Wood Identification Guide

by Eric Meier

When attempting to identify a wood sample, it’s important to keep in mind the limitations and obstacles that are present in our task. Before starting, please have a look at The Truth Behind Wood Identification to approach the task in a proper mindset; I consider the linked article to be required reading for all those visiting my site with the intent of identifying wood.

1. Confirm it is actually solid wood.

Before proceeding too much farther into the remaining steps, it’s first necessary to confirm that the material in question is actually a solid piece of wood, and not a man-made composite or piece of plastic made to imitate wood.

A solid piece of Cocobolo: note how the grain naturally wraps around the sides and endgrain of the wood.

Can you see the end-grain? 

Manufactured wood such as MDF, OSB, and particleboard all have a distinct look that is—in nearly all cases—easily distinguishable from the endgrain of real wood. Look for growth rings—formed by the yearly growth of a tree—which will be a dead-giveaway that the wood sample in question is a solid, genuine chunk of wood taken from a tree.

Viewing the end of this “board” reveals its true identity: particleboard.

Is it veneered? 

If you see a large panel that has a repeating grain pattern, it may be a veneer. In such cases, a very thin layer of real wood is peeled from a tree and attached to a substrate; sometimes the veneer can be one continuous repeating piece because it is rotary-sliced to shave off the veneer layer as the tree trunk is spun by machines. Assuming it is a real wood veneer with a distinct grain and texture—and not merely a piece of printed plastic—you may still be able to identify the outer veneer wood in question, but you should still realize that is it only a veneer and not a solid piece of wood.

Large repeating patterns suggest a veneer.

Is it painted or printed to look like wood? 

Many times, especially on medium to large-sized flat panels for furniture, a piece of particleboard or MDF is either laminated with a piece of wood-colored plastic, or simply painted to look like wood grain. Many of today’s interior hardwood flooring planks are good examples of these pseudo-wood products: they are essentially a man-made material made of sawdust, glues, resins, and durable plastics.

2. Look at the color.

Some questions to immediately ask yourself:

Is the color of the wood natural, or is it stained?

If there is even a chance that the color isn’t natural, the odds are increased that the entire effort of identifying the wood will be in vain.

The reddish brown stain used on this piece of Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril) has been planed away on top, exposing the paler color of the raw wood underneath.

Is it weathered or have a patina?

Many woods, when left outside in the elements, tend to turn a bland gray color. Also, even interior wood also takes on a patina as it ages: some woods get darker, or redder, and some even get lighter or lose their color; but for the most part, wood tends to darken with age.

Fresh sanding near the end of this Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) board has exposed the characteristic yellow coloration of the wood, which has a strong tendency to shift down to a golden brown over time.

Is it possible to sand or plane the board to see the natural raw color of the wood?

The most predictable baseline to use when identifying wood is in a freshly sanded state. This eliminates the chances of a stain or natural aging skewing the color diagnosis of the wood.

3. Observe the wood grain.

If the wood is unfinished, then look at the texture of the grain. Ask yourself these questions:

Does the wood have an open, porous texture?

Most softwoods will be almost perfectly smooth with no grain indentations, while many common hardwoods have an open pore structure, such as oak or mahogany; though there are some hardwoods that are also smooth to the touch, such as maple.

Can you tell if the wood is quartersawn or plainsawn?

By observing the grain patterns, many times you can tell how the board was cut from the tree. Some wood species have dramatically different grain patterns from plainsawn to quartersawn surfaces. For instance, on their quartersawn surfaces, lacewood has large lace patterns, oak has flecks, and maple has the characteristic “butcher block” appearance.

Is there any figure or unusual characteristics, such as sapwood, curly or wild grain, burl/knots, etc.?

Some species of wood have figure that is much more common than in other species: for example, curly figure is fairly common in soft maple, and the curls are usually well-pronounced and close together. Yet when birch or cherry has a curly grain, it is more often much less pronounced, and the curls are spaced farther apart.

Curly Maple (sealed)
The strong, tight curl seen in this wood sample is very characteristic of Maple (Acer spp.).

4. Consider the weight and hardness of the wood.

If it’s possible, pick the piece of wood up and get a sense of its weight, and compare it to other known wood species. Try gouging the edge with your fingernail to get a sense of its hardness. If you have a scale, you can take measurements of the length, width, and thickness of the wood, and combine them to find the density of the wood. This can be helpful to compare to other density readings found in the database. When examining the wood in question, compare it to other known wood species, and ask yourself these questions:

Is the wood dry?

