Ambrosia Maple	Ambrosia maple is an excellent wood for turning.  It contains multiple streaks of color, produced when the tiny ambrosia beetle (hence the name) bores through the wood, leaving behind fungal deposits which cause the wood to change color.  Ambrosia coloring ranges from moderate to heavy in these pieces, and may occasionally contain intermixed areas of reddish brown and/or green mineral streaking.
American Elm	American elm is typically a yellowish white color, occasionally containing a reddish brown color through heartwood portions of the wood.  This wood is very strong and durable, and takes on stains and finishes very well.
Ash	Ash is a light yellow to off-white colored wood, with occasional streaks of brown.  Visually, its flat sawn appearance is very similar to that of white oak, but with a much finer grain pattern.  The wood dries very easily, with little degrade, and is very stable after drying.  Accepts stains and finishes very well, and is very durable.
Beech	Beech is typically light yellowish brown, with streaks of darker reddish-brown around heartwood portions of the wood.  It has a very fine, even-textured grain that lends itself well to sharp, crisp edges when turned or carved.  For the best results, this wood should be dried more slowly than most other species.
Birch	Birch is usually a light yellowish-brown color, with occasional streaks of reddish-brown near heartwood portions of the wood.  The wood dries very easily, but somewhat slowly compared to other species.  Very light quilting and curly figure show up in many pieces.  Pieces accept finish very well and will take on a high polish.
Black Locust	Black locust is an excellent wood for turning.  It has intermixed streaks of dark yellow and yellowish-brown with occasional reddish hues.  It turns very easily, dries well, and will take on an extremely high polish, as it is very dense and hard.  The wood also fluoresces under a black light.
Black Tupelo	Black tupelo heartwood is a light greyish-green color with streaks of dark brown intermixed.  Sapwood is a light yellowish-white color,  normally covering approximately half of each piece.  It turns readily, dries with moderate ease, and accepts finishes well.  Very popular amongst carvers and dough-bowl makers.
Black Walnut	Black walnut is a dark brown to purplish-black color, much sought after for its appearance.  It turns easily and is one of our best selling woods.  Dries somewhat slowly, but with little degrade.  Sands well and will take on a high polish.
Bradford Pear	Bradford pear is a light orange color, with occasional pinkish colored streaks.  It is an extremely hard and dense wood, but turns very easily.  It sands well and will take on a very high polish.  Usually available in very limited quantities, as the tree is an ornamental found most often in urban landscapes.
Cherry	Cherry is a light reddish-pink color, with streaks of reddish-brown, black, and occasionally light grey.  It is one of our best selling woods, and is extremely popular amongst turners of all experience levels.  It turns wonderfully, smells fantastic, and will give a beautiful finished product.  Dries easily, sands well, and takes on a high polish.
Chinaberry	Chinaberry is a reddish-brown colored wood, with streaks of brown, light yellow and black running throughout the heartwood.  It turns well and dries with little degrade.  Usually available in VERY limited quantities, as it is an ornamental tree and is not commercially grown or sawn.
Cottonwood	Cottonwood is a light yellowish-white color, occasionally containing streaks of brown or black.  It is very fine-grained and turns well when green.  The wood dries with little degrade and is a popular choice amongst carvers and dough bowl makers.
Eastern Red Cedar	Eastern red cedar is a dark pinkish-red color, with bright yellowish-white sapwood.  Streaks of yellow and white often run through the dark colored heartwood as well.  Knots are common, as are small bark inclusions.  The wood is aromatic, and very resistant to insect intrusion.  Turns very well, sands easily, and takes on a medium-high polish.
Hackberry	Hackberry is very closely related to the elm family.  It is a light yellowish-white color, with occasional streaks of black.  The wood is very flexible, strong and durable, and turns easily when green.  The wood dries fairly easily and is quite stable once dried.  Sands easily and takes on a medium-high polish.
