Wood Species
Type
Uses
Weight
Strength
Grain/Texture
Pine, knotty **
Soft
Rustic furniture
Light
Weak
Straight, fine
Alder, red
Hard
Inexpensive furniture, 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, ponderosa
Soft
Trim, 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