Wood from freshly felled trees, or wood that has been stored in an extremely humid environment will have very high moisture contents. In some freshly sawn pieces, moisture could account for over half of the wood’s total weight! Likewise, wood that has been stored in extremely dry conditions of less than 25% relative humidity will most likely feel lighter than average.

How does the wood’s weight compare to other species?

Taking into account the size of the board, how does its weight compare to other benchmark woods? Is it heavier than oak? Is it lighter than pine? Look at the weight numbers for a few wood species that are close to yours, and get a ballpark estimate of its weight.

A piece of Lignum Vitae is weighed on a small digital scale.

How hard is the wood? 

Obviously softwoods will tend to be softer than hardwoods, but try to get a sense of how it compares to other known woods. Density and hardness are closely related, so if the wood is heavy, it will most likely be hard too. If the wood is a part of a finished item that you can’t adequately weigh, you might be able to test the hardness by gouging it in an inconspicuous area. Also, if it is used in a piece of furniture, such as a tabletop, a general idea of its hardness can be assessed by the number and depth of the gouges/dings in the piece given its age and use. A tabletop made of pine will have much deeper dents than a tabletop made of Oak. Additionally, you can always try the “fingernail test” as a rough hardness indicator:  find a crisp edge of the wood, and with your fingernail try to push in as hard as you can and see if you’re able to make a dent in the wood.

5. Consider its history.

Many times we forget common sense and logic when attempting to identify wood. If you’ve got a piece of Amish furniture from Pennsylvania, chances are more likely that the wood  will be made of something like black walnut or cherry, and not African wenge or jatoba. You might call it “wood profiling,” but sometimes it can pay to be a little prejudiced when it comes to wood identification. Some common-sense questions to ask yourself when trying to identify a piece of wood:

Where did it come from?

Knowing as much as you can about the source of the wood—even the smallest details—can be helpful. If the wood came from a wood pile or a lumber mill where all the pieces were from trees processed locally, then the potential species are immediately limited. If the wood came from a builder of antique furniture, or a boat-builder, or a trim carpenter: each of these occupations will tend to use certain species of woods much more often than others, making a logical guess much simpler.

Despite its discoloration and wear, it’s very likely that this rolling pin is made of hard maple.

How old is it?

As with the wood’s source, its age will also help in identification purposes. Not only will it help to determine if the wood should have developed a natural patina, but it will also suggest certain species which were more prevalent at different times in history. For instance, many acoustic guitars made before the 1990s have featured Brazilian rosewood backs/sides, yet due to CITES restrictions placed upon that species, East Indian rosewood became a much more common species on newer guitars. (And this is a continuing shift as newer replacements are sought for rosewoods altogether.)

How large is the piece of wood?

Some species of trees are typically very small—some are even considered shrubs—while others get quite large. For instance, if you see a large panel or section of wood that’s entirely black, chances are it’s either painted, dyed, or stained: Gaboon ebony and related species are typically very small and very expensive.

What is the wood’s intended use?

Simply knowing what the wood was intended for—when considered in conjunction with where it came from and how old it is—can give you many clues to help identify it. In some applications, certain wood species are used much more frequently than others, so that you can make an educated guess as to the species of the wood based upon the application where it was used. For instance, in the United States: many older houses with solid hardwood floors have commonly used either red oak or hard maple; many antique furniture pieces have featured quartersawn white oak; many violins have spruce tops; many closet items used aromatic red cedar, and so forth. While it’s not a 100% guarantee, “profiling” the wood in question will help reduce the number of possible suspects, and aid in deducing the correct species.

6. Find the X-Factor.

Sometimes, after all the normal characteristics of a sample have been considered, the identity of the wood in question is still not apparent. In these instances—particularly in situations where a sample has been narrowed down to only a few possible remaining choices—it’s sometimes helpful to bring in specialized tests and other narrower means of identification.

The following techniques and recommendations don’t necessarily have a wide application in initially sorting out wood species and eliminating large swaths of wood species, but will most likely be of use only as a final step in special identification circumstances.

Odor

Believe it or not, freshly machined wood can have a very identifiable scent. When your eyes and hands can’t quite get a definitive answer, sometimes your nose can. Assuming there is no stain, finish, or preservative on or in the wood, quickly sand, saw, or otherwise machine a section of the wood in question, and take a whiff of the aroma.

