September 4, 2024 - By Kidogo Farm - Louisville, KY
Quality Hardwood lumber starts with, of course, quality hardwood trees. These species are trees like the mighty Kentucky black walnut, but also trees like black cherry, spalted maple and many other varieties of hardwood trees. To produce the best hardwood lumber the trees need to be not only healthy but also possess desirable traits.
Quality hardwood lumber comes from trees that are tall and straight grained which makes them strong and stable for lumber. This is not the only factor however, as beauty is also a very desirable trait that many artisan craftsmen and woodworkers alike value highly. While the term beauty is subjective, the collective opinion on the beauty of hardwood lumber starts with figure in the grain. The more the more figure lumber has the more desirable and expensive it will be.
The figure in the grain of wood can come from many things, but two styles that are readily apparent and easily seen from anyone is curl in the grain and the beautiful interlaced grain of crotch pieces. When a tree grows with a bend in it one side of the tree is "stretched" and the other side is "compressed". The compressed side of the tree is where the curly figure will appear. This can take on many different intensities, from a wavy pattern, to a full blown tiger striped or "flamed" appearance. With crotch figure this is caused by the interlaced grains at the beginning of where two different trunks or limbs separate and grow away from each other.
There are other figure patterns that are also highly desirable that have nothing at all to do with tree itself, but more so the natural ecosystem impacts that affect the tree. Two of these figure traits are spalting and ambrosia patters. When a log becomes spalted, and hence the hardwood lumber that it yields, develop black streaking, almost like grain outlines in black ink. While this may sound strange, it is actually quite beautiful. Unlike spalting, an ambrosia figure is caused by a small insect that bores into the tree and near the holes a rich stain is formed that is very interesting and highly desirable. Two examples of these figure traits can be found in hardwood lumber like spalted maple and ambrosia maple, if you are lucky they will have both!
When it comes to hardwood lumber or live edge slabs, we start with locally sourced, sustainable and quality hardwood trees. We saw these trees for the best lumber figure we can. We are located just outside of Louisville, KY in the heart of Kentucky horse country, so if you are in the area please stop by and see why our hardwood lumber is so special.