Solid and well-made of an underrated native wood, exhibiting a particularly attractive grain pattern. Overall, this bowl is beautiful in its simplicity. Highly recommended.
Janet from UK
Wood Species
The following is a non exhaustive list of wood species that I’m able to source.
All (most) images credits are due to The Wood Database whom without I would not be able to navigate the complex world of timber species, variation and range.
Although any wood (and other materials) can be turned some woods respond better to both shaping process of turning and the subsequent finishing. Woods that are best suited for turning are marked with an asterisk.
Some of the woods are at risk due to over use. Where the conservation of a tree species is a consideration I have added a note: RL – on the red list; CITES – in the CITES Appendix; and AR – appears on both. If you are interested in knowing a bit more about the different risk categories I would suggest reading our Environmental Policy. My current stock of blanks is viewable here.
A note about Burrs
Burrs occur where the grain of a tree has grown in a complex (deformed) manner. They can be found in growth on trucks, dormant buds and potentially root balls. They are highly prized and for good reason and tend to achieve the highest prices at sale. Some people will harvest them from trees prior to felling although I do not feel that this is fair to the tree. Burrs are a gift from the tree that we obtain through our normal forestry management.
Native Hardwoods
These are typically the cheapest woods to source as they are either home grown or can be sourced from Europe.
Ash 
Beech* 
Chestnut 
Elm 
Lime 
Oak 
Pear* 
Sycamore
North American Woods
The following woods are commonly found in the more temperate Northern America. This would include USA, Canada and Alaska and should not to be confused with South America. They bridge the price gap between Native woods and more Exotic timbers.
Black Cherry * 
Black Walnut 
Maple* (Hard) 
Tulipwood
Exotics
These exotics hard woods are generally from the Asian, African and South America regions. The following woods are typically the most expensive to source. However timbers such as Sapele and Iroko are often available as offcuts, which although not sized appropriately for simple bowls, are suitable for smaller items.
Acacia 
Bubinga* (PENDING) 
Gaboon Ebony (AR) 
Honduran Mahogany* (AR) 
Iroko (RL) 
Jatoba* 
Lacewood 
Mopane* 
Ovangkol* 
Purple Heart 
Padauk* 
Panga Panga* 
Sapele* (RL) 
Tigerwood* 
Wenge (RL) 
Zebrawood (RL)
Unusual Exotics
These share all the characteristics of the exotics above but have special features that mean I have put them in a category of their own. The African Blackwood currently available are rejected Clarinet Bells blanks. Leadwood is one of the top ten heaviest and hardest woods. Its is rarely seen for sale and is quite elusive!
African Blackwood* (AR) 
Leadwood*