Wood Species & Lumber

Poplar and basswood are both easy to cut, sand and paint, but they behave differently under a smooth painted finish. Poplar is usually the better choice for a frame that needs to stay straight and take everyday handling. Basswood is lighter and especially easy to shape, making it useful for Read more

Maple and alder can both make a good clear-coated desk, but they give very different results. Maple is pale, hard and visibly figured; alder is softer, warmer and usually more uniform. If the desk will take daily wear, maple is the safer choice. If you want an easier-to-work wood with Read more

Short answer For exterior trim that will be painted, Douglas fir is usually the safer choice if you can buy clear, dry, straight stock and keep it well sealed. It is widely available, relatively stable when properly dried, and holds paint well when the surface is prepared correctly. Larch can Read more

Sapele and Spanish cedar can both produce an attractive interior door, but they behave differently under stain and clear finish. Sapele is usually the better choice when you want a dense, hard-wearing surface with a mahogany-like look. Spanish cedar is lighter and easier to work, with a softer surface and Read more

Black walnut and butternut can both look good under a clear finish, but they produce different furniture. Walnut is usually the darker, more durable choice; butternut is lighter, softer, and often more variable in color. The right pick depends on the look you want, how hard the piece will be Read more

Birch and poplar are both common choices for painted cabinets and light-colored stains, but they do not take stain the same way. Birch usually gives a more conventional, even-looking wood grain; poplar is inexpensive and easy to machine, yet its color can turn green, gray, or blotchy under a light Read more

Alder and cherry can both produce a warm, attractive stained finish, but they behave differently under stain. Alder is usually the less expensive, easier-to-source choice for a light-to-medium brown color. Cherry has a finer, more refined appearance, but it darkens naturally with age and can show blotchy stain, especially when Read more

Basswood and soft maple can both produce smooth painted furniture, but they behave differently under a sander and under a finish. Basswood is usually easier to shape and cheaper; soft maple is harder and more resistant to dents, but it takes more care to sand and paint evenly. For a Read more

Cypress and Spanish cedar can both make attractive clear-finished exterior doors, but they are not interchangeable. Cypress is usually the more practical choice for a painted or moderately exposed door; Spanish cedar is often favored for a lighter, stable door with a warm reddish-brown appearance. Neither species is maintenance-free, and Read more

For a clear-finished dining bench, both white oak and ash offer pale color, visible grain, and enough strength for everyday seating. The choice comes down less to strength than to appearance, price, and how much risk you’re willing to accept from moisture and finish changes. White oak is the safer Read more