Although new scents can be very difficult to express in words, many times the scent of an unknown wood may be similar to other known scents. For instance, rosewoods (Dalbergia spp.) are so named for their characteristic odor that is reminiscent of roses. Although difficult to directly communicate, with enough firsthand experience scents can become a memorable and powerful means of wood identification.

Fluorescence

While certain woods can appear basically identical to one another under normal lighting conditions, when exposed to certain wavelengths—such as those found in blacklights—the wood will absorb and emit light in a different (visible) wavelength. This phenomenon is known as fluorescence, and certain woods can be distinguished by the presence or absence of their fluorescent qualities. See the article Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification for more information.

Black Locust: fluorescence (under blacklight)
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) glows a bright yellow-green when placed under a blacklight.

Chemical Testing

There are only a small number of chemical tests regularly used on wood, most of which are very specialized and were developed to help distinguish easily confused species with one another. They work by detecting differences in the composition of heartwood extractives. A chemical substance (called a reagent) is usually dissolved in water and applied to the wood surface: the surface is then observed for any type of chemical reaction (and accompanying color change) that may occur. Two of the most useful are the tests that are meant to separate Red and White Oak, and Red and Hard Maple.

Heartwood Extractives Leachability

Sometimes a wood species will have heartwood extractives that will be readily leachable in water and capable of conspicuously tinting a solution of water a specific color. For instance, the heartwood extractives contained in osage orange (Maclura pomifera) contain a yellowish-brown dye that is soluble in water. (This can sometimes be observed anecdotally when the wood is glued with a water-based adhesive: the glue’s squeeze-out is an unusually vibrant yellow.)

In a simple water extract color test, wood shavings are mixed with water in a vial, test tube, or other suitably small container, and the color of the water is observed after a few minutes. If the heartwood extractives are leachable by water, then a corresponding color change should quickly occur.

In addition to osage orange (Maclura pomifera)merbau (Intsia spp.), and rengas (Gluta spp. and Melanorrhoea spp.) are also noted for their readily leachable heartwood extractives. Because this property is quite uncommon, it can serve to quickly differentiate these woods from other lookalikes.

7. Look at the endgrain.

Perhaps no other technique for accurate identification of wood is as helpful and conclusive as the magnified examination of the endgrain. Frequently, it brings the identification process from a mostly intuitive, unscientific process into a predictable, repeatable, and reliable procedure.

Looking at the endgrain with a magnifier shouldn’t be a mystifying or esoteric art. In many cases, it’s nearly as simple as examining small newsprint under a magnifying glass. There are three components necessary to reap the full benefits contained in the endgrain:

I. A prepared surface.

When working with wood in most capacities, it becomes quickly apparent that endgrain surfaces are not nearly as cooperative or as easily worked as face grain surfaces. However, in this case, it is absolutely critical that a clear and refined endgrain surface is obtained.

For a quick glance of a softwood sample, a very sharp knife or razor blade can be used to take a fresh slice from the endgrain. However, in many denser species, especially in tropical hardwoods, one of the best ways to obtain a clear endgrain view is through diligent sanding. It’s usually best to begin with a relatively smooth saw cut (as from a fine-toothed miter saw blade) and proceed through the grits, starting at around 100, and working up to at least 220 or 320 grit, preferably higher for the cleanest view.

II. The right magnifier.

It need not be expensive, but whatever tool is used to view the endgrain should have adequate magnifying power. In most instances, 10x magnification is ideal, however, anything within the range of 8 to 15x magnification should be suitable for endgrain viewing. (Standard magnifying glasses are typically in the range of 2 to 4x magnification.)

These stronger magnifiers, sometimes called loupes, usually have a smaller viewing area than standard magnifying glasses. Fancier models—with built in lights, or larger viewing surfaces—are available at a premium; but the most basic models are usually only a few dollars.

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III. A trained eye.

The third element that constitutes a proper endgrain examination is simply knowing what to look for. In analyzing the patterns, colors, shapes, and spacing of the various anatomical features, there is a veritable storehouse of information within the endgrain—all waiting to be unlocked. Yet, if these elements have not been pointed out and learned, the array of features will simply seem like an unintelligible jumble. The discipline of recognizing anatomical endgrain features is not easily summed up in a few sentences or even a few paragraphs, but it is nonetheless critical to the identification process. To this end, an in-depth look should be given to the various categories, divisions, and elements that constitute endgrain wood identification on the macroscopic level. (In this regard, macroscopic denotes what can be seen with a low-powered, 10x hand lens—without the aid of a microscope—rather than simply what can be seen with the naked eye.) Because the anatomy between softwoods and hardwoods is so divergent, each will be considered and examined separately:

Still stumped?

