There are some woods little known to non-specialists in woodworking. Nevertheless, connoisseurs appreciate them a lot due to their high quality.
They are usually scarce, though, because the trees from which they are extracted are slow-growing or simply because they are small so it is not possible to extract much wood from them.
That doesn’t mean that they are not worthwhile woods. In fact, although they are often expensive, they can be used to make small pieces such as handicrafts that are highly appreciated and well paid.
So, would you like to get to know some of these woods with great potential? If so, stick around and read on.
5 little known woods in the market
1. Pistachio wood
Scientific name
Pistacia vera.
Location
The Pistachio tree is native to Western Asia, specifically Iran where it is highly prized for its fruit: the Pistachio nut.
However, it has also been introduced in places such as:
- Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Morocco, Libya, Algeria).
- Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Israel, Lebanon).
- Australia.
- United States.
General information
Pistachio wood is not negligible; the problem is that almost nobody is willing to cut down one of these trees because, first, they are small and not much wood can be extracted from them.
And, secondly, the production of pistachios (the fruit) is a profitable business in places where the species is abundant, much more than the extraction of this wood.
Appearance
Pistachio has very beautiful and exotic wood.
Heartwood (mature wood)
It can vary in color but is usually light green with orange and somewhat purple hues with black lines.
Sapwood (young unused wood)
Usually cream to white.
Reasons to use Pistachio wood
It is a very attractive wood from an aesthetic point of view, so it gives a unique appearance making it a very appreciated wood for handicrafts.
Disadvantages of Pistachio wood
There is not much information regarding the workability of Pistachio so it is difficult to know if it is easy or difficult to handle.
On the other hand, due to the scarcity of this wood, its price is quite high.
This makes getting enough wood to make large pieces a challenge.
Uses
Pistachio wood is used to make articles such as:
- Musical instruments such as electric guitars.
- Carved figures.
- Handles for knives.
- Lathe crafts.
2. Common Boxwood
Scientific name
Buxus sempervirens.
Location
The common boxwood is a shrub native to Europe, although it can also be found in Asia. This species is mainly found in countries such as:
- Spain.
- France.
- Italy.
- United Kingdom.
- Georgia.
- Turkey.
- Iran.
General information
Boxwood is a species that, although not unknown by cabinetmakers and all those carpenters who are dedicated to carving, does not have much commercial presence.
This is because not much wood can be extracted from this tree since it is quite small and usually doesn’t exceed 10 meters in height when it is mature.
To give you an idea, think that the pine species (the most used wood in the world) reaches an average height of 30 meters.
In spite of the above, boxwood is highly appreciated above all for its hardness and density, characteristics that make it resistant.
The term “Boxwood” is ambiguous
The term boxwood has been used indiscriminately to refer to various types of wood.
However, the only wood that should be considered as true common boxwood is this one: Buxus sempervirens.
In fact, this arbitrary designation of species often occurs as a “marketing strategy”.
The name of a recognized wood is then assigned to others that may be of inferior quality in order to increase sales, such as Teak, Mahogany and Cedar, among others.
Appearance
Heartwood (mature wood)
It is yellowish to cream-colored and darkens with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Sapwood (young wood that is not used)
Same color as heartwood.
Reasons to use boxwood
Boxwood is a wood that resists well to humidity so it can be used for outdoor purposes.
However, it is not as resistant to fungi, which can stain it.
On the other hand, boxwood is a relatively easy wood to work with and in the hands of an expert can be excellent for carving and turning.
Disadvantages of common boxwood
First of all, it is a rather scarce wood and it is only marketed in small quantities and sizes, so you can imagine the prices.
Exactly, they are very high. So get your pocket ready if you want to buy some of this wood, although its appearance makes it worth it.
Uses
Boxwood is ideal for:
- Making carved crafts such as chess pieces.
- Elaborate lathe work.
- Construction of small musical instruments such as flutes.
- Handles for tools.
3. Katalox wood
Scientific name
Swartzia cubensis.
Location
This species is scattered throughout Central America and northern South America, although it is abundant in Mexico.
General information
The Katalox tree is also known as “Mexican Mahogany” although it has nothing to do with true Mahogany.
Remember what happens with the term boxwood, well this is another example of the same thing.
What is true about this species is that its wood is exceptionally hard. In fact, it is one of the hardest woods in the world.
In addition, it is a very resistant wood and maintains its natural appearance for a long time. This is because it resists attacks by termites and other pests.
