MAPLE: Maple covers many different trees in the Acer family.  In general, it is a light colored wood, creamy white to yellow in color with soft brown or yellow grain.  Maple is a hard wood with a tight grain, ideal for butcher blocks but with many useful applications.

NATURAL BIRCH: Birch is the name of any tree in the Betulaceae family.  Different species yield different color birches, most commonly red and white Birch.  Natural birch is a combination of both.  Red Birch can look very similar to cherry, but comes with a cheaper price tag, making it ideal for certain budgets.

RED OAK: Oak is the common name of the Quercus family.  The most commonly used oaks in woodworking are red and white oak.  White oak is yellow or yellowish brown in color, red oak of course has a redder tinge to it.  Oak is a hardwood with good bending qualities.  It is ideal for furniture and flooring.

CHERRY: Cherry belongs to the family Rosaceae.  It is closed grain and resists warping and shrinking.  It begins yellowish pink in color but darkens to a deeper red when exposed to sunlight.  Its smooth texture and working properties make it a favorite among furniture and cabinet makers.

MAHOGANY: The name mahogany generally refers to the African genus Khaya.  It is fine, straight grained and reddish brown in color.  It’s durable, and resists swelling, shrinking and warping.  Its durability makes it a favorable wood for furniture.

WALNUT: Walnut is included in the Juglandaceae family.  It is a dark wood, carrying from a purplish black to a rich red brown in color.  Walnut is fine textured, strong, easy to work with and resists shrinking and warping.  It also finishes very well.  For these reasons it has a wide range of uses, including furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, novelties, and wall paneling.