There are many types of wood and techniques to achieve a style you want. A lot of beginner woodworkers will start out with dimensional pine like 2x4s from big box stores to make projects. I know I started out this way. It’s very cheap, but it comes with a different cost. 2x4s and the like are softwoods that are generally not dry enough to withstand warping. They are very difficult to work with, and the end result will end up warping on itself. Most likely you will stain the wood to mimic the actual species of wood desired.
So while it costs less, it ends up looking artificial and coming out of square in a year or two. I know this, because I’ve made furniture using that wood. I see it warping in the spring when humidity comes back in the air and I have to shim the legs with cards.
We can do better. Let’s learn about hardwoods.
I try to break down my designs into two woods. If a client wants dark, we use Walnut. If a client wants light, we use Ash. This means I only need to stock up on two woods, and I become very familiar with how they machine and interact.
Most of my clients want “Dark walnut” stain. So let’s look at actual walnut.
Walnut
Walnut is a dark, hard, solid, and tightly grained wood. Woodworkers value it for its strength, texture, and color. The hue ranges from milky white in the sapwood to a dark chocolate in the heartwood, and it polishes to a very smooth finish. Natural walnut wood develops a beautiful patina over time. It has a strong following of dedicated woodworkers and fine furniture connoisseurs as the only dark-brown domestic wood species. Walnut is also used to make high-end cabinets, natural wood flooring, kitchen accessories, gunstocks, and other items.
Here’s an example of a piece of furniture made with walnut. This was created by Four Eyes Furniture.
This is what real walnut looks like. It’s gorgeous. It only needs to be finished with a good hardwax oil and that’s all. Walnut is also quite expensive. At about $12/bdft, that comes out to $10 for every 2 feet at 5 inches wide. Which means a credenza or table could very well be more than $250 just in wood.
Ash
Ash is a great wood. It’s one of the most durable varieties and has an extensive history in American furniture making. It’s long-lasting, light, and attractive, and it absorbs wood dyes nicely. Because of its lightweight and shock-resistant properties, it’s a popular choice for baseball bats, tool handles, and restaurant furnishings. Today, ash is a popular choice for home furnishings, especially in the mid-century modern design.
Ash is also relatively cheap. At $5/bdft, it’s less than half of what something made in walnut would cost for wood.
Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.
Other considerations…
White Oak is one of my favorite woods. It looks similar to ash. It’s a very hefty wood that feels incredibly solid. However, it’s right up there with walnut around $9/bdft.
Sapele is a cheaper mahogany. Rot resistant a looks incredible.
