Ray Jones Woodcrafts
Fine Wood Boxes
Wood Descriptions
The list below shows many of the woods I use. Many of the listings are linked to scans of the wood or photos of boxes made from it. Some of the woods cost more than others, as indicated by the asterisks and footnotes at the bottom of the page. Not every wood listed will be available at any given time and sometimes I get wood in such small quantities that it doesn't justify listing it here. To find out about wood availability please call or email me.
- Acacia, Black (CA). Gold/brown, moderate texture and hardness. Looks very similar to koa, though not as curly. Salvaged.
- Afzelia Xylay***** (SE Asia). Orange with a unique pattern of waves and swirls. Very rare, extremely limited availability.
- Australian Pine* (FL). Not a true pine or even a conifer, this is casuarina equisetfolia. Very hard and dense and will often have very small cracks or checks (which I will have repaired). I have a very limited supply of this wood salvaged on Captiva Island after Hurricane Charlie.
- Ancient Kauri*** (New Zealand). This wood has been buried in bogs for 30,000-50,000 years, yet is perfectly preserved. The wood is an olive color with occasional lighter streaks, very fine texture and chatoyance.
- Ash, Curly Western (OR). Creamy background with some areas of rich, golden brown. Very smooth texture, hard and heavy. Sometimes called "Olive Ash). Not currently available.
- Avodire (Africa). Uniform canary yellow color, sometimes with dramatic curl figure. Excellent depth, coarse texture, moderate hardness. Sometimes called "White Mahogany." Limited availability.
- Beech, Spalted (USA & Canada). Tan background with black lines. Moderate hardness with some soft areas. Salvaged.
- Birch, Spalted (USA). Black lines and gray or brown streaks superimposed on a cream/gray background. Fine texture, looks much like spalted maple.
- Birch, Huron (Canada). This wood is from a log that sank in Lake Huron on its way to a mill in the early 1900's that has been recently salvaged. Tan with lighter sapwood, broad curl figure and nice chatoyance.
- Blackwood, African**** (Africa). Very dark brown/black heartwood, almost as black as ebony. Sapwood, when present is creamy yellow. Very dense and hard, a member of the rosewood family.
- Bloodwood (S. America). Crimson, sometimes with darker markings, very hard and dense. Holds its color better than most other red woods.
- Bosse, Pommele* (Africa). Golden brown, similar to mahogany in color, but harder. Very nice pommele figure.
- Box Elder (USA). Cream colored background with pink or red streaks, sometimes also has black wormholes and black or gray streaking. The colors are caused by a fungus which the boxelder beetle brings to the tree.
- Bubinga (Africa). A very hard, dense wood. Fine to medium texture, burgundy color, often with a mottled grain figure.
- Bubinga, Pommele* (Africa). Dark red/brown with a fine grain and beautiful pommele figure (see image).
- Bubinga, Quilted* (Africa), Dark red/brown with a fine grain and beautiful, broad quilt figure. I often bookmatch the lids with a streak of silvery sapwood down the center for a very nice contrast effect.
- Buckeye Burl** (CA). Gray, black, and cream, swirls, curls and waves. Often has voids or bark inclusions which are filled. Quite soft. Limited availability.
- Canarywood/Tarara Amarilla (S. America). Yellow/gold, with darker gold brown markings and light sapwood. Moderate texture and hardness.
- Cape Beech (Africa). Tan/cream color with darker flecks for a fish scale-like grain, waxy feel. Hard and heavy. Limited availability.
- Cascara (NW USA & BC). Bright yellow-yellow/orange. Moderate texture and hardness. Limited availability.
- Chakte Kok (Mexico). Also known as "Redheart". Apple red, ages to deep crimson, sometimes with areas of white sapwood. Moderate texture and hardness. Sustainably harvested. Seldom available.
- Cherry (USA). Starts out pink/tan, ages to a deep red/brown. Fine texture, moderate hardness.
- Cherry, Curly (USA). Cherry (see above) with a broad curl figure.
- Cocobolo** (Mexico). A beautiful rosewood with black markings on a dark red to red/brown background. Extremely hard and dense.
- Curunay (South America). Salmon pink, very fine grain, hard and heavy. Sustainably harvested.
- Curupay aka "Patagonia Rosewood" (South America). Very hard and heavy, fine grained. Not a true rosewood, but very beautiful wood.
- Ebony**** (Africa). Jet black with occasional light streaks. Extremely hard and heavy. Very limited availability.
