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Use this guide to quickly narrow down the right hardwood so you can buy with confidence.
View Black Walnut Options
View Ambrosia Maple Options
Before your tools ever touch a board, the journey starts with understanding the two big families of wood: hardwoods and softwoods.
Choosing the right material is not about memorizing botanical names. It is about understanding how wood behaves.
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees like Oak and Maple. Their dense cellular structure makes them heavier, more durable, and better suited for furniture, flooring, and cutting boards.
Softwoods come from coniferous trees like Pine and Cedar. Their lighter, more uniform structure makes them easier to work and more economical for construction and utility projects.
Grain is the visual fingerprint of wood and directly affects both appearance and workability.
The way a log is sawn also changes grain appearance and stability. Learn more in our wood identification guide.
Domestic hardwoods form the backbone of woodworking. Each species has a unique personality that affects how it looks, feels, and performs.
Black Walnut is prized for its deep brown colour and refined grain. With a Janka hardness of 1,010 lbf, it balances durability with exceptional workability. It machines cleanly, finishes beautifully, and excels in fine furniture and cabinetry.
Learn more in our Black Walnut species guide.
Ambrosia Maple features natural streaking caused by the Ambrosia beetle. No two boards are alike. With a Janka hardness around 750 to 900 lbf, it is ideal for decorative furniture, boxes, and turning projects.
Workshop Tip: Filling beetle holes with clear or coloured epoxy stabilizes the board and enhances the design.
Cherry darkens beautifully over time, developing a rich reddish-brown patina. It has a Janka hardness of 950 lbf and is known for its fine grain and smooth finish. Sharp tools and light passes prevent burn marks.
Read our full Cherry lumber guide.
Ash offers exceptional strength and flexibility with a Janka rating of 1,320 lbf.
Hard Maple is the gold standard for cutting boards and butcher blocks thanks to its closed grain and extreme durability.
| Wood Species | Appearance | Janka Hardness | Workability | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Walnut | Rich dark brown | 1,010 | Excellent | Furniture, cabinetry |
| Ambrosia Maple | Cream with streaking | 750 to 900 | Very good | Decorative projects |
| Cherry | Reddish-brown | 950 | Good | Furniture, cabinetry |
| Ash | Light with bold grain | 1,320 | Good | Tool handles, chairs |
| Hard Maple | Creamy white | 1,450 | Challenging | Cutting boards, floors |
Exotic woods introduce bold colour, dramatic grain, and luxury appeal. They are best used as accents, inlays, and statement pieces.
Padauk starts bright orange-red and darkens over time. UV-resistant finishes slow colour change.
Purpleheart turns vibrant purple with UV exposure and boasts a Janka hardness of 2,520 lbf.
Wenge offers dramatic contrast but requires careful handling due to splintering and dust sensitivity.
Explore our exotic wood collection for more inspiration.
Right wood, right job. Matching material properties to function ensures long-term success.
Black Walnut, Cherry, White Oak, and Ash are excellent furniture woods depending on desired appearance and durability.
Hard Maple leads due to hardness and closed grain, with Cherry and Walnut as complementary options.
Ambrosia Maple and Cherry are favourites for turning thanks to stability and visual interest.
Choosing the right wood transforms a project from average to exceptional.
Explore our full selection at The Knotty Lumber Co. to find the perfect material for your next build.
