5 North American Hardwoods Perfect for Woodworking

Woodworking is a favorite pursuit of so many people because, in large part, of the endless possibilities. It’s not just what you could make—it’s also about what you could make it from. 

Portable Bandsaw Mill

Whether you source it from your own acreage and mill it on your bandsaw sawmill, or you make a trip to the lumber yard, it’s never been easier to get your hands on the perfect wood species for whatever project you have in store.

Some woodworking calls for exotic, eye-catching veneers, while others demand nothing more than a timeless hardwood. Fortunately, North America is home to a variety of hardwoods perfectly suited to a broad range of applications. For virtually any upcoming project, there’s a hardwood you can transform into a satisfying final product.

Here’s an overview of five superb North American hardwoods and some of their most appropriate uses.

Maple: Great for Butcher Blocks, Furniture, and More

Most commonly found in the eastern United States, particularly the Great Lakes region, maple exhibits a straight grain with fiddleback, curly, or birds-eye figuring. Maple is heavy and strong. It also resists wear, which makes it popular for flooring.

You’ll see maple used for furniture, countertops, and even bowling alley floors. But because maple takes well to steam bending, and due to its sonic properties, it’s one of the most popular woods for drum making.

Poplar: Inexpensive and Versatile

When one thinks of using poplar in woodworking, the term “utility” comes to mind. It’s not the most attractive hardwood—unless, of course, you’re talking about rainbow poplar—but it’s widely used in all kinds of products.

From furniture frames to shipping crates, pallets, and even plywood, you likely see poplar every day. But you might not know it, as poplar is often hidden beneath more attractive veneer panels.

Hickory: The Hardwood to Be Seen and Heard

Although hickory and pecan are distinct, it’s difficult to tell logs of these two species apart, so you’ll often find them sold together, since mills tend to mix them during processing. You may even have a tough time separating them while milling hickory from your own property on your portable bandsaw mill.

Like maple, hickory is used in flooring and furniture. More commonly, though, you’ll see hickory furniture. The handle of your paintbrush, garden trowel, or claw hammer may also be made of hickory.

Walnut: Uniquely North American

American walnut, not to be confused with the lighter-colored European walnut, is hard and tough, but is an easy hardwood to work with machines or hand tools. It also stains well, though many prefer to simply oil and lacquer it to showcase its special appearance.

While many different woods are used in furniture building, walnut is typically used in high-end pieces. You’ll also see walnut paneling, cabinetry, and doors.

Red Oak: Distinctive Character for Any Home

While the sapwood tends to be light brown in color, red oak heartwood is usually somewhere between a pinkish and reddish brown. It’s hard and heavy, which you may already know if you’ve ever helped a neighbor or relative move their oak furniture.

If you’re milling your own red oak carefully and you keep your bandsaw mill in good shape with quality replacement sawmill parts, you’ll end up with the perfect lumber for woodworking. Red oak finishes beautifully. In addition to cabinetry, furniture, and flooring, red oak is an excellent choice for moldings to accent any room in your home.

About Woodland Mills

When mechanical engineer Josh Malcolm realized he would need his own bandsaw mill to tackle the list of projects on his new farm, he was surprised to find so many overpriced, underperforming sawmills on the market. He called his childhood friend, Neil Bramley, and asked, “We can just build our own, can’t we?” That was the beginning of Woodland Mills. Now, over a decade later, Woodland Mills is an industry leader due to products that deliver outstanding value through innovative design and efficient manufacturing. From the flagship HM126 portable sawmill to new Loglander log arches, backed by world-class customer service from the Woodland Mills team, Woodland Mills products help you make your mark.

Mill your own hardwood with a Woodland Mills bandsaw sawmill at https://woodlandmills.com/