If you have a mysterious piece of wood that you’d like identified, you’ve got a few options for next steps:

USDA’s Forest Products Laboratory

You can mail your physical wood samples to the Center for Wood Anatomy Research

Pros:

  • Free
  • Professional wood identification

Cons:

  • Only available to US citizens
  • Slow turnaround times (up to a month or more)
  • Limited to three IDs per year

See their Wood ID Factsheet for more info.

Alden Identification Service

You can mail your physical wood samples (even small sections taken from antiques) to Alden Identification Service.

Pros:

  • Professional wood identification
  • Faster turnaround times (ranging from a few days to a week or two)

Cons:

  • Paid service

See their ordering page for more info. (Note that Harry Alden has written several books while at USDA, including both Hardwoods and Softwoods of North America.)

Ask for help online

If the wood ID is merely a curiosity, or non-critical, you can post pictures of the wood in question.

Pros:

  • Free
  • No need to send physical samples

Cons:

  • Greatly limited by the quality of the pictures provided
  • Extra work usually required to get adequate clarity in photos

See article of Common US Hardwoods to help find the most commonly used woods.

Get the hard copy

wood-book-standupIf you’re interested in getting all that makes The Wood Database unique distilled into a single, real-world resource, there’s the book that’s based on the website—the Amazon.com best-seller, WOOD! Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide. It contains many of the most popular articles found on this website, as well as hundreds of wood profiles—laid out with the same clarity and convenience of the website—packaged in a shop-friendly hardcover book.
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caner

Hi there
Just trying to figure out what type of wood this side table maybe? thank you

Jeff

looking for the wood type and stain to fix scratches. This is a bed frame. Thank you very much

Austin

Hi Eric, great article. I found this chair that I am refinishing, I was wondering if you could confirm my guesses: I believe the bottom part is walnut and the side is oak, but I’m not totally sure. These photos are from it sanded clean then wiped with mineral spirits. Thanks.

Austin

Yes, I’m in California

Austin

Here’s more photos after 2 layers of linseed oil, hope this helps.

Elisa Eiger

Could you please tell me what kind of wood this is? I was thinking it might be cordia, but I’m used to seeing more waviness in the grain and less uniformity in the banding.

Julia

one more:

Julia

Thank you for your reply. It’s really heavy and according to my husband it didn’t
smell like oak when he sawed it. There isn’t really a good look in how the pattern is cut through since the piece is rather slim and consists mainly of the core.

Julia

Hello! Me and my husband got our hands on some wood that was given away as firefuel. We saw that they had some really nice pieces of wood (oak, cherry, apple, birch etc.) so we took the pieces that looked like something useable.

We got a piece of wood that we have a really hard time identifying. Maybe you have a hunch? Would much appreciate the help!

kim

what kind of wood is this please … thanks

Tara

Hello- I’m looking to identify this wood so that I can find complimentary nightstands to go with this piece.

Mark Thompson

Trying to figure out this wood, are these pics enough?

Mark Thompson

Couple more

Kris

Is this yellow pine wood, I need to replace the board the termites ate!

Kimberly Campbell

Hi….maple. we had the same ones in our house.

Andrew

I have some old chairs I’m refinishing. Curious what you think they’re made of. They kind of look to be a hodge-podge of different woods. One of the stretchers has this interesting wavy grain pattern on it but I don’t see it anywhere else on any of the chairs. Curious what you think!

Andrew

More pictures

Andrew

And one more…

Alan

In my opinion, you shouldn’t refinish those nice old pieces of furniture. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard a furniture appraiser on Antiques Road Show say “too bad it was refinished, it would be worth ten times more!”

Joseph Geeseman

Hello, just moved to a new home and movers lost two legs for our dining room table. Need to replace the legs, but can’t tell exactly what type of wood this is… any ideas?

Holly

Hi Eric what an interesting site. I wondered if you might be able to help in identifying this wooden table. Pretty sure it’s hardwood, it’s very heavy. I’m sure it’s stained as I can see some shallow scratches revealing a paler colour underneath. Any help appreciated! Thanks (Holly from UK)

Braden Gilbert

Any clue what type of wood this is?

Karen

Hi-can you please help me identify this wood? Thanks

Karen

thank you for your response…do you think this could be maple? It is honey colored like it, but the grain is throwing me off.

Karen

actually I see a little bit of “ribbon” in it now.