Hickory	Hickory can display a wide array of colors.  Some pieces contain a light yellowish-brown color, while others have dark reddish-brown streaks.  Most often the wood will contain both colors.  The wood is typically prone to insect attack, containing small (less than 1/16") holes, and larger (approx. 1/8") holes in many pieces.  The wood is a popular seller amongst turners who want wood with a rustic appeal.  Some care must be taken in drying, but the end result is well worth the extra effort.
Holly	Holly is a bright white color.  The wood is most often used in inlays and segmented turnings, as the wood is not readily available in large sizes, as the tree the wood comes from is usually not very large.  The wood is very tight-grained and turns wonderfully.  Sands very well and takes on a high polish.  Available only a few times every few years and in very limited supply.
Magnolia	Magnolia is a bright yellowish-white color, with greyish-black annual growth rings.  The wood is tight-grained and turns wonderfully.  Dries with little degrade, sands easily and polishes well.  If you have never tried magnolia, then we highly suggest that you do!  It is possibly one of the most underrated woods that we carry (in our humble opinion!)
Maple	Maple is a light yellowish-white color.  It is frequently found containing  ambrosia lines (see ambrosia maple, above) and streaks of colored spalting.  The wood turns well when green, and becomes hard and durable once dried.  Sands very well and takes on a high polish.
Mulberry	Mulberry is a bright yellow color, with occasional streaks of yellowish-orange.  The wood is tight-grained and dense, and turns wonderfully.  Dries with little degrade.  Sands well and polishes very well.  Great wood that is available in limited quantities.  Another underrated wood in our opinion.
Pecan	Pecan can display a wide array of colors.  Some pieces contain a light yellowish-brown color, while others have dark reddish-brown streaks.  Most often the wood will contain both colors.  The wood is typically prone to insect attack, containing small (less than 1/16") holes, and larger (approx. 1/8") holes in many pieces.  The wood is a popular seller amongst turners who want wood with a rustic appeal.  Some care must be taken in drying, but the end result is well worth the extra effort.  Pecan is closely related to hickory, and very similar in appearance to hickory.
Red Gum	Red gum comes from the heartwood portion of the sweet gum tree.  Many trees do not contain any colored heartwood.  Proper growing conditions allow the wood to begin changing colors.  Usually contains mixed streaks of reddish-brown, blue-gray, yellow, and black.  Turns very easily, sands well and takes on a high polish.  Absolutely gorgeous material to work with!
Red Oak	Red oak is a reddish-brown color.  The wood is hard and heavy, but turns easily while green.  Contains nice ray fleck patterns in areas where the growth rings run at a 90 degree angle to the face of the wood.  Some care must be taken while drying.  Sands and finishes well, and will take on a medium high polish.
Sycamore	Sycamore can vary quite a bit in color.  Most pieces are a light yellowish color and contain light reddish-pink areas.  Streaks of reddish-brown also occur frequently.  Often called American lacewood for its striking quartersawn appearance.  Dries very easily, sands well and will take on a high polish.  Sharp tools are a requirement for final turning this wood.
Tulip Poplar	Tulip polar is most often a light yellowish white color, with frequent light green heartwood colors present.  The wood may occasionally exhibit some fine colors due to spalting, and is sold as "purple tulip poplar."  The wood is extremely stable and dries very easily.  Sands very well and sands to a medium high polish.  A very popular choice amongst carvers and dough bowl makers.
White Oak	White oak is a light brown color.  It is hard and heavy, but turns easily while green.  Contains beautiful quartersawn ray flecks.  Very durable and resistant to insect attack.  Works well for any outdoor projects.  Some care must be taken while drying.  Sands and finishes well, and will take on a medium high polish.

For further wood selection tutorials, look below.

To return to the full index of tutorials, click here!

Beginner's Guide to Wood Selection

• Part 1, Green Wood vs. Dried Wood
• Part 2, Wood Choices for the Beginning Green Wood Turner
• Part 3, Wood Choices for the Experienced Green Wood Turner
• Part 4, Complete List of Wood Species with Descriptions