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Identifying the Working Properties of Wood Species

2 comments
7 years ago
Videos     Woodworking In America

Wood, What is it Good For?

At last I’m finally getting around to releasing the second class I recorded at Woodworking in America in 2016. This was a 2 hour class that I really enjoyed teaching. I had a great group (full house actually) who really participated and asked great questions. It turns out woodworkers want to know more about wood. Who knew?!

This class isn’t about identifying unknown wood species, it is about using your existing species knowledge to identify the working properties of other woods. It allows you to branch out (hah, branch!) and use different woods while not walking into the purchase and ensuing project totally blind on how that wood will work. It all comes down to understanding the technical specifications that can be found on just about any species over the Internet. But really focusing on 3 specifications can get you really close to understanding a wood you have never worked.

I hope you enjoy, Wood, (good God) What is it Good For? I had a blast teaching it.

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Monte West

Hi:
When I first started looking at your preservation that you said was not very good, I said to myself this talk is going to be boring, but I was going to get a big surprise. What I found was some very, very good information.. I have used “Real” Mahogany and it was a dream to work with. The only problem I had was the dust and at that time I did not have the dust collection we have today. You talked about African Mahogany and I thought it only came from one area. You explained that it came from the whole country as well as how different it is.
That is just one example. I also sent it to a friend and he told me he learned a few things.
Thank you for sharing that preservation I am sorry it took me a week to comment.

    Shannon

    Thanks Monte. You will find this “conglomerate species” issue is actually pretty common with tropical woods. Especially the popular ones. Their geographic range continues to grow as more and more plantations are created to respond to the demand.