Kinds of Wood identify

From Cherry to Walnut, learn the special characteristics of different wood types. This handy matrix is a great addition to any wood enthusiast's workshop.

Name	Type	Uses	Weight	Strength	Grain/Texture
Alder, red	hard	inexpensive furniture, brittle millwork, interior trim	light	moderate	indistinct, fine
Ash, black	hard	furniture, veneer	medium	strong	figured, coarse
Beech	hard	furniture, flooring	heavy	strong	uniform, very little figure, fine
Birch	hard	furniture, cabinets plywood, doors, veneer	heavy	strong	uniform, fine
Cherry	hard	furniture, veneer, paneling	heavy	strong	delicate figuring, fine
African Mahogany	hard	furniture, cabinets, veneer	medium	moderate	figured, coarse
American Mahogany	hard	furniture, cabinets, veneer	medium	strong	figured, coarse
Philippine Mahogany	hard	plywood, furniture, cabinets, flooring	heavy	strong	figured, coarse
Maple	hard	flooring, furniture	heavy	strong	delicate, figuring, fine
Oak, red & white	hard	flooring, furniture, millwork	heavy	strong	figured, especially when quarter-sawn, coarse
Pine, knotty	soft	construction	light	weak	straight, fine
Pine, ponderosa	soft	rim, doors	light	weak to moderate	uniform, fine
Pine, white	soft	pallet, trim	light	weak	uneven, fine
Poplar	hard	furniture, cabinets, siding	medium	moderate	delicate figuring, fine
Rosewood, Brazilian & Indian	hard	veneer, furniture	heavy	strong	figured, coarse
Teak	hard	veneer, furniture, flooring	heavy	strong	figured, coarse
Walnut	hard	furniture, cabinets, woodwork	heavy	strong	delicate, uniform, figuring fine