Western ‘red’ Cedar from Canada/North America is very popular because of its natural durability and pleasant aroma. When freshly machined, it looks variegated from a straw-colour up to dark brown/red, but becomes more uniform in natural light.
 
The timber is imported ‘green’ i.e. not dried, due to the fact that much of it is used externally, and it can be seasoned quickly if required for interior panelling.
 
The best grade, #2 Clear & better, is predominantly knot-free, imported in standard thicknesses of 1″, 2″, 3″ & 4″. Widths are 4″, 6″, 8″ & 10″. Lengths are mainly 7′ - 14′.
 

Quebec Yellow Pine from Canada is also known as Eastern White Pine when imported from Northern states of the USA. The main grade stocked is #2 cmn & better, which permits small diameter knots. Some UK businesses use #3 & #4 common with large knots. It is also possible to import ‘D Selects’ or ‘C Selects’ which are ‘clear’ grades but with high price premiums, and may involve longer lead-times.
 
One of the recognised advantages of this species over other pines is its stability. It is a soft-textured timber making it easy to work, but surfaces may be damaged if not sealed appropriately.
 
Kiln dried boards of 1″, 1¼”, 1½” and 2″ thick are mainly 4″, 6″, 8″, 10″ & 12″ wide; also 4″ x 4″ imported. Edge-glued panels (with lams of 140mm wide) are manufactured in 12.5mm & 20mm thick. Mainly 700mm wide and 3m long.
 

Douglas Fir is a very popular softwood species due to its strength and versatility. We stock both timber from North America and Europe.
 
Whilst the two sources are of the same botanical species, they vary somewhat due to the climates in which they are grown. Stock from North America is slower growing (although the best ‘old-growth’ trees in America which used to be imported have Government environmental restrictions). It is mainly imported in grade #2 / 3 clears 85 / 15 which results in a small knot-content and we also have 2″ x 4″ & 2″ x 5″ in vertical-grain if required for doors etc.
 
Thicknesses kiln dried are 1″, 1½”, 2″, 2½”, 3″ & 4″. Also 6″ thick just heat-treated for import regulations. Widths in packs are random 4″ - 12″. Lengths; mainly 7′ - 16′ but can be longer.
 
French and UK grown Douglas Fir is also offered in ‘construction’ grades and mainly used for exterior joinery (if preservative treated) or roof trusses etc.
 

American ‘red’ Elm FAS grade is imported from an area on the southern shores of the Great Lakes. This is one of the few areas of the world that has been mostly unaffected by the disease which swept most Elm areas in the past thirty years.
 
It has a grain and colour which is interesting and pleasant for a variety of joinery uses.
 
It is stocked square-edge kiln dried in thicknesses 1″, 1½”, 2″ and 3″. Widths are random, mainly 4″ - 8″ (predominantly 5″ - 7″). Lengths 8′ - 10′.
 
It equates to the UK Wych/Dutch Elm and should not be confused with ‘common’ Elm that for many years was used for sea defence groynes.
 

Poplar (also known as Tulipwood) comes from various Eastern States of America. It is often used for kitchen furniture carcasses as it is kiln dried to about 8% av.m.c. and is stable for profiles and mouldings.
 
It has a soft texture and is predominantly pale cream to light green in colour, and often within each board there will be vivid purple and black colouring. This is not a defect, but should be considered when finishing.
 
Thicknesses are 1”, 1¼”, 1½”, 2″, 2½”, 3″, 4″ and sizes are generally random 5′ - 12′ with lengths mainly 8′ - 14′.
 

European Oak is one of the most durable and versatile species. Its natural tannin content enhances its durability. After fresh-sawing, as a process of drying, tannin can create patches of dark brown on the sawn face (which disappear when planed) or lighter variation as the tannin ‘migrates’. The quarter-sawn boards have an interesting medullary ray visible on the surface, which is not only more stable but also aesthetically pleasing.
 
Oak takes a long time to dry and is generally kiln dried in only 20 - 80mm thickness boards. The exception being 100 x 100mm squares which we stock with a 30mm diameter lengthwise drilled-core which facilitates kilning.
 

Sweet Chestnut is an English hardwood which used to be a cheap alternative to Oak. Good quality Chestnut is currently scarce and should not have ‘ring-shakes’ or yellow discolouration.
 
Chestnut may be used for interior joinery when kiln-dried and is stocked as logsawn yielding widths of 100mm - 220mm and lengths 2m - 3.5metre.
 
Thicknesses; 26mm, 32mm, 38mm and 52mm
 

American ‘hard’ Maple is imported in FAS grade in imperial thicknesses of sawn 1″, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 2″, 2 ½”, 3″ & 4″ kiln dried.
 
It is mainly used for interior furniture and joinery. Imported packs normally contain random widths 4″ to about 9″ and are in predominantly even lengths i.e. 8′, 10′, 12′ as this is the standard method of American hardwood production. Occasionally we are able to obtain other lengths up to 14′ long.
 
The grade we stock is predominantly sapwood on one face and on part of the reverse. This ‘white’ colouring is favoured by joinery & furniture makers.
 

 
Unsteamed prime-grade German Beech is imported logsawn (waney-edge), although we can square-edge boards if preferred.
 
Unsteamed is usually paler and stocked as kiln dried. We have found in recent years less demand for the deliberately ’steamed’ pink Beech, but it can be offered ‘to order’.
 
Standard sawn thicknesses - 26mm, 32mm, 38mm, 50mm, 63mm, 80mm & 100mm. Being logsawn, widths will vary considerably, but Beech is known to be more stable in narrow widths. Lengths range from 2m to 4m approximately.
 

American ‘black’ Walnut is usually stocked in logsawn boards (which we saw to size if required) as this makes it easier for the furniture-maker to see and eliminate sapwood. Favoured because it is easy to work and gives a very attractive ‘quality’ appearance. Will have some knots because it is not a ‘tall’ tree. Kiln dried stocks of 26mm, 35mm, 40mm, 52mm, 63mm, 76mm with lengths generally 2m - 3 m.