Sawdustdad Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Everyone has their favorite wood, either because it is available, meets budgets, or because it just works wonderfully. I have my favorites for all these reasons, but if cost was no object, here's my short list: 1. All time favorite is Black Cherry. Machines to sharp edges, smells soooo good. Ages beautifully to a deep orange then ruby red. Refuse to use any sap wood, though, as it never darkens and stands out like a sore thumb over time. 2, Since cost is no object, next up is mahogany. I love a great ribbon figure, with the chatoyance that comes out with a clear finish. It works cleanly with no fuzz, has a pleasant aroma. Generally very stable. 3. Black Walnut. The chocolate brown color is so rich looking and again, it machines great. Dust/odor can be irritating to some, but doesn't bother me much. A couple other woods that are great to work, but are not very common--don't have any of this stuff any more, but have come across stashes of it from time to time and usually snap it up when I find it. 1. Wormy Chestnut. Here in Virginia, they still find standing dead trees up in the mountains (for you guys out west, we use the term "mountains" loosely. Your translation would be "foot hills".) So occasionally someone will pull such a tree out and have it milled. I've been through 200bf of wormy chestnut from a purchase about 30 years ago, saving it for unique projects. A lot of picture frames and a few hall mirrors. Another source is reclaimed barn beams that have been resawn. Need to worry about nails with this stuff! Chestnut was a very common lumber up until the blight. It machines easily, leaves a clean edge, and is relatively lightweight. 2. Butternut. The "blonde" walnut. This is an interesting wood. It is lighter than walnut, and fuzzes a little on machining, so sharp tools are needed. Stains beautifully and can mimic either mahogany or walnut, depending on the stain applied. It's very stable. Great for drawer sides or an entire project. Here's a chest in Butternut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 I haven't worked with a big variety so at this point I would say walnut and cherry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenMasco Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Cuban Mahogany, no contest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 My favourite woods to work with are Honduran mahogany, walnut and cherry. I love the look bubinga and zebrawood but definitely not their workability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 I'll go with cherry as it's great to work with and reminds me of high school. The desks and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Cocobolo, teak and pink ivory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Same three for me: walnut, cherry, genuine mahogany. Figured maples take fourth and QSWO would have to round out the top five. Exotics I like cocobolo and bubinga the most probably. I think wenge is beautiful but it has limited use and it sucks to work. Zebrawood the same. I just bought my first big piece of sycamore so I look forward to playing with that, and I have some thoughts about alder too. I enjoy trying them all at least once but I always default to the trifecta for most of my work, at least as primary species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 I think hondouran mahogany has my 1 2 and 4th place. Pleasure to work, looks amazing. That's all I need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeset202 Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Cherry and walnut for workability, bubinga is probably my favorite exotic and I liked working with teak as well. Built 2 chairs out of wenge, look fantastic but it has little hair like splinters that will get you as you work it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 6 minutes ago, Cheeset202 said: Built 2 chairs out of wenge Do you hate yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeset202 Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 4 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: Do you hate yourself? Yes it was somewhat of a painful build but the chairs look great, splinters stop after you get the finish on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 1 minute ago, Cheeset202 said: Yes it was somewhat of a painful build but the chairs look great, splinters stop after you get the finish on them! If you've got them, throw some pics up in the showcase. I'd love to see em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeset202 Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 52 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: If you've got them, throw some pics up in the showcase. I'd love to see em. I can try, ex-wife got them in the divorce, built 4 chairs out of bubinga and 2 out of wenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaziri Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 There is seems to be consensus about cherry. Genuine mahogany would be tops on my list of favorites followed closely by cherry and cocobolo. I really love the end product of bubinga but the stuff is a pain to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Walnut, cherry, and QSWO. I haven't work with many imports but sounds like I have to try genuine mahogany sometime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Cherry, walnut and Sassafras, I love the smell of sassfras and it can be made to look like chestnut, or oak. And is so easy to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 Being new at this, so far I really like maple. It almost always looks good. On the other hand I really dislike oak. It can be so brittle on the edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted September 14, 2017 Report Share Posted September 14, 2017 My favorite is cherry, because I love the look of it with a simple danish oil on it, its workability, and its not real expensive. As far as pure enjoyment to work, definitely walnut. Planes so beautifully, and comes off the machines great. But it stinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirNot Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Being new to this, I have very few project builds under my belt, and add to that the fact that my first few were done with sub-par materials (pine, poplar, construction 2x4s), I'm limited in scope. However, I have turned a few dozen pens/wands/razors/etc. now and have found a few favorites for turning. Walnut- classic, simple and beautiful. Grenadilla- I almost don't need to finish this stuff. Hell, if i'm having a good day, I barely need to sand it. It turns like frozen butter! The color is soooooooo rich. Cocobolo- It turns easily, but what I love most is the striking contrast between the black grain and orange/red is brilliant. Bethlehem Olive Wood- Warm color and amazing contrast. Zebrawood on steroids (and it doesn't smell nearly as bad). Paduk- I just love the color and it turns easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatCharlieDude Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 My current favs are cherry, pecan and red cedar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Pretty much anything but hickory...oh and I love the look of zebra wood but it really stinks when you cut it so based on that not a fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Well its Red Oak right now because that's what the customer wants his kitchen. I no allot of you guys hate red oak and I don't find it all that nice to look at either but I find it easy to work with. I do like Cherry allot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Walnut I suppose. Works with machine or hand tools easily, looks great, finishes great, fairly stable, hard/dense enough for most projects, and it smells good too. I also like cherry and sapele, neither of which is fairly cheap around here either. I'm told sapele will remain flat or get a little lower with time though since the supply is very very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 For me its old growth Douglas fir for its stability. Cedar of Lebanon for its smell and Claro walnut for it great looks. Unfortunatly I'm sensitive to walnut dust so I'm not sure I can use it anymore. Ive been working with some euro beech that's very interesting but kinda plain. Aj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 If it's worth making, it's worth making out of walnut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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