Ponderosa Pine (Softwood)
Standard

Also known as western yellow pine, California white pine, Oregon pine, bird's eye pine, knotty pine, prickly pine, blackjack pine, and pitch pine.  Grows mainly in western United States and southern British Columbia. Most widely distributed of pines in North America.

• Color: Light reddish brown heartwood and wide, nearly white to pale yellow sapwood.
• Grain: Straight grained, sometimes with a bird's eye pattern, and with a medium coarse texture. Typically has prominent dark resin duct lines and numerous small but sound knots.
• Characteristics: Light and soft with low strength and shock resistance, moderately low stiffness, low decay resistance, poor steam bending, and good stability in service.
• Finishing:  Paints, stains and finishes well although a sealer coat may be needed to control blotching and resin bleed-out. 
• View Pine Examples

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Mixed Grain Fir (Softwood)
Standard

Fir is grown in the Western United States and Canada and is commonly used in plywood, paneling, trim, cooperage, tanks, silos, studs, joists, laminated beams, boxes, crates, pallets and flooring.  Average weight with moderate to high strength, moderate shock resistance, and high stiffness. Somewhat brittle and susceptible to splitting (poor for steam bending).

• Color: Fir comes in varying degrees of red, pink or yellow tones
• Grain: Milling techniques greatly affect grain appearance.  Mixed grain Fir is a standard offering comprised of lumber which uses the most economical methods of sawing or milling which produces the highest yield of both flat grain and vertical grain patterns.  See photos illustrating grain patterns.  Eagle’s mixed grain fir offering will include some parts consistent with this appearance.
• Characteristics: Works fairly easily by machine but requires sharp hand tools. Good turning properties. Glues, screws, and nails satisfactorily.
• Finishing: Stains and varnishes easily but takes paint poorly.
• View Mixed Grain Fir Example

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Alder (Hardwood)

Alder, a relative of birch, grows from Alaska to Southern California.  Alder Grows well on burned over land and thrives in areas that have been ravaged by fire and logging. It’s many uses include, furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shutters, mouldings carvings and kitchen utensils. 

• Color: Very consistent in color - pale pinkish-brown to almost white.  Heartwood is formed only in trees of advanced age and there is no visible boundary between sap and heartwood.
• Grain: fairly straight-grained with a uniform texture
• Characteristics: Alder is a relatively soft hardwood of medium density that has low bending strength, shock resistance and good working properties.  Susceptible to fading from Ultra Violet light.
  
• Finishing: Finishes smoothly and takes stain well.  When stained, blends well with walnut and cherry.
• View Alder Examples

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African Mahogany (Hardwood)

The heavyweight of all woods, mahogany is one of the most valuable timber trees. Popular in the '50's, mahogany is making a comeback due to the new attraction to the "red" woods. On an interesting note, new model automobiles were originally carved, full sized, entirely out of mahogany! Each piece, no matter how big or small, from the front bumper, to the engine, the dashboard, the drive shaft, back to the lock on the trunk is first fashioned from this very stable hard wood.

• Color: Varies from light red or pale tan to a rich dark deep red or deep golden brown, depending on country of origin.
• Grain: It is generally straight grained but is prized for its figures which include stripe, roe, curly, blister, fiddleback, and mottle.
• Characteristics: Extremely strong, hard, stable and decay resistant
• Finishing: Finishes and stains to a beautiful natural luster.

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Cherry (Hardwood)

As one of North America's finest and highly prized woods, Cherry is known as the wood that helped to develop the cabinet industry we have today. Cherry helped define American traditional design because Colonial cabinetmakers recognized its superior woodworking qualities. Today, cherry helps define Shaker, Mission and country styling. The wood from the cherry tree can be described in a single word: beautiful. Its rich red-brown color deepens with age. Small dark gum flecks add to its interest. Distinctive, unique figures and grains are brought out through quarter sawing. It has an exceptionally lustrous appearance that glows. The finish is satiny to the touch.

• Color: Rich, reddish-brown. Cherry darkens considerably with age and exposure to sunlight.
• Grain: Straight-grained and satiny. Small gum pockets produce distinctive markings.
• Characteristics: Light, strong, stiff and rather hard. Cherry's grain is more subdued than some other hardwood species, with very interesting character.
• Finishing: Cherry is unsurpassed in its finishing qualities-its uniform texture takes a finish very well.
• View Cherrry Examples
  

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Maple (Hardwood)

Maple is Vermont's state tree and is a source of brilliant foliage, sweet maple syrup and beautiful floors and furniture. Known for is clear, white sapwood, Maple has found many uses in individual homes to gymnasiums and is also an excellent choice for cabinetry, millwork, stairs, handrails and moldings.

• Color: The sapwood displays a creamy white hue with a tinge of reddish brown, and the heartwood ranges from light to dark reddish brown.
• Grain: It has a straight fine, uniform texture and is generally straight grained.
• Characteristics: Hard, strong and heavy wood is highly resistant to wear.
• Finishing: Close grain makes staining more difficult but finishes very smooth.
• View Maple Examples

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White Oak (Hardwood)

Widespread throughout Eastern U.S. white oak is impervious to water and has been used extensively for ship building, barrels and casks.  The trees prefer rich well drained soil, and average 60 to 80 feet in height.  It is mainly use today for flooring, furniture, architectural millwork, mouldings, doors and kitchens cabints.

• Color: Light tannish heartwood with narrow, nearly white sapwood.
• Grain: Straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays than red oak. 
• Characteristics: Heavy, hard and strong with outstanding wear-resistance. Moderate stability in use. Steam-bends very well. Very durable heartwood.
• Finishing: Stains and finishes well with no need to fill pores for smoothness.
• View Oak Examples

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Vertical Grain Fir (Softwood)

VG Fir, known for its excellent dimensional stability, is tight-knotted and close-grained. Vertical grain is created when lumber is sawn across the annual growth rings (, resulting in a straight, vertical grain pattern and smooth surface. The growth rings reflect the growth rate of the individual tree, so the width and spacing of the grain pattern will be different on each piece of wood.

• Color: VG Fir comes in varying degrees of red, pink or yellow tones.
• Grain: The clear, straight grain pattern, in combination with the slightly rosy tint, gives an eye-catching, uniform appearance. 
• Characteristics: Works fairly easily by machine but requires sharp hand tools. Good turning properties. Glues, screws, and nails satisfactorily.
• Finishing: Stains and varnishes easily but takes paint poorly
• View Vertical Grain Fir Examples

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Walnut (Hardwood)

Black Walnut is sought after for its great beauty and toughness.

• Color: Rich dark brown heartwood and nearly white sapwood.
• Grain: Generally straight grained with a moderately coarse, uniform texture
• Characteristics: Moderately heavy, hard, strong, and stiff, with good decay resistance and dimensional stability. Its workability is good and it glues well while holding its bending properties.
• Finishing: It accepts natural wood finishes extremely well and can be polished to a fine finish.
• View Walnut Examples

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