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Although the industry inventory consistently lists some hundred or so species available, only a few are available in sufficient quantities to offer reasonable selection possibilities. The balance would be only in small quantities and usually in special stocks.
These would include not only species indigenous to the U.S., but also those imported in log form and manufactured here. These woods would provide the largest inventories and the widest range of qualities. Also, since long slicers are common here, longer average lengths are available. Domestic species would include walnut, white oak, red oak, elm, cherry, pecan, butternut, pine and a number of lesser used species. Logs are generally small to medium in size and produce veneers in the 12" to 15" width range in the better qualities.
Among the imports, the mahoganies and mozambique are important wood species. The logs are generally medium to large in size and will yield veneer in the 15" to 18" width range quite readily. Lengths are generally good, with normal panel sizes no problem.
Maple and birch are two domestic woods which are more in the commercial face category. This means a lathe manufacture, and lengths generally only to eight feet. Some maple is manufactured on the half-round, and this gives lengths up to twelve feet. Widths on the rotary material are large and the half-round maple in the 12"-15" category.
Rift oak is also a special consideration, since it is produced on a face lathe. Lengths are available up to twelve feet, but widths only in the 6"-8" category. The large pores in rift oak create another special situation. Often the light refraction on the face side of the veneer leaf can be quite different from that on the reverse side. The result is a light and dark appearance in a book matched panel. Therefore, rift oak is often slip matched.
Perhaps the most extensively used exotic has been teak. In this country, it has been largely a panel wood or one used in contract furniture. In other areas of the world, it is used extensively for inexpensive furniture, though in lesser quality than we are accustomed to see. It is a most practical wood to consider when large quantities are needed of a uniform yet rich wood. Lengths up to 14 feet are readily available as are widths in the 15"-18" group. Larger stocks are also available though in smaller quantities. In smaller quantities, exotically grained flitches are also usually available. Teak is generally a moderately priced wood and high quality stocks are available.
This is a normal English white oak that has been infected with a fungus. The result is a warm, brown color which cannot be produced artificially. Color and graining can vary a good deal from stock to stock and some are very plain while others are exotically grained.
Though large in diameter, the logs are generally defective in the heart. This makes quartering the practical method of manufacture. Also the logs are quite short. As a result, widths in the 6"-8" category are most normal, with lengths up to nine or ten feet. Larger stocks are available from time to time, but not in large quantities. The price range is generally moderate.
Both Brazilian and Indian rosewood are available. They do differ, but both have the reddish or rosy hue.
Brazilian rosewood logs are small and quite defective. Therefore they are almost always plain sliced. Widths are generally narrow, with 12" being common. Lengths up to twelve feet are available. Larger logs are scarce, and it is best to determine current inventories and, if possible, to adapt panel sizes to the stocks being considered. The general color range is reddish brown to rosy with contrasty, dark grain lines. The variations are infinite, and make this species a highly prized cabinet wood.
East Indian rosewood is generally more purplish in hue than the Brazilian. Also the logs are much larger and of better quality. Consequently, many logs are quartered and produce a beautiful contrasting stripe. Size is usually quite good with quarters in the 8"-12" width category and plain sliced wood up to 24" in width. Lengths of ten to twelve feet are common.
Brazilian rosewood is very expensive today, and the East Indian, while expensive, is less so than its South American namesake. Other so-called rosewoods are available from Central America, but their supply and quality make use difficult.
The common trade term for this wood is generally French walnut, though today it consists of wood from France, England, Iran, India and North Africa. Mostly, it originated in Italy and was carried "round-the-world" by the Roman soldier. With differing growth and soil conditions, the appearance of the wood is slightly different.
The logs are medium to large and usually are defective. Even the best quality produce a combination of plain and quartered veneer, often running to half and half. Sapwood on the outside of the log is heavy and is included in the manufacture. Plain sliced veneer widths (including sapwood) of 18" are not uncommon and wider stock is often available. Lengths exceeding ten feet however are not very common. The quarters are narrow, usually in the 6"-8" category. Price range today is expensive.
Color and grain character can very greatly. Basic color is a grey-brown, but can be light or dark. Often, there are dark, contrasting grain lines which can be quite swirly and often there is cross-fire present. Panels can be striking in appearance, particularly when the butt portions of logs are used. All in all, it is much more highly decorative in character than domestic walnut.
Oak is common to most of Europe, and differs only slightly in grain and character. When compared with our domestic oak, it is generally lighter in color and finer in texture.
The German or Spessart oak produces the finest quality of plain sliced wood. The texture is fine and the logs generally medium in size. Flat cut veneer widths of 15" to 18" are common with lengths up to twelve and thirteen feet. Price is moderate, though considerably higher than domestic oak.
English white oak is somewhat coarser in texture and the logs a bit larger. It is commonly quartered as it produces a good stripe. Widths of 12" in the quartered veneer are usually available, with lengths up to ten feet. The price range is more comparable to domestic oak.
French oak is available, and though very fine in texture and light in color, the logs are quite small. It is generally a furniture wood only, though much liked in Europe.
Both the species are similar to domestic ash in color and grain character. They tend to be finer in texture. Log sizes are medium so the veneer produced is mostly plain sliced. Veneer widths fall into the 12"-15" bracket and the lengths are generally panel in size and up to twelve feet.
A type of Japanese ash is called Tamo. The grain of the log is extremely twisted and gnarled and the veneer figure produced is curly, swirly, and even circular. The figure is described as "peanut-shell" and there is a resemblance in cross-section. It is close to a burl in grain character. Usually, the veneer is quite wide -- up to 30" being common -- but short. Often it is less than eight feet in length. Price tends to be expensive and availability is limited.
