Ash
Beech
Cherry
Red Elm
Gum
Hackberry
Hickory/Pecan
Hard Maple
Soft Maple
Red Oak
White Oak
Sycamore
Tulipwood (Poplar)
Black Walnut
This information was prepared using material from the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) publication, Guide to American Hardwoods Species. Our species include: Ash, Beech, Cherry, Red Elm, Gum, Hackberry, Hickory/Pecan, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Sycamore, Tulipwood (Poplar), and Black Walnut.
  ASH (Fraxinus americana)
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout the Eastern USA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
American ash is similar in appearance to European ash. The sapwood is light coloured to nearly white and the heartwood varies from greyish brown to light brown, to pale yellow streaked with brown. The wood is generally straight grained with a coarse uniform texture. The degree and availability of light coloured sapwood, and other properties, will vary according to the growing regions.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and gluing, and can be stained and polished to a very good finish. It dries fairly easily with minimal degrade, and there is little movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Ash has very good overall strength properties relative to its weight. It has excellent shock resistance and is good for steam bending.

DURABILITY
Non-resistant to heartwood decay. The sapwood is liable to attack by powder post and the common furniture beetle. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment, and the sapwood is permeable.

MAIN USES Furniture, flooring, doors, architectural interiors, high class joinery and moulding, kitchen cabinets, panelling, tool handles, sports goods and turning.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.60
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
673 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
10.7%
Modulus of Elasticity:
11,977 MPa
Hardness:
5871 N
  BEECH (Fagus grandifolia) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Eastern USA, commercial concentration is in the Central and Middle Atlantic States.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood of American beech is white with a red tinge, while the heartwood is light to dark reddish brown. American beech tends to be slightly darker and less consistent than European beech. The wood is generally straight grained with a close uniform texture.

WORKING PROPERTIES
American beech works readily with most hand and machine tools. It has good nailing and gluing properties and can be stained and polished to a good finish. The wood dries fairly rapidly but with a strong tendency to warp, split and surface check. It is subject to a large shrinkage and moderate movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
American beech wood is classed as heavy, hard, strong, high in resistance to shock and highly suitable for steam bending.

DURABILITY
Rated as non-resistant to heartwood decay, and liable to attack by common furniture beetle and longhorn beetle, but permeable for preservation.

MAIN USES Furniture, doors, flooring, internal joinery, panelling, brush handles and turning. It is particularly suitable for food containers as there is no odour or taste.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.50
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
561 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
9.2%
Modulus of Elasticity:
10,274 MPa
Hardness:
4226 N
  Cherry (Prunus serotina) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Eastern USA. Main commercial areas Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and New York States.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The heartwood of cherry varies from rich red to reddish brown and will darken on exposure to light. In contrast the sapwood is creamy white. The wood has a fine uniform straight grain, smooth texture, and may naturally contain brown pith flecks and small gum pockets.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Cherry is easy to machine, nails and glues well and when sanded, stained and polished, it produces an excellent smooth finish. It dries fairly quickly with moderately large shrinkage, but is dimensionally stable after kilning.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood is of medium density with good wood bending properties, it has low stiffness and medium strength and shock resistance.

DURABILITY
Rated as resistant to heartwood decay. The sapwood is liable to attack by common furniture beetle, and the heartwood moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

MAIN USES
Furniture and cabinet making, high class joinery, kitchen cabinets, mouldings, panelling, flooring, doors, boat interiors, musical instruments, turning and carving.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.64
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
721 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
13.0%
Modulus of Elasticity:
11,859 MPa
Hardness:
5782 N
  Red Elm (Ulmus rubra) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
The Eastern to Mid-West USA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Red elm has a greyish white to light brown narrow sapwood, with heartwood that is reddish brown to dark brown in colour. The grain can be straight, but is often interlocked. The wood has a coarse texture. (American grey elm is now only available in very limited volume.)

WORKING PROPERTIES
The wood of red elm is fairly easy to work, it nails, screws and glues well, and can be sanded, stained and polished to a good finish. It dries well with minimum degrade and little movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Elm is moderately heavy, hard and stiff with excellent bending and shock resistance. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain.

DURABILITY
Rated as non-resistant to heartwood decay, and classed as permeable to preservatives.