Karen

Here is a picture of the legs as well, that also have the dark streaks running through the wood.

Karen

I am located in CT and it’s not a wood that I am familiar with here, so that would definitely rule out maple. Wasn’t sure if the rings were darkening with age? Thanks, I appreciate your expertise.

Lisa Moeller

I would love help identifying the wood in this parlor table. I’m told it came from great grandparents in Pennsylvania, but know nothing else about it. In all my research I haven’t found anything quite like this grain. Help is appreciated!

Chris

This is a Cane / Walking Stick from the early 1800s that has been handed down.
We are trying to identify the wood. It is fairly heavy.

Anne

Hi, I’ve been trying (and failing) to identify the inlay on this vase … hoping someone here can help please? I think the main body of the vase is Sour Cherrywood but no idea about the inlay at the top. Thanks

Davis Wu

Hi Eric,
I got a really nice antique chair (I hope it’s an antique). Can you recognize what wood type it is?
Thanks a lot!!!

Davis Wu

This is the back side of the chair. It’s the biggest exposed area of wood. Hope this helps.

Davis Wu

Thanks a lot!

Joe LoBosco

Any idea what the orange colored wood is?

Adam

Any ideas about this? I got it at a local store they don’t know what it is. Came waxed. A bit harder than hard maple, but not like other exotics. Medium density. Turned easily, but somewhat splintery. No distinct scent to me. I’m talking about the upper wood naturally.

Eugenie

Hi, I would be bery grateful for help in identifying the wood of this 500 year old frame
Thank you!

Eugenie

Thank you very much. It’s an important piece of information to help tracing the author

Eric Knoy

Any idea what this wood is. Thank you

Brian Baggett

Hey all! I acquired a good stash of hardwood chunks from the new owner of a house once owned by a wood worker. I’ve identified most all but this one.

All help appreciated!

Gleb

Hi, professionals!
Does anyone know what is it? I guess it’s some exotic wood. Black grains are extremely hard, lighter softwood is very soft.
Thanks for any ideas!

Gleb

Dear Eric, thanks for suggestion!
I’ve checked this specie pictures in internet – yes, you’re completely right. I’ve held black palm in hand.
BR, Gleb

Troy Peery

Pine or Cedar outside posts on a deck, newer porch addition white paint, yellowish original to the house 1950s the yellowish were wrapped with broken pine boards

Jess

Please could you help identify the main wood in the attached picture? Thank you

Chris

Anyone please identify this Exotic ?

Chris

Hello Eric,
Thanks for your comment, its not Snakewood, if I saw this image I would have said the same.

Jen

Hi there, I have recently inherited several vintage wood serverware pieces like bowls, trays, vases, goblets etc. from my husbands grandparents who travelled a lot to Thailand and Hawaii. His dad told us some of it is Koa. Some of them have endgrain but others don’t. I know some of it is walnut, teak, monkey pod , and Hawaiian Koa. I just don’t know how to tell.. I have read several articles you wrote and I appreciate the hours you’ve put in to this. It seems that monkey pod and Koa are strikingly similar. What do you think is my… Read more »

Zak

I sanded it to 320grit, hopefully this gives you a better presentation.
First one has no finish, second one has a basic kitchen grade oil finish on it.

Zak

Zak

Would you suggest this wood for use as a knife handle/scale?

Zak

Also, I can provide closer shots of the grain if that might help you determine the wood further.

Thanks

Zak

Drew

Hello Eric,

I added your book to my Library. Great resource!
I was wondering; Do you have any data on shear (and/or horizontal shear between grain lines)?

Thank you.

Zak

Accidentally pressed post without pictures.

Zak

Hello,

I’ve got a hold of 3 pieces of wood that I cannot identify. I’m presuming its soft wood. There is no distinct pattern showing, I tried sanding it and it still didn’t show any patterns.
The blocks I have are all about 2x4x6 and are fairly light weight.

Lexi

Hi Eric – Any chance you can help with this one? This wood is from my grandfathers sea trunk when he was on the navy trip. I’m planning to make something for my family out of it but can’t identify the wood to try to match. Any ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated!!

Arvy

Hi Eric,

I am thinking to change the stain of my current floorboard. But I couldnt find the exact wood type. Attached is a picture, would be able to help me identify ?

Ryan

I am no expert but this looks like South American Pearwood to me.
I attached a photo of a floor that we sold a few years ago.

Alison

Hi Eric
I bought these corbels at a restore place. Any chance you can identify the wood? Thank you so much!

