Comparing Hardwoods
Knowing something about the hardwoods can help
in the decision process.
Red
Oak - Specifications
Botanical
Name: Quercus, rubra
Grows
In: North
America
Color
Range: Red
Oak offers a medium range of color variability
from lighter tan tones with pinkish highlights
to darker browns
Color
Change: Red Oak undergoes a medium
degree of color change over time with a slight
ambering of the pinkish tan brown color you get
when freshly milled.
Hardness:
1260 on the Janka
scale.
American
Cherry Specifications
Botanical
Name: Prunus,
serotina
Grows
In: North
America
Color
Range: American Cherry has a cream
colored sapwood which contrasts sharply with
the reddish heartwood. In the heartwood the
color can range from a pinkish red to darker
red. American Cherry also has small dark brown
gum veins that are part of the character of
this species.
Color
Change: American Cherry undergoes an
extreme degree of color change with pronounced
darkening from a pale pink color when fresh
milled to a dark reddish color when fully aged.
This process occurs within a few weeks in
direct sunlight and by oxidation, out of
sunlight, over a six to eight month
period.
Hardness:
950 on the Janka
scale.
Brazilian
Cherry - Specifications
Botanical
Name: Hymenaea,
courbaril
Grows
In: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru,
Venezuela, Suriname, Nicaragua, Mexico,
Guatemala, & the
Caribbean
Color
Range: Brazilian Cherry varies from
yellowish hues to pink/reds to dark reds with
black striping. Quartered selection yields the
most uniform look/color
range.
Color
Change: Like domestic cherry,
Brazilian Cherry will change dramatically over
time from the yellow/tan/salmon color when
freshly milled into a deep rich reddish color.
In direct sunlight, the color change will occur
within a few days. Out of sunlight, it will
oxidize slowly over six months. Water based
finishes tend to retard the color change while
oil based finishes enhance
it.
Hardness:
2820 on the Janka
scale.
White
Oak - Specifications
Botanical
Name: Quercus,
alba
Grows
In: North
America w/related species throughout Europe
& Asia
Color
Range: White Oak has a medium high
degree of color variability and ranges from
light tan colors to medium tan colors with a
grayish cast to medium brown colors. WFI offers
highly selected straight grain offerings, which
are color selected to yield a uniform medium
tan color.
Color
Change: White Oak undergoes a medium
degree of color change, with a slight ambering
over time.
Hardness:
1360 on the Janka
scale.
Santos
Mahogany - Specifications
Botanical
Name: Myroxylon,
balsamum
Grows
In: Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil,
Peru, Panama, Guatemala, &
Mexico
Color
Range: Santos Mahogany exhibits a
medium range of color variation between a light
orangey/brown with yellowish overtones to a
dark reddish/purplish brown. Most of the specie
falls into the medium to dark orange/brown
mahogany tone.
Color
Change: Santos Mahogany undergoes a
slight degree of color change with a slight
muting of the color range over
time.
Hardness:
2200 on the Janka
scale.