MAIN USES
Furniture, cabinet making, flooring, internal joinery, panelling and coffins.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.53
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
593 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
11.0%
Modulus of Elasticity:
10,274 MPa
Hardness:
3825 N
  Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
The gums are an important part of the Eastern hardwood forests, and are found throughout the South Eastern USA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood of American gum tends to be wide and is white to light pink, while the heartwood is reddish brown, often with darker streaks. The wood has irregular grain, usually interlocked, which produces an attractive grain figure. It has a fine uniform texture.

WORKING PROPERTIES
The wood is easy to work, with both hand and machine tools. It nails, screws and glues well, takes stain easily and can be sanded and polished to an excellent finish. It dries rapidly with a strong tendency to warp and twist. It has a large shrinkage, and is liable to movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
American gum is moderately hard, stiff and heavy and has a low steam bending classification.

DURABILITY
Rated as non-resistant to heartwood decay and liable to insect attack. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

MAIN USES
Cabinet making, furniture parts, doors, internal joinery, strips and mouldings, turning and rail ties. Good substitute for walnut when stained.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.52
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
545 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
12.0%
Modulus of Elasticity:
11,308 MPa
Hardness:
3781 N
  Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern USA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Hackberry is closely related to sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) and is a member of the elm family. There is little difference between sapwood and heartwood which is yellowish grey to light brown with yellow streaks. The wood is very susceptible to blue staining before and after kilning and has irregular grain, occasionally straight and sometimes interlocked, with a fine uniform texture.

WORKING PROPERTIES
The wood planes and turns well and is intermediate in its ability to hold nails and screws, and stains and polishes satisfactorily. Hackberry dries readily with minimal degrade. It has a fairly high shrinkage and may be susceptible to movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Hackberry is moderately hard, heavy and has medium bending strength, high shock resistance but is low in stiffness. It has a good steam bending classification.

DURABILITY
Non-resistant to heartwood decay. Liable to attack by forest longhorn and Buprestid beetle. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

MAIN USES
Furniture and kitchen cabinets, joinery, doors and mouldings.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.53
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
593 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
13.5%
Modulus of Elasticity:
8,205 MPa
Hardness:
3914 N
  Hickory/Pecan (Carya spp.) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern USA, principal commercial areas Central and Southern states.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The hickories are an important group within the Eastern hardwood forests. Botanically they are split into two groups; the true hickories, and the pecan hickories (fruit bearing). The wood is virtually the same for both and is usually sold together. The sapwood of hickory is white, tinged with brown while the heartwood is pale to reddish brown. Both are coarse textured and the grain is usually straight but can be wavy or irregular.

WORKING PROPERTIES
The hickories are considered difficult to machine and glue, and are very hard to work with hand tools, so care is needed. They hold nails and screws well, but there is a tendency to split so pre-boring is advised. The wood can be sanded and polished to a good finish. It can be difficult to dry and has a large shrinkage.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The density and strength of the hickories will vary according to the rate of growth, with the true hickories generally showing higher values than the pecan hickories. The wood is well known for its very good strength and shock resistance and it also has excellent steam bending properties.

DURABILITY
Rated as non-resistant to heartwood decay. The sapwood is liable to attack by the powder post beetle. The wood is classed as resistant to preservative treatment.

MAIN USES
Tool handles, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, wooden ladders, dowels and sporting goods.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
a) 0.75
b) 0.66
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
a) 833 kg/m3
b) 737 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
a) 13.0%
b) n/a
Modulus of Elasticity:
15,583 MPa
11,928 MPa
Hardness:
a) n/a
b) 8095 N
  Hard Maple (Acer saccharum, A. nigrum) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern USA, principally Mid-Atlantic and Lake States. A cold weather tree favouring a more Northerly climate. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood is creamy white with a slight reddish brown tinge and the heartwood varies from light to dark reddish brown. The amount of darker brown heartwood can vary

significantly according to growing region. Both sapwood and heartwood can contain pith fleck. The wood has a close fine texture and is generally straight grained, but it can also occur as “curly”, “fiddleback”, and “birds-eye” figure.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Hard maple dries slowly with a large shrinkage, so it can be susceptible to movement in performance. Pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. With care it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained and polished to an outstanding finish.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood is hard and heavy with good strength properties, in particular its high resistance to abrasion and wear. It also has good steam bending properties.

