The fascinating world of exotic woods
Exotic woods come from some tree species typical of tropical or equatorial regions.
They are a type of “hard” and quite resistant to weather wood.
These precious exotic woods are almost always suitable for turning and are used for cabinet-making,
inlay work, lutherie and for particularly expensive furnishings, given the mass of wood used.
Among the best known exotic precious woods we have Acacia, Monkey Pod, Ebony, Rosewood, Mahogany and Teak. Also the less known Caoba, the Framire, the Afrormosia, the Doussie and the Padouk. Exotic wood slab table and exotic wood slab furniture in general, are nowadays highly sought after and high-level and world-renowned designers compete for the finest pieces, to obtain unique and high-value furniture, that will then be used in the furnishings of luxury homes belonging to prominent personalities.
Brief description of the main exotic and western wood species and their uses
Acacia wood
Acacia wood has excellent qualities known since ancient times (it is the wood with which the biblical Ark of the Covenant was built). It is a medium-textured, regular wood, with straight or intertwined fibers, pliable, with good impact resistance It is porous and very hard, compact and elastic, easily crackable, with a red-golden-orange color, which stands out particularly afterwards a good polishing of the surface. When it is dry it is very solid, resistant to woodworms and resistant to humidity. Acacia wood lends itself very well as a wood slab table for sale because it is much appreciated for furnishing both modern and rustic design homes.
Monkey Pod wood
Monkey Pod’s wood texture is typically characterized by straight streaks. The presence of knots in the wood, however, tends to modify the grain, adding uniqueness to each individual plank. Monkey Pod wood is rated moderately tough to very durable with regards to decay resistance and is resistant to most insect attacks.
Balsa wood
Balsa wood is a species belonging to the class of “broadleaf” native to Central America. It has a whitish wood with pink shades, easily workable and extremely light.
Elm wood – (Northern Yumu or simply Eastern Elm)
It is the most commonly used wood in the manufacture of furniture in the northern part of China where more than twenty varieties are known. It is yellow-brown in color and has a medium density. True elms, i.e. those belonging to the genus Ulmus, are deciduous trees characterized by serrated leaves, with evident parallel ribs that branch off from a single main median rib.
Bamboo wood
This plant, of Asian origin, has a cane-shaped stem, brown-yellow in color; light and divided into segments. Bamboo canes are used in the manufacture of sticks, in garden furniture and in decorative objects in general.
Macassar Ebony Tree
Macassar Ebony wood
Under the name of ebony we include a whole series of woods, of various origins, characterized by high hardness and resistance; they are used in the manufacture of small decorative items and small furniture.
The main types of ebony are:
African ebony – Asian ebony – Philippine ebony – American yellow ebony.
If you’re looking for a table that screams “class,” you’ve come to the right place! Our Thai Macassar salvaged slabs of wood are 30-40 years old and come in big sizes.
Walnut wood
It has a more or less intense brown color, with darker, straight or wavy veins. It works easily, even if it is quite hard. It is resistant and particularly elastic; very suitable for furniture of various kinds of “superior quality”.
Mahogany wood
Mahogany is a wood from trees originating from the Antilles and Central America, with a pinkish color tending over time to brownish red or tobacco brown. It is often variegated with stripes of different sheen.
Mahogany is easy to season and work with, stable and resistant to alterations and is used in the manufacture of furniture, luxury floor strips, decorations and sculptures in general. The mahogany of Africa come from Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, have a lighter colored solid wood than the previous ones and are also used in the production of furniture.
Rosewood wood
Rosewood is a hardwood of the broadleaf family from Brazil and India. It is very compact, purplish red in color, veined and fragrant. It can be finished and polished very well. It is mainly used to build furniture, pianos, and cabinet-making works. It is suitable for inlay work.
Oak wood
It is part of the large oak family, it is quite hard and resistant, easy to work with. It is light brown in color, with straight and regular fibers, and few knots. It is very suitable for making furniture of various types.
This wood, with dark speckles, is used for the construction of fine furniture for a very long period: from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, while in England it resisted until the eighteenth century. Moreover, prized since ancient times, it is used for shipbuilding, maritime and load-bearing structures.
It is also widely used to build heavy furniture, window frames and floor boards.
Oak wood is an excellent fuel both in the form of wood and charcoal. Another use, not very related to cabinet-making, which has been made of this essence is the construction of the togas of the barrels; which guarantee a great aging to red wines and spirits.
Ash wood
Very common wood, ivory-white in color with light veins and pearly reflections. Ash wood is hard, compact, resistant, very flexible and elastic. It is very suitable for making furniture in general.
Teak wood
This tree belongs to the broadleaf class and grows in the Asian and Central American regions. Teak wood is particularly resistant to humidity and alterations. It is used for outdoor furniture, for furniture construction of a certain importance, for shipbuilding and for fine carpentry work.
Beech wood
It is a reddish yellow wood, with a very regular structure, straight fiber and very small pores. Despite being quite hard and compact, it lends itself to all types of processing. There is also a type of evaporated beech (which is obtained by subjecting the timber to a vaporization in special cells) which is even more resistant than normal beech. With beech wood you can make all kinds of furniture, floors, wall coverings.
Paulownia wood
Wood originally from China, but also widespread in Italy. Among the most common species there is the Paulownia tomentosa. Extremely light wood is obtained from its trunk depending on the variety, but of extraordinary strength.
article by:
A tech enthusiast with a passion for interior design,
architecture and modern technology.