In parts of Europe, the ash tree develops a large brown heart. Often this takes the form of fine interlocking and swirly brown lines. This type is known as olive ash. High quality panel stocks are limited and the width of the brown heart is generally no more than 12"-15". Lengths up to twelve feet are available. The lacey brown and white veneers make a handsome panel. Olive ash is generally a moderately priced veneer.
This is another fine Indian cabinet wood. The color is much like a grey-brown walnut, and it very often has dark and contrasting grain lines. Often this is accompanied by cross-fire. This dense wood takes a deep, rich finish and ages well.
Logs are generally medium to large, though defective in the heart, and most often are plain sliced. Veneer leaf width of 15"-18" and lengths of 12' to 14' are common. Quarters usually fall into the 6"-8" width bracket.
An inherent problem in the species is that of gum pockets. These are resin or gum pockets in the wood of varying sizes and shapes. In the manufacturing process the gum generally dissipates leaving an open hole. These holes often appear as a crack following the grain lines. As a practical matter, not all the gum pockets can be eliminated in panel manufacture. It is customary to accept putty of matching color as a filler for these holes, only eliminating the largest ones.
A particularly handsome installation of laurel paneling can be seen in the Eisenhower Theater of the JFK Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. The price range of this species is expensive.
This is an African wood which is used both here and in Europe under an amazing number of names. The logs are large and sound and have a base color of light gold to dark tan. There are usually darker, contrasting grain patterns.
Since the tree is large and well-formed, the logs can be both quartered and plain sliced. The quarters produce an attractive stripe, sometimes with cross-fire. Veneer widths are in the 6"-8" category and lengths up to 12 feet are common.
Plain sliced veneer in the 15"-18" width bracket and up to 14 feet in length is available. It has a regular, even heart pattern and the large logs make the wood suitable where extensive areas are to be paneled. The price range is moderate.
This is another African wood sold under a large variety of names. It is basically reddish in color with darker red grain lines. Generally the grain pattern is swirly and it contains a great deal of cross-fire. The logs are large and can be quartered as well as plain sliced. The highly figured logs are usually plain sliced and the plainer ones are quartered. Length and widths in both grain types are excellent, being one of the largest currently available. It is in the moderate price range.
An excellent example of this species can be seen at the New York Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Ebony is one of the classic cabinet woods. It is a deep brown in color -- almost black -- and has salmon to tan background stripes. A very dense wood, it takes a rich finish that enhances with age. Logs are usually small and defective and are produced in both plain sliced veneer and quarters. The quarters have been most desired, and produce a beautiful contrasting stripe. Panel lengths are available, but the widths of quarters is only 4"-6". Ebony is in the expensive price range.
Into this category fall the African woods Limba and Avodire and the Central American wood Prima Vera. As the name suggests, they are blond in color and uniform. A portion of the woods contain cross-fire, and they are usually manufactured on the quarter. The stripe produced is much like that in quartered Mahogany. Avodire has in fact been called a blond Mahogany.
Veneer widths vary from 6"-12" on an average with Avodire being the larger of the three. Panel lengths are good for all. Of the three, Limba is the plainest, while Prima Vera is the most highly figured. All three were used extensively in the 1950's. Price range is low to moderate.
Paldao from the Philippines, New Guineawood from New Guinea, and Orientalwood from Australia all resemble each other. They are grey to tan in color with contrasting stripes. All three are generally quartered. Orientalwood produces a broad stripe, much like the Mahoganies, while Paldao typically develops a fine pencil line stripe. New Guineawood seems to fall in between. Paldao typically has a great deal of cross-fire, while Orientalwood rarely shows any. Again, New Guineawood falls in between.
The logs are large and produce quarters with 12" widths quite commonly. Lengths of 12 feet are available. The price range is moderate for all three.
While a number of species are available, and they vary greatly in grain character and color, all burls have a number of things in common. The first is the "fish-eye" type of grain character, and the relatively small sheet sizes. Most are buckled and have open defects. Generally, they are difficult to work. Before they can be used, the veneer leaves must be "ironed" and the open defects either plugged with a wood patch or filled. As mentioned earlier, the matching is done in fours. Though elm, ash, and olive ash are the currently popular species, more are available.
Burl Species
SPECIES COLOR ORIGIN COST
Elm Red brown Europe Moderate Ash White Europe Moderate Olive-Ash Brown and White Europe Moderate Myrtle Olive to brown U.S. Moderate to Expensive Claro-Walnut Brown U.S. Moderate to Expensive Indian Walnut Brown India Expensive Oak White to Brown England Moderate to Expensive Madrone Red U.S. Moderate Redwood Red U.S. Moderate Maple Pink U.S./Europe Moderate Birch White Europe Moderate Thuya (scarce) Brown N. Africa Expensive Maidou (scarce) Red-Gold Far East Expensive
Though a variety of species may be available, the only one in commercial quantities at present is mahogany. Enough has been produced to be able to establish grain pattern types. Thus one can select a swirl, a feather, a rat-tail, etc. Mahogany has always been the classic crotch because of consistency, size, and soundness. The price range is moderate to expensive.
Walnut is the classic stump, whether it is Claro or one of the European walnuts. It contains all the grain character normally associated with this wood type, that is swirls, contrast, cross-fire, and burly grain. Availability is generally limited, and the price range is moderate to expensive.
No attempt has been made to include all the popular species available. The list would be much too long and cumbersome. Suffice to say, that in each of the color ranges there exists a wide variety of wood species and grain types.
Wood is a natural product. Therefore all descriptions of color, grain, width, length and use must be accepted as generalizations. The exception that proves the rule is always available.
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