Popular Woods for turning

Woodturning, the art of shaping wood on a lathe, transforms humble timber into elegant bowls, intricate spindles, and unique decorative pieces. The success and beauty of a turned object depend significantly on the wood chosen. Each species offers a unique combination of characteristics – from grain patterns and colour to hardness and workability – that influence both the turning process and the final aesthetic.
Here’s a look at some popular woods favoured by turners, highlighting their key characteristics and typical applications:

1. Maple (Hard Maple & Soft Maple)
• Characteristics: Maple is a widely popular choice, encompassing both hard maple (like Sugar Maple) and softer varieties (like Bigleaf Maple). Hard maple is dense, strong, and boasts a fine, even grain, often with subtle figuring like “bird’s-eye” or “tiger stripe.” It has a light, creamy colour that can range to reddish-brown. Soft maples are less dense but still  offer good stability and a similar light colour.
• Typical Usage: Hard maple is excellent for functional pieces requiring durability, such as bowls, platters, and even tool handles. Its smooth finish is ideal for food-safe items. Soft maple is also suitable for bowls and decorative pieces where extreme hardness isn’t paramount, and it’s often more forgiving to turn.

2. Walnut (Black Walnut & European Walnut)
• Characteristics: Walnut is renowned for its rich, deep brown colour, often with purple or reddish hues, and its beautiful, open grain pattern. Black Walnut (North American) is a highly prized species, known for its workability and stability. European Walnut (or Common
Walnut) shares similar characteristics but can sometimes be lighter in colour. 
• Typical Usage: Walnut is a top choice for decorative bowls, hollow forms, and artistic pieces where its dramatic colour and grain can be showcased. It finishes exceptionally well and takes a high polish, making it ideal for heirloom quality items.

3. Cherry (Black Cherry)
• Characteristics: Black Cherry is beloved for its warm, reddish-brown colour that deepens with age and exposure to light, developing a rich patina. It has a fine, straight, and even grain with occasional “gum pockets” which can add character. It is relatively stable and carves beautifully.
• Typical Usage: Cherry is excellent for both functional and decorative items. Its appealing
colour makes it perfect for bowls, platters, and ornamental pieces. It’s also a good choice for
delicate work due to its stability.

4. Oak (Red Oak & White Oak)
• Characteristics: Oak is a strong and durable wood with a prominent open grain. Red Oak has a reddish hue, while White Oak is lighter, ranging from light beige to brown, and is more resistant to moisture. Both are hard and can be challenging to turn if tools aren’t sharp,
but they offer excellent stability.
• Typical Usage: Due to its strength and distinct grain, oak is often used for more rustic or robust turned items like large bowls, platters, and architectural elements. White Oak’s water resistance makes it suitable for outdoor applications if properly sealed.

5. Ash
• Characteristics: Ash is a strong, flexible, and relatively lightweight wood with a light, creamy white to light brown colour. It has a pronounced, open grain similar to oak, and can sometimes exhibit interesting “figure” or ripple.
• Typical Usage: Ash is a good all-around turning wood, suitable for a wide range of projects. Its strength makes it ideal for tool handles, while its attractive grain works well for bowls and decorative forms.

6. Sycamore
• Characteristics: Sycamore, particularly European Sycamore, is a light-coloured wood with a fine, even texture and a subtle, often wavy or mottled grain. It turns beautifully and takes a good finish.
• Typical Usage: Its clean, pale appearance makes it perfect for food-safe items like bowls and plates, as well as delicate, decorative pieces where a light canvas is desired. It’s also a popular choice for musical instruments.

7. Beech
• Characteristics: Beech is a hard, strong, and dense wood with a fine, even grain and a pale, yellowish-brown to pinkish-brown colour. It’s known for its excellent turning properties and ability to hold fine detail.
• Typical Usage: Beech is a workhorse wood for turners, ideal for functional items like bowls, platters, and especially tool handles and mallet heads due to its durability. It’s also frequently used for toys and kitchenware.

8. Other Fruit Woods: Apple, Pear and Plum
• All make for great turning and with their fine grain, work very well on small detailed pieces of turning.

9. Elm
• Characteristics: Elm wood is known for its strength, durability, and distinctive grain patterns. It has a distinctive interlocked grain pattern, which can create a striking visual effect. The texture is generally described as coarse and uneven. The heartwood of elm can range from light to medium reddish-brown, while the sapwood is typically paler.
• Typical usage: The distinctive grain patterns of elm make it an excellent choice for creating decorative items like bowls, platters, and vases.

Beyond the Basics: Exotics and Burls (Burrs)
While the woods listed above are staples, the world of woodturning extends to a vast array of exotic hardwoods and burls. Exotics like Padauk (vibrant orange-red), Wenge (dark, almost black with pronounced grain), and Zebrawood (striped) offer dramatic visual appeal but can be more challenging to work with due to hardness, oiliness, or silica content. Burls, unusual growths on
trees, provide incredible, chaotic grain patterns that are highly prized for artistic and decorative turnings.
Ultimately, the best wood for your turning project depends on the desired outcome. Experimenting
with different species is part of the joy of woodturning, allowing you to discover their unique personalities and unlock the endless possibilities they offer.