Hardwood species identification

[Zach Turner]

Guys I've been doing simple woodworking sense high school but I have finely found the determination to build my own shop from the ground up! Any professionals out there with tips on starting up would be great! The thing I have always struggled with most because of my lack of experience is identification when doing a refinish.

I'm looking for suggestions on any books or some that might be helpful.

Need help fast! Most of the jobs people want me to do is refinished and I hate to turn them away right now because I really need the money to build my business and hopefully start full time soon.

Also I have this hutch right now that I am working on that smells like walnut but its way to light. The piece was made around 50s or 60s.

Any help is great thanks guys!

[Chestnut]

Probably walnut as walnut lightens with age and exposure to UV light.

A couple good websites can be found below. The first one is ran by a member of this forum and he commonly helps ID wood.

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/

https://www.wood-database.com/

Wood database is an ok resource but doesn't have near as many pictures specifically end grain to help in identification.

End grain is the best way to identify wood.

 

[Zach Turner]

Thank you very much.

[Zach Turner]

This would explain why the back and insides are much darker than the face.

But why did the wood get much lighter as I stripped it?

[drzaius]

The old finish had probably darkened.

[Zach Turner]

Thanks guys sorry for the late response!

The refinish turned out great. My customer loved the more natural look with a straight clear minwax poly!

[phinds]

Tons of resource links here for wood id ---> https://woodbarter.com/threads/wood-id-resources.70/

As far as I know, this is the best compendium of wood ID resources in existence (he says, modestly).

[curlyoak]

On 11/25/2019 at 12:56 PM, Zach Turner said:

I have finely found the determination to build my own shop from the ground up!

First is financial. How much can you pay and/or finance for this shop. Include tools. Do you have the land? Will most of your work be refinishing, or something else. Build the shop based on the work and money. If you build it on credit you are adding risk. Be aware.