Amboyna (Burl)
Though straight grain amboyna is a beautiful wood, it is the amboyna burl that is the most sought after. Known for its interleaving colors of red, orange, brown and yellow, amboyna burl is unmistakably one of the forest's most valued species. Amboyna burl is often used on automotive dashboards and was the first burl veneer to be offered in Rolls Royce automobiles. This species originates from Indonesia and South East Asia
 Ash (Burl)
Ash (Burl) and Ash (Pecky) are large, clean, and well-figured. These species of wood are notoriously difficult to find and often originate from Western Europe. More commonly, you'll find ash burl with small dark brown knots which add a touch of "character" to the uniform creamy color. Ash burls are most often found at the trunk of the tree (as opposed to under-ground) which further indicates that the burl growth is the result of external influences such as insects, forest animals, and humans.
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Ash (Pecky)
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Beech (Spalted)
Spalting is the name for the effect caused by fungal growth in a tree. It typically occurs in dead and fallen trees but has been found in living (but weakened) specimens as well. The tell tale sign of spalting is the array of stripes known as "zone lines". It is a challenge to find usable spalted trees because often the fungus has deteriorated the wood cells to the point at which the log is too soft to slice. The USA and Southern Canada is where you can find this species of wood.
Camphor (Burl)
If you're looking for a wood with unusual color and character, nothing beats camphor burl. The aroma from camphor is hard to mistake. In Japan, camphor wood is used for boat building because of its anti-fungal properties. In northeast Australia, the camphor tree is considered an invasive and efforts are being made to eradicate this species. However, the burl growth found in camphor is generally limited the areas around the Pacific Basin.
Cherry (Crotch)
Cherry is an American classic! The black cherry tree can grow to 100 feet tall and have a trunk diameter of up to 5 feet. Only the finest cherry logs are selected. Cherry is most known for the beautiful cathedral grain and the crotch of the cherry tree we feel is the most visually interesting.
Chestnut (Burl)
Contrary to popular opinion, chestnut burl is very rare and is becoming more so each day. The chestnut tree is simply not a species that is known for producing large, clean burls. However, this is one burl type that has a very pleasant array of colors that is soft to the eye and compliments many other species very well. Several of our customers have combined this wood with darker species such as walnut and wenge. The finished projects are simply gorgeous!
Ebony
You don't have to be a woodworker to know the beauty of ebony. Though the range of color in ebony is relatively small, the grain patterns are limitless. Flat cut ebony, which is more common, has a breath-taking arrangement of light and dark streaks that few other woods can match. Even with a basic finish, this exotic has a remarkable look that few can resist. This species is becoming nearly impossible to find because the trees are harvested regardless of size and primarily found on the Celebes Islands in the East Indies.
Eucalyptus (Burl)
The eucalyptus burl are from a true eucalyptus burl that grew in Australia. This protuberence yielded a very fine wood with a smooth high-end look. This would be a great compliment to a project made primarily of walnut. Very limited availability... don't miss out.
Imbuya (Burl)
One sniff and you'll know this species! The spicy aroma is unforgettable and is so strong that it is often called "imported stinkwood". I would not call it stinky but the fragrance is striking. None the less, this is a gorgeous burl with an unusual color and a well-exposed shimmer. This species has become very popular on high end furniture over the last decade. We expect prices to sky-rocket within the next 2 years. The Imbuya burl originates from South Brazil, Sao Paolo.
Karelian Birch (Burl)
This is one of our favorites and though its not often considered a true "burl", it is exceedingly beautiful. Large forests of birch can be found in Karelia but the flame/burl figure is uncommon and highly sought-after. The Finnish government requires loggers and lumber producers to follow exacting guidelines and abide by quotas which are strictly enforced. Some organizations believe that the burl formation is caused by unusual soil conditions but the theory is scientifically unsupported.
Lacewood
Lacewood has flecks of grain that reflect light in way that is very similar to quartersawn oak but with wider and more densely packed arrays. I've seen walnut and wenge solid wood projects that have been accented with lacewood and the results were absolutely beautiful. This species comes from South America, specifically Brazil.
