Types Of Hardwood Lumber In Westchester, NY For Woodworking

Hardwood lumber in Westchester, NY is a popular choice among woodworkers because it is available in a variety of colors and interesting grain patterns.  These features lend themselves well to furniture making.  Hardwoods can be more expensive than their softwood counterparts party because they do not grow as quickly.  This article will discuss some of the more popular hardwoods and their features.

On a hardness scale of 1 to 5, ash ranks a 4.  It is a pale-colored wood that is popularly stained.  Although it is generally easy to work with, it is becoming more and more rare and can be relatively expensive. 

Lumber in Westchester, NY that is made from birch can be one of two types: yellow or white.  Like ash, birch is a 4 on the harness scale of 1 to 5.  It does not accept stain very well (the result is usually pretty blotchy), so it is a good idea to paint your finished piece instead.  Birch is usually widely available and can be relatively inexpensive when compared to other types of hardwoods.

Cherry can be used for a variety of projects, but it is most commonly used for making furniture.  It is a popular choice because it accepts stain well and is relatively easy to work with.  It is usually reddish-brown in color.  Like many other hardwoods, cherry can be grown in tree farms which ensures that there will be a good supply of this type of wood for years to come.  Because it is a popular choice for building and in high demand, it can be a relatively expensive type of lumber in Westchester, NY.   

Mahogany is a beautiful, rich wood with a reddish-brown hue.  It is popular among furniture makers and features a straight grain with a rating of 2 on the hardness scale from 1 to 5.  It is commonly stained and treated with oil to make it shine.  Mahogany is not currently being grown in tree farms because it usually takes anywhere from 20-50 years to reach maturity and be used for lumber.  For this reason and because it is a highly sought after wood for furniture, it can cost a pretty penny.

There are two types of maple lumber in Westchester, NY: hard and soft.  Even though it is called soft maple, it can be harder than a lot of other wood available.  Because hard maple is ranked a 5 on the hardness scale of 1 to 5, it can be complicated to work with.  This is why soft maple is usually preferred by woodworkers.