We stock 10-20 different exotics.

We are participants and abiders of the Lacey Act that qualifies our outside suppliers as participating in legal logging activities.

Most species are stocked in 4/4 rough lumber with the exception of a few select items available in 8/4 thickness.

IMPORTED HARDWOOD ON DISPLAY

1. AFRICAN MAHOGANY – from Sierra Leone, Liberia, and east to Uganda. Tree heights of 180 to 200 feet with 90 feet of clear lumber. Used in furniture, veneer, plywood and shop fixtures. Subject to termite and power-post beetle attack.

2. ANIGRE – from tropical Africa and parts of East Africa. Uses – general carpentry, plywood, and furniture components. It has a tendency to dull steel cutters.

3. BUBINGA – from Cameroon, Gabon, and Zaire. Color remains constant within each log, but the log color can vary from pink, red, brown, and some purple streaks. Will turn brown in color when exposed to the environment. Extremely heavy with some logs coming in at 10 tons. Used in fine furniture, cabinet work, inlays, and fancy turnery.

4. CUMARU – from Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and Peru. Difficult to saw and bore due to its interlocking grain, but it does plane to a smooth surface. Used in heavy construction, railroad crossties, handles, bearings and turnery. Substitute for lignumvitae.

5. EUCALYPTUS GRANDIS – found in Australia, and North and South America. Used in cabinetry, moulding, and furniture. The heartwood is pink and the sapwood is tan. Stains well and can be used as a cherry or mahogany substitute. Eucalyptus Grandis is a stock item at Lewis Lumber and it is also an FSC certified product.

6. JATOBA – grows from Mexico to Brazil. Common name is Brazilian Cherry. As it ages it becomes a reddish brown color. Its many uses include: flooring, tree nails, handles, furniture, cabinet work, railroad crossties, and boat building. Due to its density it is moderately difficult to machine, but will plane to a smooth surface.

7. LACEWOOD – grows throughout Australia and Europe. Color may vary from a light pink to a reddish brown. Used as a decorative wood for trim in fine residents and public buildings.

8. MAHOGANY – grows in South America and the Caribbean Islands. Easy to work with hand and machine tools. Used in fine furniture, cabinetmaking, interior trim, boat building, patternmaking and wood carving.

9. PADAUK – from Cameroon and Zaire. Another source is from the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Finishes to a bright reddish brown. Good woodworking properties and excellent weathering properties. Used in fine joinery, carving, flooring, decorative veneer, tool and knife handles. The Pullman Company used Padauk for many of its dining cars.

10. PURPLEHEART – grows from Mexico to the northern part of South America. The heartwood is brown but will turn purple when exposed to the environment. Moderately difficult to work with and will dull tools quickly. Turns well, easy to glue and takes finish well. Used in turnery, marquetry, cabinets, furniture, flooring, and billiard cue butts.

11. SAPELE – from the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Zaire and Uganda. Working properties are excellent. Used in furniture and cabinetwork, plywood, joinery, flooring and paneling. Heartwood is resistant to termites but the sapwood is liable to powder-post beetle attack.

12. SPANISH CEDAR – grows throughout Central and South America. Not a true cedar, it is a deciduous tree. Used as construction material in South America. North America uses it for humidor lining, furniture, cabinetry, patterns, boat and canoe building, and lead pencils. The lumber is straight grained and easy to work, but tools should be kept sharp.

13. TEAK – grows in India, Southeast Asia, and Java. Due to its weight, many times the tree is girdled before it is cut three years later. Straight grained with little shrinkage. Used in boat building (boat decks), fine furniture, and paneling. Carbide tools should be used with this wood.

14. WENGE – from Zaire, Cameroon and Tanzania. Machining is difficult with rapid blunting of the cutting edge. Heartwood is very durable and resistant to termite attack. Variety of uses: heavy construction, veneers, flooring and sporting goods.

15. YELLOWHEART – grows in Brazil in the lower Amazon region. Bright yellow when exposed. Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Uses are in furniture, flooring and brush handles.

16. ZEBRAWOOD – from Gabon and Cameroon. Resistant to termite attack but a clear smooth finish is difficult to obtain due to interlocking grain. Used in veneer, turnery, tool handles, and some furniture.