Wood turners are always on the lookout for features in wood that make our projects stand out, whether that’s a unique grain, an unusual colour or the intricate patterns found in a nice piece of burl. One way to give meaning and value to a pen, bowl or other turning project is to use exotic wood, which comes in a fascinating array of shades and textures, and often has an interesting backstory.
What Makes Wood “Exotic”?
There are two types of wood: domestic and exotic. Domestic wood such as maple, cherry and oak can be harvested here in North America, whereas exotic wood is collected from around the world, particularly tropical areas. Exotic wood is often an unusual colour or grain compared to domestic and can’t be found growing in our climate. Exotic wood can also refer to rare features that appear in domestic wood as with curly maple and birdseye maple.
Exotic Wood for Lathe Projects
One of the great things about being a wood turner is that you’re able to whip up the best handmade gifts for any occasion. A one-of-a-kind gift made from rare wood is especially meaningful. Here are some of our favourites why we like them so much:
Osage Orange – Osage Orange wood is one of the hardest woods available in North America, but its fine texture makes it easy to work with on your lathe. This bright yellowish-orange wood contains compounds that are naturally resistant to insect infestations and rot, making it good for outdoor use. Throughout history it’s been used to fashion bows for arrows due to its unique combination of strength and flexibility. Turned and finished Osage Orange wood is extremely shiny when polished and is a cheerful, sunny shade that we love.
Ash – Ash is a light-coloured wood with a coarse texture. It usually has a very straight grain that gives wood turned pens a sleek, clean look. Ash is shock resistant and durable, making it a good choice for utensil handles or other items that might get knocked around or dropped on the floor. It’s easy to machine so you can include intricate patterns in your projects. Ash is an affordable choice and is sometimes used as an alternative to oak, which is more expensive. It smells good, too!
Purple Heart – Purple Heart wood is among the hardest, most dense woods in the world, according to the Janka hardness scale. This wood will slowly change colour with exposure to light, becoming bright purple and eventually deepening into a rich dark tone. This means that any project you make using purple heart wood will continuously transform over time. Turned Purple Heart wood is always an eye-catching hit at craft markets.
Birdseye Maple – While maple trees may grow profusely across North America, Birdseye Maple is an uncommon occurance, causing it to be classified as exotic. Birdseye Maple has little swirly knots in it that resemble birds’ eyes, giving the wood a three dimensional, shimmery look. The “eyes” can be caused by genetics or by buds trying to grow on the tree in unfavourable conditions. These mesmerizing little details are what make wood turnings extra special, especially when they’re dyed bright colours.
Curly Maple – The wavy, rippled grain of Curly Maple creates naturally occurring, one of a kind patterns in wood turning projects. Sometimes it’s called “tiger maple” because the patterns resemble the tiger’s stripes. It is also called “fiddleback maple” because it’s a popular choice for constructing violins. The variegated sheen of the stripes and ripples in this wood are what make it so popular.
Try Wood Turning Something New
Start experimenting with different kinds of wood on your lathe and see what you discover. Some exotic woods deliver pleasant surprises and fascinating features and as always, every piece is different. Your wood turned crafts are sure to fly off the shelves at markets and delight any gift recipient. Take a peek at our selection at William Wood Write for inspiration!