DURABILITY
Rated as slightly or non-resistant to heartwood decay. Sapwood is liable to attack by furniture beetle. The heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

MAIN USES
Flooring, furniture, panelling, kitchen cabinets, worktops and table tops, interior joinery: stairs, handrails, mouldings, and doors.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.63
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
705 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
11.9%
Modulus of Elasticity:
12,618 MPa
Hardness:
6450 N
  Soft Maple (Principally Acer rubrum, A. saccharinum) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Eastern USA, and to a lesser extent on the West coast (bigleaf maple).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In most respects the wood of soft maple is very similar to that of hard maple. Although due to its widespread growth it may be more susceptible to regional colour variations. Generally the sapwood is greyish white, sometimes with darker coloured pith flecks. The heartwood varies from light to dark reddish brown. The wood is usually straight grained. The lumber is generally sold unselected for colour.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Soft maple machines well and can be stained and polished to an excellent finish. It glues, screws, and nails satisfactorily. It dries slowly with minimal degrade and there is little movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Soft maple is about 25% less hard than hard maple, has medium bending and crushing strength, and is low in stiffness and shock resistance. It has good steam bending properties.

DURABILITY
Non-resistant to decay and insect attack. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

MAIN USES
Furniture, panelling, interior joinery, kitchen cabinets, mouldings, doors, musical instruments, and turning. Soft maple is often used as a substitute for hard maple or stained to resemble other species such as cherry. Its physical and working properties also make it a possible substitute for beech.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.54
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
609 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
10.5%
Modulus of Elasticity:
11,308 MPa
Hardness:
4226 N
  Red Oak (Quercus spp) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread throughout Eastern USA. The oaks are by far the largest species group growing in the Eastern hardwood forests. Red oaks grow more abundantly than the white oaks. The red oak group comprises many species, of which about eight are commercial.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood of red oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is a pinkish reddish brown. The wood is similar in general appearance to white oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure due to the smaller rays. The wood is mostly straight grained, with a coarse texture. The red oak tree gets its name because of the colour of the leaves in the “fall” (Autumn).

WORKING PROPERTIES
Red oak machines well, nailing and screwing is good although pre-boring is recommended, and it can be stained and polished to a good finish. It dries slowly with a tendency to split and warp. It has a high shrinkage and can be susceptible to movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood is hard and heavy, with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength. It is very good for steam bending. Southern red oak has a more rapid growth than Northern red oak and tends to be harder and heavier.

DURABILITY
Rated slightly to non-resistant to heartwood decay, moderately easy to treat with preservatives.

MAIN USES
Construction, furniture, flooring, architectural interiors, internal joinery and mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, panelling, coffins and caskets. Not suitable for tight cooperage. Red oak can vary in colour, texture, characteristics and properties according to the growing region. It is therefore recommended that users and specifiers work closely with their suppliers to make sure the wood they order is suited to their specific needs.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.63
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
705 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
10.8%
Modulus of Elasticity:
12,549 MPa
Hardness:
5738 N
  White Oak (Quercus spp) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread throughout Eastern USA. The white oak group comprises many species, of which about eight are commercial.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
White oak is similar in colour and appearance to European oak. The sapwood of American white oak is light coloured and the heartwood is light to dark brown. White oak is mostly straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays than red oak. White oak therefore has more figure.

WORKING PROPERTIES
White oak machines well, nails and screws well although pre-boring is advised. As it reacts with iron, galvanised nails are recommended. Its adhesive properties are variable, but it stains and polishes to a good finish. The wood dries slowly and care is needed to avoid checking. Due to its high shrinkage, it can be susceptible to movement in performance. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES A hard and heavy wood with medium bending and crushing strength, low in stiffness, but very good in steam bending. Southern white oak is faster grown with wide growth rings, and tends to be harder and heavier.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
A hard and heavy wood with medium bending and crushing strength, low in stiffness, but very good in steam bending. Southern white oak is faster grown with wide growth rings, and tends to be harder and heavier.

DURABILITY
The heartwood is resistant to decay, extremely resistant to preservative treatment, and the sapwood is moderately resistant to treatment.

