Wood Guide
Crafted with Care: The Woods of Elmstone
At Elmstone, we carefully select each wood species to create timeless, high-quality pieces. From the rich elegance of walnut to the bold contrast of zebrawood, our materials are chosen for their beauty, durability, and unique character. Whether it's the strength of oak, the striking hues of padauk, or the smooth resilience of maple, every piece we craft reflects the natural charm of its wood. Explore our handcrafted pieces, request a custom, and discover the perfect material for your space.
About the Janka Scale
The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of wood to denting and wear. The higher the Janka rating (measured in pounds-force or lbf), the harder and more durable the wood, making it better suited for heavy-use applications.
Elmstone's Most Commonly Used Woods
Various types of oak, walnut, maple, ash, padauk, and more. While these are most commonly used types of woods, we can work with any kind!
Questions on which is right for you?
You can contact us through our contact page! We will be happy to assist you.
Rich, Timeless Elegance
Walnut
Characteristics: Deep chocolate browns with swirling grain patterns, occasionally featuring lighter streaks that add contrast. It darkens slightly over time, enhancing its richness.
Why We Use It: Walnut is a favorite for high-end furniture due to its strength and ability to hold intricate details. Its refined yet bold appearance makes it perfect for statement pieces like The Mallard | Extra Long Walnut Cutting Board, as well as custom tables and shelves.
Best Features: Durable, moderately heavy, and resistant to warping. It pairs beautifully with black epoxy for river tables and other modern designs.
Janka Hardness: 1,010 lbf
Durability: Walnut is a moderately hard wood, offering a good balance between strength and workability. It resists warping and shrinking, making it a solid choice for fine furniture and cutting boards. While not as hard as some exotic woods, its durability is excellent for indoor applications, particularly those requiring a refined look with a rich, dark finish.
Best Uses: Tables, shelving, cutting boards, decorative furniture pieces.
Shop
Classic Strength and Versatility
Oak (White & Red)
Characteristics: Prominent grain with warm tones ranging from light tan to rich reddish hues. White oak has a more subtle grain, while red oak has a bolder, more pronounced pattern.
Why We Use It: Oak is a staple for durable furniture and shelving. Its robust nature ensures longevity, and its strong grain patterns add character to any piece.
Best Features: Tough, resilient, and aesthetically versatile. White oak, in particular, resists moisture well, making it ideal for furniture exposed to humidity.
Janka Hardness: White Oak - 1,350 lbf | Red Oak - 1,220 lbf
Durability: Oak is known for its excellent strength and resilience. White oak is slightly harder and more resistant to moisture, making it a superior choice for high-use furniture and shelving. Red oak, while slightly softer, remains a durable option for most applications. Both varieties have strong grain patterns and hold up well under stress.
Best Uses: Tables, shelving, cabinetry, flooring.
Shop Oak
A Stunning Natural Pattern
Spalted Maple
Characteristics: Spalted maple features dark, vein-like lines created by natural fungal growth, resulting in intricate and artistic patterns that make each piece unique.
Why We Use It: The mesmerizing grain and striking contrast of spalted maple add character and charm to furniture. It’s a favorite for statement pieces that highlight organic beauty.
Best Features: Highly decorative, smooth to the touch when finished, and maintains the durability of maple while adding artistic flair.
Janka Hardness: Varies (typically around 850-1,000 lbf)
Durability: Moderately durable, though spalted sections may be softer. Best for decorative furniture and accents.
Best Uses: Accent furniture, decorative pieces.
Shop Spalted Maple
Nature’s Artwork
Ambrosia Maple
Characteristics: Distinguished by its streaked patterns created by the ambrosia beetle, this variation of maple has unique gray and brown markings that add organic character to each piece.
Why We Use It: Ambrosia maple is perfect for furniture that embraces natural beauty and individuality. The distinctive grain and color variations make each piece one of a kind.
Best Features: Durable, lightweight, and visually striking, with a smooth texture that finishes beautifully while maintaining its rustic appeal.
Janka Hardness: Hard Maple - 1,450 lbf
Durability: Hard maple is one of the most durable domestic hardwoods, making it ideal for furniture, cutting boards, and surfaces that see heavy use. It resists scratches and dents well, though its density can make it more challenging to work with compared to softer woods.
Best Uses: Cutting boards, furniture, and high-use surfaces.
Shop Amrbrosia Maple
Vivid and Striking
Padauk
Characteristics: Known for its bold reddish-orange hue, Padauk darkens over time to a rich brown with deep red undertones. It has a straight to interlocked grain that adds to its visual appeal.
Why We Use It: Padauk brings a striking, exotic flair to furniture. It’s highly durable and rot-resistant, making it an excellent choice for statement pieces and accents in mixed-material designs.
Best Features: Naturally resistant to decay and insects, with a smooth, even texture that finishes beautifully.
Janka Hardness: 1,970 lbf
Durability: Extremely durable with strong resistance to decay.
Best Uses: Statement furniture, exotic accents.
Shop Padauk
Light but Resilient
Ash
Characteristics: Light-colored wood with a straight grain and excellent flexibility, offering a modern and clean aesthetic.
Why We Use It: Ash’s shock resistance and strength make it perfect for furniture and shelving that require durability without excessive weight.
Best Features: Strong, flexible, and lightweight with a subtle grain that complements many designs.
Janka Hardness: 1,320 lbf
Durability: Ash is known for its shock resistance and strength, making it a popular choice for furniture, shelves, and even tool handles. Its light color and straight grain provide a clean, modern aesthetic, while its durability ensures longevity in high-traffic areas.
Best Uses: Shelving, tables, chairs, furniture requiring strength with some flexibility.