JoAnn

Hi Eric, we are confused and hope you can help. We bought this church pew and wanted to refinish it. The seat was sanded down and we stained it with “weathered oak”, but this is the result. A very red tint and no where near what we expected. Any thoughts on why? (sorry if it seems obvious or dumb, we are definitely newbies to this) The second pic is the color it was after sanding and before staining. Thank you for your time!

Rudy Long

Hi Eric. A contractor wants to replace my oak hardwood floors with VMHS Palm Acacia 3/4 ×4 3/4 B hardwood from China ( 10038036 VMPA 5-B
12/26/2018 . Is this really oak or an oak wood equivalent.

Kevin

Hey Eric what type of wood is this.. I have a guess but i’m not 100% sure..
THX

Dean Seymour

Thank you for responding so quickly.
This photo is the underside of the table.
A few years ago the wood was sanded top and bottom due to damage during a move. Only the top received varnish.
1/8” was removed from top to remove damage. The wood remained dark. No stain was applied.
Thank you

Dylan Keefer

Hi, I got this from a sawmill, but I forgot to ask what type of wood it was and was wondering if you could help me! Thank you!!!

Joe Bryant

Can you help me identify this wood?

Dean Seymour

Thank you, interesting information.
I purchased this solid wood 60” x 60” table in 2001. The table consists of 3.5” x 4.5” planks of wood that are very dark in color with a reddish tint. The unfinished bottom shows the same. The table was approximately $10,000 in 2001, I do not know the wood type.
Can you assist with an opinion?

Thank you

Dean Seymour

Hello,
I sent the undersides of the table on July 12. I was wondering if you have an opinion?

Thank you
Dean Seymour

Kevin

In the process of demoing an old house in Texas built in 1920. I know the wood is old and shiplap, but is the wood cedar? Have several people inquiring as to what I am going to do with the wood, so just would like a good idea of what I have. Thanks.

Paul Milligan

Hi Eric,
Great job identifying the woods.

I wonder if you can help out identify this.
I inherited my grandads grandfather clock, but I am not sure of it’s wood.
I think it could be a type of rosewood or mahaghony as it is a reddy-brown colour with distinctive very straight dark graining.
The clock dates from 1912.

Thanks in advance.
Kind regards
Paul M

Camilla

Hi! Thanks for your informative post! I’m currently trying to refinish the top of an old lute guitar, but since I don’t know what kind of wood it is made from, I’m not sure if I should use a grain filler or not. Since I can’t see the end grain either, it’s kind of hard to identify. Would you mind taking a look? It seems pretty soft and non-porous, so I would guess it’s some kind of softwood.

Jared Herrera

Hello,
I bought a desk and on the manufacturer’s website it said it was rosewood. They have another version of the same desk makde of acacia. I just want to know if the wood is actually rosewood and if possible, could you tell me the type of finish on it? It’s not glossy and the website said it was a sealed finish which I don’t know what it means.

I’m trying to get matching furniture, that’s why I wanna know the type of wood.

I appreciate any help.

Jared Herrera

Thank you for the response. I googled that and, to my non-expert eyes, it looks exactly like my desk. I don’t know if that type of wood is rare or expensive to think that it’s not actual rosewood. But the desk was made in India so I guess that further confirms it. Thanks again.

carmen butler

I bought a wooden bowl at a thrift store to use to make bread but, now I’m not sure it’s safe to use. It’s a very soft, very light weight, blonde wood. Do you have an idea what it might be from my description? If it’s safe material it will be a perfect bread bowl.

Mickey

Small brown look dots. ?? What kind of wood?

Mickey

Another pic. Old cabinets
Are they maple? What makes the dark looking spots?

Aaron

I recently picked up this table top. It’s about 7 feet long, 2 inches thick, and very heavy! The grain is beautiful and I’m trying to identify the wood type. I bought it from someone in France (where I live) but it apparently originally came from Hong Kong. Any ideas?

Aaron

Photos.

Chris

Any thoughts on this?

G.P. Boeve-Jones

Hello, I’m trying to identify the wood types in this sculpture(2nd half 20th century.) I think it is pine and oak, stained and painted. Does that seem right?

Duncan Mckay

I picked up a chunk of fire wood and wash shocked when I cracked the piece open! It has a magnificent marbled purple and white ribbons through it. It carved very nicely, but I have no clue what the heck it is! Any help would be marvelous.

Scott Joseph Cremi

Buckeye burl?

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