WOODS
HARDWOOD CHARACTERISTICS
OAK
Red oak or simply “oak” is the pioneer wood in Amish furniture building. Oak offers immediately recognizable grain as well as great color consistency. Its grain is deep and varied creating wave-like designs. Oak is also one of the harder hardwoods. Because red oak trees are common, red oak establishes the opening price point for the hardwoods we offer.
WHITE OAK
Prized for its strength and character, white oak has become a much loved wood in furniture building. This hardwood boasts a light, warm hue that takes stains beautifully, allowing for design versatility. For those who find red oak grain too heavy, you might prefer the lighter grain of white oak.
Beyond aesthetics, white oak’s exceptional resistance to moisture and wear makes it ideal for heirloom furniture that endures through generations. From dining tables to intricate cabinets, white oak imbues furniture with a timeless quality that complements both traditional and modern settings.Â
QUARTER-SAWN WHITE OAK (QSWO)
Quarter-sawn white oak or QSWO is white oak cut at a unique angle to display the wood’s rays and flecks. Quarter sawing white oak is an age old custom found in many antiques. It is one of the harder woods in our list of choices and has some of the most interesting grain. The grain varies significantly from piece to piece staggering rays and flecks with tight straight grain. Quarter sawing white oak causes this wood to be one of the higher-end options that we offer.Â
RUSTIC QUARTER-SAWN WHITE OAK (RUSTIC QSWO)
Rustic QSWO is quarter-sawn white oak that includes a tree’s knots and holes. By including these natural imperfections, the pieces reflect their origins and thereby become yet more unique. The effect of these inclusions often gives the sense of being more rustic, hence the name. We request that our craftsman fill the holes and knots unless instructed otherwise. Filling the holes and knots ensures that the surface remains smooth. Because it is inclusive of holes and knots, rustic QSWO can generally be found at a lower price point than standard QSWO.
CHERRY
Cherry wood is known for its beautiful warm reddish-brown color which naturally deepens with extended exposure to light. This hardwood features a tight, straight grain with occasional swirls creating a truly unique and visually appealing surface. Its rich color and attractive grain along with its ability to take stain color consistently make it a long-term popular choice for furniture. Â While cherry isn’t the hardest wood, it offers good durability and a classic look that matures gracefully over time.Â
Please keep in mind that although cherry wood is generally smooth, it usually contains mineral deposits and other lines that are not considered to be flaws. (Pictured below)
RUSTIC CHERRY
Rustic cherry is much of the same as cherry; the grain pattern, red tint and hardness are identical. What sets rustic cherry apart are the included knots, knot holes, and other natural imperfections. These natural characteristics can be viewed alternatively as imperfections or as natural characteristics that make the piece yet more unique. Rustic cherry is usually less expensive than standard cherry wood. We request that our craftsman fill holes and knots unless you ask otherwise.
SAP CHERRY
Sap cherry is harvested from the wood that grows close to the bark of a cherry tree forming the outstanding characteristic of sap cherry: It is a creamy white rather than the standard reddish-brown of standard cherry wood. Sap cherry also is somewhat softer than the heartwood of a cherry tree. Our sap cherry furniture utilizes both standard and sap cherry wood to create a mixture of white and reddish-brown making unique furniture. Because traditionally sap cherry was not used in a standard cherry piece, sap cherry usually sets the opening price point for cherry woods.
MAPLE (BROWN MAPLE)
Brown maple is similar to cherry woods when it comes to grain pattern and softness but is set apart by its color variation and natural uniqueness. Brown maple provides gorgeous gradients when stain is applied. These gradients are a part of brown maple’s natural take to differentiating stains giving a piece of furniture a flare that is entirely its own. The hue’s on each piece are caused by the combination of open and closed grain of brown maple. Because of brown maple’s smooth grain, it is the Amish wood of choice for painted furniture.
HARD MAPLE
In contrast to brown maple, hard maple is more durable and resistant to abrasions and wear. Like brown maple, it has a smooth, even surface. However, because of hard maple’s extreme hardness, it does not take dark stain as well as brown maple. Staining hard maple a dark color can often end in blotchy, uneven results, so Amish craftsman generally prefer lighter colored stains. Brown maple is in high demand and it grows slower than brown maple; therefore, hard maple is usually found at a higher price point.
HICKORY
Hickory, known for its remarkable density and strength, is the hardest wood we offer. It is notably shock and abrasion resistant and so is commonly used to make axe and sledge hammer handles. As furniture, it offers undeniable durability. Hickory’s grain is reminiscent of oak but is finer and smoother. Our hickory furniture utilizes a mix of dark heartwood and lighter sapwood giving it a unique style and look. Hickory is usually found at a higher point than other hardwood species.
RUSTIC HICKORY
Rustic hickory is identical to hickory in hardness, durability, and grain but contains more characterful knots and holes. Rustic hickory also has significant color variation, providing contrast in the piece itself. Due to the nature of rustic hickory, its varied style can be more noticeable than the rustic style of our other woods. Unless you request otherwise, we ask that our craftsman fill holes and knots.
WALNUT
Walnut is a classy, refined wood found in high end furniture and instruments. Known for its moderate hardness and durability, it is a naturally darker wood with predominantly straight grain and occasional curves and waves. The nature of walnut makes finishes and stains stand out elegantly. Walnut is usually priced on the higher end of the scale.
RUSTIC WALNUT
Rustic walnut mirrors standard walnut in its hardness and beautiful finishing qualities. Whereas standard walnut avoids holes and knots, rustic walnut embraces them creating more character. Unlike other rustic woods, rustic walnut is often is found at the same price point as standard walnut. Both walnut and rustic walnut blond with time; some customers lightly stain walnut to reduce the degree of blonding. We request that our craftsman fill holes and knots unless you ask otherwise. “Low sheen” in the below photos refers to a matte finish which reduces gloss and accentuates wood grain.
JANKA HARDNESS SCALE
The Janka Hardness Scale is a system developed by Gabriel Janka for ranking the resistance of wood to denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed a small steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. The higher the number, the harder the wood.