Mahogany
Mahogany has become a kind of generic term for any one of a handful of imported, fine grain, reddish-brown wood. Genuine mahogany, which comes from Honduras, has been over-harvested and is considered by many to be commercially extinct. Because of this, several other species are now imported from Africa and Asia. This false mahogany timber (Khaya) typically has a darker and tighter grain and is in plentiful supply. Our supplier has a small quantity of genuine mahogany available for use.
Maple (Bird's Eye)
Bird's eye figure occurs most commonly in hard maple. The stunning look of small, repetitive, and undulating "eyes" across the grain make this one of the most consumer-demanded maples. Though many theories exist, science has not yet proven what causes this figure. Unlike other maple grains, bird's eye figure can be very difficult to spot in a log unless the bark and cambium layer are removed.
Maple (Burl)
Often considered the holy grail of fine woods, maple burls are wart-like growths typically growing on the lower part of the tree. Burls are believed to be caused by disease or damage to the tree during its early years. Every tree contains "dormant buds" which have all of the genetic information that a tree needs to grow a new tree. When the tree is damaged, these dormant buds are called to action and create a chaotic grain pattern that effectively patches the damage. A burl is often just nature's way of making a band-aid.
Maple (Burl, White)
There are some maple burls that do not have a desirable range of color. Instead of wasting the burl, the mill sends it out to a specialty processing company that bleaches and dyes it white. This is a very expensive process so it is not done very often but we have a specialty source that managed to procure some just for us. The white maple burl creates stunning and unique pieces sure to capture anyone's attention.
 Oak (Burl)
Oak burl has a rustic charm that few other burl species can match. The coarse grain, open pores, and light colors make it a great compliment to walnut, cherry, etimoe, and more. It's not uncommon for oak burl to contain bark pockets (called "in-grown bark") and small voids. These character marks only add to the bucolic appeal of this very affordable wood. Over the years, we've found that the supply of this species has stabilized despite a notable increase in demand. This species originates from Europe, Asia, and occasionally North Africa.
 Olive Ash (Burl)
Olive Ash is a darker, streaked heartwood found in some Ash trees, which tends to resemble the wood of Olive trees. The dark-on-light stripes of Olive Ash are also vaguely reminiscent of Zebrawood; though interestingly enough, the darker portions of Olive Ash do not correspond to the growth rings on the tree, but are independent of them. Olive Ash burl is highly valued for its unique colors and swirly grain patterns and is typically imported from Europe.
 Redwood (Burl)
Redwood is a close cousin of the famous sequoia tree of California. Certainly the most prized growth/grain in redwood is burl which generally grows underground and must be excavated with specialized machinery. Typically used on automotive dashboards and small case goods, redwood burl has a pleasant color and shimmer when finished. It is such a beautiful wood, that it is hard to believe it's not an imported burl species!
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Oak (English Brown Oak Burl)
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Walnut (Burl)
Walnut burl is a classic beauty and Dash's personal favorite. It is used on everything from fine furniture to automobiles. The rich brown color is frequently accented with a light coat of penetrating stain which brings out the figure. Walnut is one of only a handful of species that lightens with exposure to UV light. Vintage walnut furniture pieces are usually very warm in color. This lightening process can take months, years, and even decades to achieve.
Walnut (European)
European walnut is blanket name that covers a wide variety of walnut lumber from Europe. The most common woods found under this category are French, Italian, Circassian, and Russian walnut. The finest European walnut burl comes from trees which are hand-dug from the ground (the burl growth is commonly found at or below the ground level).
Walnut (Flat cut)
This wood consists of American Black Walnut that is flat cut mostly from the mid-Atlantic area of the United States. This is one of the our country's classic hardwood species and is typically used on restoration and furniture projects in a variety of styles.
Zebrawood
What an appropriate name for a wood species! Few woodworkers can ignore the striking beauty of the stripes in zebrawood. Zebrano trees can grow to 150 feet tall and have a trunk diameter of up to 5 feet! We've managed to get our hands on a small assortment of this exotic wood from Africa.