BUTTERNUT
Botanical Name: Jugians c'merea A member of the walnut family, butternut has assumed a place of honor as the wood often chosen for church altars. This tree is treasured for more than its wood; it possesses a rich, delicious nut and produces a sap that is used to make a sweet syrup similar to maple syrup.
Other Names: White walnut, oil nut.
Sources: Canada, U. S.A.
Characteristics: Straight grain; soft but coarse texture; medium light brown.
Uses: Furniture, interior trim on boats, interior joinery, carving, veneers.
Workability: Generally good; because wood is soft, it is important to keep cutters sharp; will fuzz up when sanded; poor bending properties.
Finishing: Accepts finishes very well.
Weight: 26> Ib./cu. ft.
Price: Moderate.
Botanical Name: Catalpa speciosa A soft, attractive wood, catalpa is a fine cabinet wood, easy to work with a wavy figure. The wood is relatively inexpensive, but often difficultto find locally. Its open grain and excessive softness make it unsuitable for furniture that will receive heavy use. Resistant to decay, it is ideal for outdoor carvings.
Other Names: Catawba, cigartree, Indian-bean, northern catalpa.
Source: U. S.A.
Characteristics: Generally uneven, wavy grain; medium coarse, even texture; light tan with a prominent darker growth ring figure.
Uses: Cabinetmaking, turning, picture frames and general ornamental uses.
Workability: Generally very good; may fray when crosscut; dulls cutters only slightly.
Finishing: Accepts finishes well.
Weight: 2S-32 Ib./cu. ft.
Price: Inexpensive to moderate.
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Botanical Name: Chamaecyparie nootkatenais Alaska yellow cedar is stable and remarkably resistant to decay. Like most members of the cedar family, it has a distinctive odor that fades as the wood ages. This wood is not abundantly available. The trees grow to 60 to 60 feet in height in the forests of the Pacific northwest, and it can take up to 200 years for them to reach marketable size.
Other Names: Yellow cedar, Pacific Coast yellow cedar, nootka false cypress, yellow cypress.
Source: Pacific Coast of North America. Characteristics: Straight grain; fine texture; pale yellow. Uses: Furniture, joinery, boat building and veneers. Workability: Very good; low dulling of cutters.
Finishing: Accepts finishes well.
Weight: 31 Ib./cu. ft.
Price: Moderate.
