Woods used in ShopDog Turnery

This is a listing of many of the woods I use in the turnery. Some I use quite regularly, and some are only used very rarely. A few are woods I have yet to use, but are on my radar as possibilities for that “just right” job. I have divided them into domestics, exotics, and woods that really don’t fit either category. If you find a wood here that you would like incorporated into your project, just let me know and we will work out how to best involve it.

Of course this is no where near a full list of the woods available, and I am perfectly willing to use any wood you wish as long as it is not endangered or likely to have come from an illegal source. As an example of the latter, some time back there was a very large rash of burls being cut from California Redwood trees; actually killing a few of these magnificent trees by the damage the illegal harvesting of these growths caused. As a result, I do not use Redwood Burl since so much of it currently available is from this hugely damaging activity.

Domestic Woods

These woods are all grown in the contiguous United States and are, for the most part, readily available.  Click on the image for a larger picture.  Follow the Wood Database link below each for more information.

Non Tropical, Non US woods

These woods are from outside the US, mostly Europe.  They are quite similar to US woods in both appearance and working characteristics.  Click on the image for a larger picture.  Follow the Wood Database link below each for more information.

Exotic Woods

These woods come from all over the world, largely from tropical sources.  Some, however, are domestic and in this category due to their extraordinary appearance; particularly the burls.  In terms of availability these woods range from readily available, to really quite rare.  Click on the image for a larger picture.  Follow the Wood Database link below each for more information.