Smooth, Light, and Strong
Maple
Characteristics: Pale, creamy tones with a fine, uniform grain that offers a clean and modern look.
Why We Use It: Hard maple’s smooth grain and high durability make it a top choice for high-use furniture and cutting boards.
Best Features: Extremely hard, impact-resistant, and develops a warm patina over time.
Janka Hardness: 1,450 lbf
Durability: Hard maple is one of the most durable domestic hardwoods, making it ideal for furniture, cutting boards, and surfaces that see heavy use. It resists scratches and dents well, though its density can make it more challenging to work with compared to softer woods.
Best Uses: Cutting boards, tables, cabinetry, furniture requiring high durability.

A Natural Beauty
Acacia
Characteristics: Rich, golden-brown hues with dynamic grain patterns that often feature contrasting dark streaks.
Why We Use It: Acacia offers a perfect balance of beauty and resilience. Its hardness and natural resistance to moisture make it ideal for statement furniture and shelving.
Best Features: Extremely durable, naturally resistant to wear and tear, and has a stunning organic aesthetic.
Janka Hardness: 1,750 lbf
Durability: Acacia is an extremely hard and durable wood, well-suited for furniture, shelving, and high-traffic surfaces. Its natural resistance to moisture and decay makes it an excellent choice for long-lasting pieces, and its unique grain adds a distinctive aesthetic appeal.
Best Uses: Tables, shelving, countertops, high-use furniture.
Shop Acacia
Resilient and Visually Stunning
Catulpa
Characteristics: Catalpa wood is light brown to golden with a soft grain pattern and a slightly porous texture. It has a distinctive rustic charm and is relatively lightweight compared to other hardwoods.
Why We Use It: Catalpa is excellent for projects that require a balance of workability and aesthetic appeal. Its rustic character makes it ideal for decorative furniture, accents, and handcrafted statement pieces.
Best Features: Lightweight yet durable, catalpa is resistant to decay and warping, making it a great choice for artisanal furniture with a natural touch.
Janka Hardness: 550 lbf
Durability: Softer than many hardwoods, but resistant to decay.
Best Uses: Carvings, lightweight furniture, wet applications.
Shop Catulpa
Bold and Unique
Zebrawood
Characteristics: Named for its dramatic striped grain pattern, zebrawood features contrasting light and dark streaks that create an eye-catching effect.
Why We Use It: This wood is perfect for adding a distinctive touch to furniture and decor. It’s strong, durable, and often used in accents, inlays, and high-end furnishings.
Best Features: Dense and durable, zebrawood has a striking visual appeal that stands out in any design.
Janka Hardness: 1,830 lbf
Durability: Very durable and resistant to wear, though it can be brittle.
Best Uses: High-end furniture, inlays, decorative accents.

Sapele
Characteristics: Deep reddish-brown tones with a ribbon-like grain pattern that creates a luxurious appearance.
Why We Use It: Sapele’s dense grain structure and rich color make it a premium choice for elegant furniture pieces that stand the test of time.
Best Features: Highly stable, moisture-resistant, and showcases a naturally glossy finish.
Janka Hardness: 1,410 lbf
Durability: Sapele is a dense and stable hardwood with great resistance to wear and moisture. Its interlocking grain structure adds to its strength, making it well-suited for furniture and shelving that require longevity. The natural luster and deep reddish-brown hue give it an elegant, high-end appearance.
Best Uses: Tables, shelving, cabinetry, fine furniture.