Project Materials
Here you will find information about the most popular materials and hardware that KB Woodworks uses. Other materials may be used upon request.
Lumber
Cherry
Cherry heartwood varies from rich red to reddish-brown. The sapwood is white. It has a fine, straight grain with narrow brown pith flecks and small gum pockets. It has a smooth texture.
Hickory
Hickory heartwood is brown or reddish brown in color and is sold as “Red Hickory”. The sapwood is light in color and sold as “White Hickory”. Hickory is typically straight grained, but can be wavy or irregular. Texture is somewhat coarse.
Red Oak
Red Oak heartwood is similar to other oaks and coloration runs from a light tan to pink with a reddish tinge. The wood is predominantly straight grained and coarse textured. Red Oak has a somewhat less attractive figure than White Oak due to smaller rays.
White Oak
White oak varies in color from light tan to pale yellow-brown with a pinkish tinge. It is similar to European oak. Straight grained with characteristic silver grain in quarter sawn wood. Medium to coarse texture. White Oak is somewhat more figured than Red Oak due to longer rays.
Black Walnut
Black Walnut heartwood is rich dark brown to purplish-black and is usually straight grained. Wavy or curly grain is sometimes present. Texture is coarse.
Cedar
Cedar is red in color and the thin sapwood is nearly white. The grain is very fine and even except for knots. It has a delicate fragrance.
Soft Maple
Soft maple is creamy white and has a straight grain. It is a bit less lustrous than Hard Maple and growth rings are comparatively indistinct. Rays are narrower than in Hard Maple.
Hard Maple
Hard maple is creamy white with a reddish tinge and usually has a straight grain, sometimes curly or wavy. Fine brown growth rings give an attractive figure on plain sawn surfaces. Rays are longer than in Soft Maple. Texture is fine and even.
Poplar
Poplar heartwood is usually creamy-white to gray in color, sometimes pale brown or pinkish-brown. Grain is straight and can be woolly. Texture is fine and even.
Sapele
Reddish brown in color. Overall a very uniformly colored wood. Very similar in appearance and workability to mahogany. The wood displays a beautiful chatoyance. The grain will shift as your perspective changes. Occasional quilted, curly and or mottled figure can be present. A significant up charge is typical for figured material. Material is often sorted for “ribbon stripe” which would consist of the quarter and rift sawn boards a moderate up charge for the “ribbon” material. Sapele is pleasantly fragrant when cut.
We also stock other wood products such as softwoods, plywood, and particle board. If there is a specific material you want for your project, contact us and we will do our best to accommodate.