Picking a species is the first decision on any project, and it affects the look, the price, how hard the wood is to work and how well the finished piece holds up. This guide covers the hardwoods we keep on the rack at M2 Lumber, plus how our lumber is sold so you can order the right amount.
Planning a build? M2 Lumber members can use the VüdVerker Agent to turn a photo or idea into a full plan with a cut list, then get a lumber list priced at M2 to pick at the rack. See how it works.
Species at a glance
Hardness is the Janka rating in pounds: the force it takes to press a steel ball halfway into the wood. Higher numbers resist dents better.
| Species | Color | Hardness (Janka) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black walnut | Chocolate brown | 1,010 | Fine furniture, dining tables, gifts |
| White oak | Light tan to brown | 1,360 | Dining tables, cabinets, anything near water |
| Red oak | Warm tan with pink tone | 1,290 | Furniture, cabinets, trim, stairs |
| Cherry | Pinkish tan, darkens to red-brown | 950 | Furniture and heirloom pieces |
| Hard maple | Creamy white | 1,450 | Cutting boards, tabletops, workbenches |
| Ambrosia maple | Cream with gray-brown streaks | about 950 (soft maple) | Tabletops, shelves, accent pieces |
| Birds eye maple | Cream with small "eyes" | 1,450 | Boxes, inlays, panels |
| Ash | Light, straight grained | 1,320 | Tables, chairs, hard-use furniture |
| Hickory | Pale to brown, high contrast | 1,820 | Rustic furniture, chairs, flooring |
| Sapele | Reddish brown, ribbon figure | 1,410 | Furniture, doors, accents |
| Poplar | Cream to greenish | 540 | Painted furniture, trim, drawer boxes, jigs |
The species in more detail
Black walnut
Walnut's heartwood ranges from light brown to deep chocolate, sometimes with a purple cast, with nearly white sapwood. It is strong and stable, cuts and carves cleanly, and finishes beautifully, which is why it is the most requested wood for high-end furniture. Decide early whether you want the light sapwood in your piece or not; some people love the contrast and some cut it all off.
White oak
White oak is strong and heavy with closed pores, which makes it naturally resistant to water and rot. It is the classic wood for Mission and farmhouse furniture and a great choice for dining tables and anything that might get wet. Need extra-thick stock like 12/4 for legs and posts? We can special order it; just ask.
Red oak
Red oak has a bold, open grain and a slightly pink tone. It is strong, works well with both hand and power tools, and takes stain evenly. Its open pores show through a finish; use a grain filler if you want a glass-smooth surface. Our finishing guide covers which finishes work best over open grain.
Cherry
Cherry is fine grained and smooth, starting a pinkish tan and darkening to a rich reddish brown with light and time. It is a pleasure to work, but it can blotch under oil-based stains, so most woodworkers finish it clear and let it age naturally. See oil finishes and hard wax oils for clear finishes that bring out cherry's color.
Hard maple and its figured cousins
Hard (sugar) maple is dense, light and very wear resistant, the first choice for cutting boards, workbench tops and drawer sides. Birds eye maple is hard maple with small swirling eyes, a figure found in only a small share of trees. Ambrosia maple is usually soft maple with gray and brown streaks left by the ambrosia beetle; it is a little softer than hard maple but works and finishes just as nicely.
Shop hard maple → | Ambrosia maple → | Birds eye maple →
Ash
Ash is light colored, straight grained and tough, with an oak-like grain. It bends well and absorbs shock (think tool handles and baseball bats) and takes stain evenly.
Hickory
Hickory is one of the hardest, toughest domestic hardwoods, with strong contrast between pale sapwood and tan heartwood. Keep your blades sharp and take light passes, and expect a rugged, rustic look.
Sapele
Sapele is an African hardwood in the mahogany family with a shimmering ribbon figure. It is stable and finishes to a deep glow. The interlocked grain can tear out, so plane with sharp knives and light cuts.
Poplar
Poplar is the affordable, easy-to-work choice. Its color varies from cream to green, so it is usually painted, and it takes paint better than almost anything else. It is also great for drawer boxes, jigs and shop projects.
How our lumber is sold
- By the board foot. One board foot is 144 cubic inches: a board 12 in long, 12 in wide and 1 in thick. Board feet = length (in) x width (in) x thickness (in) / 144.
- Thickness in quarters. 4/4 ("four quarter") is 1 in rough thickness and 8/4 is 2 in. Plan on losing some thickness when you flatten and plane; a 4/4 board usually finishes around 3/4 in to 13/16 in and 8/4 around 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 in.
- Surfaced three sides (S3S). Both faces are planed and one edge is straight-lined, so you can see the grain and get the board on your table saw right away.
- 5 board foot increments. Online orders are in 5 board foot steps with a 5 board foot minimum, and up to 300 board feet per species. For larger amounts, give us a call.
- Buy 15 to 20 percent extra. Defects, grain matching and mistakes eat into every pile. It is cheaper than a second trip.
- Kiln dried. Every board we sell is kiln dried and ready to build with. Have your own logs or green wood? We offer custom sawmilling and kiln drying; see is kiln drying worth it?
- Out of stock? Sign up for VüdVatcher alerts and we will email you when your species is back on the rack.
- Pickup or delivery. Pick up at the yard in Laurens or have it delivered; see delivery and pickup. Looking for wider pieces? Browse our live edge slabs.
Plan it and shop it with the VüdVerker Agent
Not sure how much lumber your project needs? Our members-only VüdVerker Agent is a woodworking shop assistant built by M2 Lumber. Give it a photo or a description of what you want to build, and it does the planning for you:
- Photo or idea in, full plan out. Snap a picture of a piece you like or describe it, like "farmhouse dining table, tapered legs, seats 6."
- PDF plans, cut list and templates. Drawings from the front, side, top and 3D, with every part sized.
- Lumber list priced at M2, picked at the rack. It turns the cut list into the species and board feet you need, priced at our yard, so you can order online or walk the rack in our Laurens store and pick out your boards.
The VüdVerker Agent is in beta for M2 Lumber members. Sign in with the same account you use for orders and Wood Chips.
Try the VüdVerker Agent → See all member tools
Not sure which species fits your project? Stop by our lumberyard in Laurens, SC, or call 1-864-GOT-WOOD (864-468-9663). If you are building one of our tables, our woodworking plans list the board feet and approximate cost in each species.