MAIN USES
Construction, furniture, flooring, architectural joinery, exterior joinery, mouldings, doors, kitchen cabinets, panelling, railway sleepers, timber bridges, barrel staves, coffins and caskets. White oak can vary in colour, texture, characteristics and properties according to the growing region. It is therefore recommended that users and specifiers work closely with their suppliers to make sure the wood they order is suited to their specific needs. Northern and Southern may be sold separately.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.68
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
769 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
12.6%
Modulus of Elasticity:
12,273 MPa
Hardness:
6049 N
  Sycamore (Fraxinus americana) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Eastern USA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood of sycamore is white to light yellow, while the heartwood is light to dark brown. The wood has a fine close texture with interlocked grain. It is not related in any way to European sycamore but it has the same family classification, and similar characteristics to European plane. Contrasts well with other species.

WORKING PROPERTIES
The wood machines well, but high speed cutters are needed to prevent chipping. It is resistant to splitting due to the interlocked grain. The wood glues well and stains and polishes, with care, to an excellent finish. It dries fairly rapidly, with a tendency to warp. It has moderate shrinkage and little movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood is classified as moderate in weight, hardness, stiffness and shock resistance. It turns well on the lathe and has good bending qualities.

DURABILITY
Rated as non-resistant to heartwood decay. The sapwood is liable to attack by the common furniture beetle, but is permeable to preservative treatment.

MAIN USES
Furniture, furniture parts (drawer sides), internal joinery, panelling and mouldings, flooring, kitchen ware, butchers blocks and veneered panels.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.49
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
545 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
11.4%
Modulus of Elasticity:
9,791 MPa
Hardness:
3425 N
  Tulipwood (Poplar) (Fraxinus americana) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread throughout Eastern USA.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood is creamy white and may be streaked with the heartwood varying from pale yellowish brown to olive green. The green colour in the heartwood will tend to darken on exposure to light and turn brown. The wood has a medium to fine texture and is straight grained. The size of the sapwood and some physical characteristics will vary according to growing regions. The wood has many desirable characteristics and is suitable for a wide variety of important uses. The tulipwood tree resembles the shape of the European poplar, hence its name in USA.

WORKING PROPERTIES
A versatile timber that is easy to machine, plane, turn, glue and bore. It dries easily with minimal movement in performance and has little tendency to split when nailed. It takes and holds paint, enamel and stain exceptionally well.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
A medium density wood with low bending, shock resistance, stiffness and compression values, with a medium steam bending classification.

DURABILITY
Non-resistant to decay, heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment, sapwood is permeable.

MAIN USES
Light construction, furniture, interior joinery, kitchen cabinets, doors, panelling, mouldings, edged-glued panels, plywood (USA), turning and carving.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.42
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
449 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
9.8%
Modulus of Elasticity:
10,894 MPa
Hardness:
2402 N
  Black Walnut (Fraxinus americana) Back to Top
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout eastern USA, but principal commercial region is the Central States. One of the few American species planted as well as naturally regenerated.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood of walnut is creamy white, while the heartwood is light brown to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with a purplish cast and darker streaks. Walnut can be supplied steamed, to darken sapwood or left unsteamed. The wood is generally straight grained, but sometimes with wavy or curly grain that produces an attractive and decorative figure.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Walnut works easily with hand and machine tools, and nails, screws and glues well. It holds paint and stain very well and can be polished to an exceptional finish. It dries slowly, and care is needed to avoid kilning degrade. Walnut has good dimensional stability.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Walnut is a tough hard timber of medium density, with moderate bending and crushing strengths and low stiffness. It has a good steam bending classification.

DURABILITY
Rated as very resistant to heartwood decay, it is one of the most durable woods even under conditions favourable to decay. Sapwood liable to attack by powder post beetles.

MAIN USES
Furniture, cabinet making, architectural interiors, high class joinery, doors, flooring, and panelling. A favoured wood for using in contrast with lighter coloured timbers.




Specific Gravity
(12% M.C.)
0.55
Averfage Weight
(12% M.C.)
609 kg/m3
Average Volumetric Shrinkage
(Green to 6% M.C.)
10.2%
Modulus of Elasticity:
11,584 MPa
Hardness:
4492 N