- Ebony, Striped****(Africa). Same species as African Ebony, above, but the younger trees have brown streaks in the wood. Very limited availability.
- Ebony, Asian*** . Dark brown, almost black background with lighter brown streaks. Extremely hard and heavy. Very limited availability.
- Ebony, Macassar****. (Indonesia). Black with brown streaks. Very similar to Asian ebony. Very hard and dense. Very limited availability.
- Eucalyptus, Curly (California). Salmon pink to red/brown, fine to medium texture, very hard. Curly grain may be througout the piece, or only in areas. Salvaged.
- Ginkgo (TN). Blonde, soft wood with fine straight grain. Occasional darker streaks or small dark knots, looks much like pine. Everyone knows the tree and the its leaves, but the wood is seldom seen. My supply came from a huge tree in Knoxville, TN.
- Goncalo Alves, Curly (South America). Golden brown with occasional dark streaks. Very hard, fine texture.
- Granadillo (Mexico). Red with darker streaks. Often accented with lighter sapwood. Occasionally has curly figure.
- Ironwood, Desert** (AZ). Dark red-brown, with darker markings. Very hard and dense. Seldom available.
- Jamaican Dogwood (Florida Keys). Interesting interplay between the grayish sapwood and yellow/green heartwood. Fine texture, very hard. Salvaged.
- Jichituriqui ("heechee tur eekee", my favorite wood name). (So. America) Yellow to pinkish yellow. Moderate texture and hardness. Sustainably harvested. Limited availablity.
- Kiaat (Africa). Dark golden brown with lighter streaks, sometimes with areas of creamy/gray sapwood. Medium texture and hardness.
- Koa**, Curly (Hawaii). Golden brown to dark brown, with curly grain, nice depth, moderate hardness. Limited availability.
- Lacewood (S. America). Originally from Australia, now grown in South America. Tan to light brown, with lighter "flakes", similar figure to quatersawn oak.
- Leadwood* (Africa). As the name suggests, a very heavy, hard wood.Dark brown, almost black, with irregular grain. Very limited availability.
- Leopardwood (S. America). Looks similar to lacewood, but is harder and denser.
- Lignum Vitae** (S. America). Green with yellow sapwood, very dense and hard, waxy texture. The Latin name means "wood of life".
- Lychee (SE Asia). Pinkish tan, very hard and find grained. This is from the tree that produces lychee fruit.
- Lysiloma (FL). Grey/brown with lighter sapwood. From trees blown down by Hurricane Wilma in Palm Beach County.
- Macacauba (S. America). Pinkish with darker streaks. Sometimes has curly figure. Hard and dense.
- Madrone (NW USA). Pink/tan to red/brown, sometimes has darker streaks. Fine texture, moderate hardness, looks very similar to cherry.
- Madrone Burl** (NW USA). Pink/tan to red/brown. Classic burl figure with swirls and eyes.
- Madrone, Curly (NW USA). Pink/tan to red/brown, sometimes has darker streaks. Fine texture, moderate hardness, looks very similar to cherry. Curls are fairly broad, often an inch or more apart. Limited availability.
- Mahoe, Blue (Puerto Rico). Gray to bluish purple, moderate hardness and texture. A member of the hibiscus family, this wood is sustainably harvested in Puerto Rico. Limited availablity
- Mahoe, Red (Florida Keys). Varying shades of deep red/brown, sometimes with dark streaks or almost white sapwood. Fine texture, moderate hardness. Salvaged, very limited availability.
- Mahogany, African. (Africa). Light red/brown, ages to a beautiful deep red brown. Coarse texture, moderate hardness.
- Mahogany, Cuban* (Florida Keys). Light red/brown, ages to a beautiful deep red/brown. Moderate texture and hardness. Once considered the finest of the mahoganies, seldom commercially available. Salvaged.
- Mahogany, Honduras (Latin America). Light red/brown, ages to a beautiful deep red/brown. Good texture, moderate hardness.
- Makore, Curly* (Africa). Pinkish brown color with a mottled curl figure. Moderate hardness, good depth. Similar to mahogany.
- Mango* (Hawaii, Costa Rica, or Africa)). Golden straw color sometimes with darker streaks or spots, and curl or mottle figure.
- Maple, Ambrosia (NC). A light blonde/tan background with streaks of gray, brown and black, caused by the ambrosia beetle. Moderate hardness.
- Maple, Birdseye (NE USA). Light blonde, sometimes with dark streaks. Covered with tiny swirls or "bird's eyes". Very hard, excellent depth.