Appearance
The dark color of this wood has made it very popular among cabinetmakers, who use it as a substitute for African Ebony.
Heartwood (mature wood)
It has a dark brown color with reddish hues, giving it a very dark, almost black appearance.
Sapwood (young unused wood)
Pale yellow, almost white.
Reasons to use Katalox wood
It is a very hard and dense wood. It is also very resistant to decay, as it maintains its natural appearance for a long time.
This is because it resists attacks by termites and other pests.
Disadvantages of Katalox wood
It is a difficult wood to work with because it is so hard and dense, which is why it wears out saws (although that is not a big problem).
The real drawback with this wood is that even commercial pieces come with a lot of sapwood attached.
That is, you have to look very hard for the right piece, i.e., the one with the highest proportion of heartwood (you can tell by the color).
In addition, although this wood is cheaper than Ebony, it is not exactly cheap, since it is a tropical wood that is not exported much.
That is why it is only known in its places of origin.
Uses
Katalox is mainly used in:
- Cabinetmaking
- Manufacture of musical instruments.
- Floor construction.
- Lathing.
- Elaboration of handicrafts.
4. Ironwood
Scientific name
Onlneya Tesota.
Location
Ironwood is a wood of North American origin that is distributed in the southwestern region of the United States and northwestern Mexico and, therefore, is found in the states of:
- Arizona (United States).
- California (United States).
- Baja California (Mexico).
- Sonora (Mexico).
General information
Ironwood is one of the densest woods in the world.
Also, this wood is one of the preferred by those who work making carvings and small figures, because it has a very particular and attractive appearance.
That is why it is widely used to make handles for knives and other tools.
Appearance
This wood has brown and/or black lines that give it a shape similar to the skin of a tiger; this makes its appearance very distinctive and exotic.
Heartwood (mature wood)
Intense yellow with reddish hues that give the impression of orange with black lines.
Sapwood (young unused wood)
Pale yellow.
Reasons to use ironwood
This wood has impressive dimensional stability, that is to say, it doesn’t change dimensions with cold or heat.
That is why the pieces that are built with this wood remain the same size all the time.
In addition, the final appearance of the pieces made with this wood is exclusive, which is why they are highly appreciated and well-paid.
Disadvantages of ironwood
As with most dense and hardwoods, ironwood is difficult to work with and wears out tools quite a bit.
In addition, the extreme drought conditions in which this tree grows do not allow it to reach large sizes (10 meters on average).
For this reason, not much wood can be extracted from this species, which reduces availability and makes prices very expensive, even in the local market.
Thus, import costs make this wood unaffordable. However, ironwood is not one of the most expensive woods.
Uses
Ironwood is mainly used in applications such as:
- Carving.
- Production of handles for knives and other tools.
- Production of small handicrafts such as pens and luxury pencils.
5. Palo verde wood
Scientific name
Chlorocardium rodiei
Location
This species is native to northeastern South America and, although it is native to Guyana and Suriname, it is very popular throughout the Caribbean region.
General information
Palo verde is such a hardwood that it cannot be worked with traditional tools. In fact, very powerful saws must be used to cut it.
It is also a high-quality wood.
However, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) considers it to be a vulnerable species, as a decrease in the number of specimens of the species has been documented due to excessive logging.
This is explained by the resistance of this wood to insects, as it has even been used as a replacement for pine, which is constantly attacked by wood ants.
This is not the case with Palo verde.
Appearance
This wood is somewhat similar in appearance to Pistachio.
Heartwood (mature wood)
Pale green with dark lines of very dark brown or black.
Sapwood (young wood that is not used)
The greenish-yellow is difficult to distinguish from heartwood.
Reasons to use Katalox wood
Palo verde is a very resistant wood to humidity, so it has several applications in the maritime industry.
On the other hand, although it is difficult to work with, it does provide good finishes.
Also, it is not a particularly expensive wood if we take into account its good quality and the fact that it is a tropical wood.
Disadvantages of Katalox wood
This wood is quite difficult to work with, as it is not only expensive to cut, but also difficult to glue.
Also, sometimes its extreme hardness allows it to break easily, which is paradoxical, but not absurd, since, as well as being hard, it is also not very flexible.
In addition, although it is a relatively inexpensive wood, it is not easy to obtain legally, which makes it somewhat difficult to acquire.
Uses
Palo verde is mainly used in:
- Boat building.
- Construction of ports and docks.
- Manufacture of floors.
- Manufacture of billiard sticks.
- Lathing.