All blanks measure 3/4" square by 6" long and are available in a variety of woods.
A. Amboyna Burl (Pterocarpus indicus) – A highly variegated wood from the burl of a tree related to padauk, yellow-brown to light orange-brown in color with darker reddish-brown markings. A very dense, moderately hard wood with heavily figured grain that is challenging to turn. Due to natural variations in burled wood, some blanks may have small bark inclusions or other minor defects.
B. Birdseye Maple (Acer saccharum) – A highly sought after, figured form of sugar maple speckled with distinctive eye-like markings, pale golden-yellow in color with patches of reddish-brown heartwood. Despite its swirling figure, this dense, hard wood turns beautifully.
C. Bocote (Cordia gerascanthus) – With a waxy texture, it works easily and takes a high polish. Best glued with epoxy or polyurethane. Its heartwood is tobacco- to reddish-brown with a variegated appearance, while the sapwood is grayish-yellow.
D. Chechen (Metopium brownei) – Fine textured and variegated in color from brown to reddish-brown, with a golden luster.
E. Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) – Variable color, but is typically deep orange-red with dark markings. Excellent working properties, but natural oils make it tricky to glue.
F. African Ebony (Diospyrus crassiflora) – Black-brown to jet-black in color, this wood is extremely dense and hard. It has a very smooth texture and polishes to a glossy luster, but is hard on tool edges.
G. Honduras Rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii) – Pink-brown to purple with alternating light and dark zones. Moderately difficult to work due to hardness, but takes detail beautifully.
H. Olivewood (Olea europaea) – Tan to golden in color with distinctive dark brown grain patterns, this fragrant medium-hard wood turns and carves well, and polishes to a smooth, high finish.
J. Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) – Open-grained, but takes a good finish and is vivid red to purple-brown with white sapwood.
K. Pink Ivory (Rhamnus zeyheri) – Typically an extraordinary deep pink hue, the color ranges from brownish peach to deep red. A very hard, fine-textured wood that finishes to a high polish.
L. Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.) – Deep purple to dark brown with lighter sapwood. With a medium to high luster, it turns, glues and finishes well, but is hard on tool edges.
M. Tulipwood (Dalbergia frutescens) – Color ranges from light sandy yellow to pinkish in color, with dark brown to reddish grain. It turns, glues and polishes well.
N. Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis) – Takes its name from its striking striped appearance. Lustrous, but open-grained with a medium to coarse texture.
O. Ziricote (Cordia dodecandra) – Dark brown to reddish-brown with distinctive irregular darker brown or black streaks, this hard, medium-textured wood turns and finishes well.