- Maple, Curly (USA). Light blonde/tan with curls from several per inch to an inch or more apart. Excellent depth, moderate hardness.
- Maple Burl*. (NW USA & BC). Light blonde to dark tan, classic burl figure with swirls and eyes. Good to excellent depth.
- Maple Burl, Spalted (NW USA). This tends to be cluster burls, rather than a single large burl. The wood has areas of classic burl swirls and eyes, as well as areas of curly grain between the burls. The spalting causes the color to darken to a warm brown, sometimes with gray or black lines and streaks. Limited availability.
- Maple, Quilted** (NW USA & BC). Light blonde to dark tan, sometimes with black streaks of spalting. Figure looks like crumpled satin, extreme depth, surface may appear to be three dimensional. Moderate hardness.
- Maple, Spalted (USA & BC). Light blonde to gray/brown, with black lines and streaks caused by fungi. Softer than unspalted maple, some areas may be very soft.
- Mesquite (SW USA). Tan/red to dark brown. Coarse texture, moderate hardness. Burl figure sometimes available.
- Mesquite Burl** (SW USA). Tan/red to dark brown. Coarse texture, moderate hardness.
- Morado* (Bolivia). Purple/brown with darker streaks. Very hard and heavy. Sometimes called "Bolivian Rosewood", but is not a true rosewood. Sustainably harvested.
- Movingue, Curly* (Africa). Bright yellow with beautiful, three-dimensional curly grain. Sometimes called African Satinwood.
- Myrtlewood Burl (CA & OR: Yes, Virginia, myrtlewood does grow outside of Oregon!). Gray/green to brown green. Usually has areas of burl figure between curly and straight grain, rather than solid burl. Fine texture, moderate hardness.
- Myrtlewood, Curly (CA & OR) Gray/green to brown green. Curls from extremely fine (frog's hair) to quite broad. Fine texture, moderate hardness.
- Myrtlewood, Tiger Stripe (CA & OR). yellow/green, with longitudinal black streaks and occasional curls. Fine texture, moderate hardness. Very rare.
- Okoume (Africa). Pinkish-brown color, coarse, irregular grain. Similar to mahogany, but often has nice chatoyance.
- Oliepod Burl***(Africa). Classic burl swirls and eyes in pink to dark gray brown. Very hard, extremely rare.
- Olive* (Italy & Africa). Golden yellow/brown with darker drown or black markings. Hard and heavy, very smooth texture.
- Palm, Black*** (Indonesia). Very hard black fibers in a softer, lighter colored matrix. Very striking end grain. Limited avilability.
- Pao Rosa* (Madagascar). Red with black and occasional yellow markings. Hard with a very fine texture. As beautiful as cocobolo.
- Peroba Rosa (S. America). Pinkish/yellow, ages to pink/red. Moderate texture and hardness. Sustainably harvested.
- Pernambuco (S. America). Bright orange, hard, dense, with a waxy feel. This wood is one of the choice woods for violin bows.
- Persimmon (USA). Gray/cream color, sometimes with black streaks, very hard, straight grain. A member of the ebony family. Limited availability.
- Pink Ivory**** (S. Africa). Pale pink to hot pink to deep red, sometimes with areas of creamy sapwood. Very smooth texture, extremely hard and dense. One of the rarest and most beautiful woods in the world.
- Poinciana, Yellow. (Florida Keys). Gray/brown to red/brown, moderate texture and hardness, surface has a very "silky" feel. Salvaged.
- Pommele Bosse * (Africa). Golden brown, similar to mahogany in color, but harder. Very nice pommele figure.
- Poplar, Spalted (NC). Greenish/tan background with black and gray streaks and lines. Fairly soft.
- Purpleheart (S. America). Very hard and dense, fairly coarse grain. Purple color, will gradually age to a deep maroon/burgundy.
- Rambutan * (SE Asia). Reddish brown with darker streaks. Very hard. Rambutan is a fruit very closely related to lychee, and the two woods are indistinguishable.
- Red Mallee Burl***** (Australia). Very hard and dense. Red/brown, often with lighter sapwood. Limited availablity.
- Redwood Burl* (California). Deep red/brown color with burl eyes and swirls. Soft.
- Redwood, Curly* (California). Beuatiful red/brown color with three-dimensional curls. A softwood, it varies from fairly hard to extremely soft.
- Rosewood, Bolivian* (Bolivia). See "Morado", above.
