harder than pine. 

 

Brazilian Rosewood

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful types of wood on the planet.  The grain pattern and color variance is stunning.  Mostly dark coffee color streaks and grain, mixed in with lighter caramel color with even lighter white sections.  It’s extremely hard and extremely dense.  Holding it in your hands feels like you’re holding a brick.  Used for special occasion smaller pieces as it’s pricey, and supply is often limited.