- Rosewood, Florida (FL). This is Indian Rosewood, dalbergia sissoo, which has been grown in Florida as an ornamental. In some areas it is considered a non-native invasive species. Honey gold with darker brown streaks, cream colored sapwood.
- Rosewood, Honduras** (Central America). Dalbergia stevensonii. Purplish brown with darker streaks.
- Rosewood Burl, Honduras***** Central America), Purplish brown with darker swirls and eyes. rare and expensive, but worth it! Very limited availability.
- Rosewood, Indonesian**. (Indonesia). Purplish brown with darker purple/black streaks. Moderate texture, hard and heavy. Plantation grown.
- Sassafras (USA). Pale yellow color, fairly coarse grain, moderately soft. Wonderful aroma when freshly cut. Limited availability.
- Sirari. (S. America). Salmon pink, very fine grain, hard and heavy. Looks very similar to Curunay.
- Sand Kiaat (Africa). Chocolate brown with yellowish sapwood. Coarse texture, moderate hardness.
- Sapele (an African mahogany from Nigeria). Harder and denser than other African mahoganies.
- Sapele, Curly (Africa). Classic mahogany color and texture, with a nice curl figure. I got a bargain on this wood, and am passing the savings on to my customers, while it lasts.
- Sapele, Pommele**(Africa). Classic mahogany color and texture, with extraordinary pommele or quilted figure. Perhaps the most highly figured wood I have ever seen. Very rare, I have only a small quantity of this wood.
- Snakewood***** (Surinam). Also known as "Letter wood".Brown with black "snakeskin markings", very rare, extremely hard and dense. Very limited availability.
- Sycamore, Spalted (USA). Cream/tan, sometimes yellow background with dark lines and streaks. Sycamore has an interesting "fish scale" texture. A fairly soft wood.
- Tamarind, Indian (Florida Keys or SE Asia). White to cream background black lines and sometimes gray or brown streaks. Texture varies from very fine to quite coarse.
- Tamarind, Wild (Florida Keys). Golden brown, good depth, occasional curls. A type of variety of Lysiloma. Fine texture, very hard. Salvaged.
- Tambotie* (Africa). Golden amber color with cream colored sapwood for contrast. Very hard and dense.
- Tarara Amarilla/Canarywood (S. America). Yellow/gold, with darker gold brown markings and light sapwood. Moderate texture and hardness.
- Teak, Rhodesian (Africa), Red/brown, occasionally with white sapwood. Very hard and heavy, fine grained. Not a true teak.
- Teak, Samoan. (Samoan Islands). Gold/brown to Green/brown. Moderate texture, very hard. Windfall harvested.
- Thuya Burl**** (Morocco). Pronounced "too-yah." Golden brown with swirls, eyes and curls. Very dense and waxy, with the aroma of freshly sharpened pencils. A rare and unique wood. Very limited.
- Umthunzi, Curly** (Africa). I have a very limited supply of this hard and dense, pinkish brown wood. Very tight curl pattern.
- Walnut (USA). Varying shades of deep brown. Good texture, moderate hardness. Probably the premier American furniture wood.
- Walnut Burl **(USA). Dark brown with swirls and eyes. Classic burl.
- Walnut, Claro (CA). A beautiful walnut native to certain areas of California.. Dark brown, gray/brown, purple/brown. Often with curly grain, sometimes has burl areas. Good texture, moderate hardness.
- Walnut, English (CA). More correctly called "Persian Walnut". Cream/tan coloring, sometimes with darker streaks. A little harder and denser than black walnut.
- Walnut, Grafted* (CA). In California, English walnut seedlings are grafted to claro walnut root stock. Boxes made from this wood will have both claro (dark brown) and English (cream/tan) walnut coloring. Limited availability.
- Wenge** (Africa). Pronounced "win-gay."Very dark, almost black with very regular, lighter markings. Sometimes looks like bird feathers. Very hard and dense.
- Yaka (Fiji). Beautiful gold/brown with darker streaks. Wonderfully smooth texture.
- Ziricote** (Mexico). Very dark gray/brown background, with black lines and swirls. Moderate texture, hard and heavy.
I am always looking for woods with interesting or unusual colors/grains /figures.
If you have some wood that you would like to sell or trade, please call me at 828-298-6007, or send me an e-mail at [email protected].
* Add 10% to listed prices for boxes made of this wood.
**Add 20% to listed prices for boxes made of this wood.
***Add 50% to listed prices for boxes made of this wood.
****Add 75% to listed prices for boxes made of this wood.
*****Add 100% to listed prices for boxes made of this wood.