Wood - Common Name(s)

ADD MOR & MOE

SG

Binomial
TBBv4

Acacia
Black/Australian Blackwood

Alder

DRon Knife

Acacia
melanoxylon

0.60

Alnus

Red

rubra

0.41

0.41

Grey

incana

0.47

0.47

European/Black/Common

glutinosa

White

rhombifolia

Almond
Apricot
Apple
Ash

Prunus dulcis

0.67

Prunus armeniaca

0.67

Malus spp.

0.68

0.65

Fraxinus

Black

negra

0.49

0.49

Green

pennsylvanica

0.56

0.56

Oregon

latifolia

0.56

0.56

Blue

quadrangulata

0.58

0.58

White

americana

0.59

0.59

European

excelsior

0.61

0.61

Aspen

Populus

Quaking

tremuloides

0.38

Bigtooth

grandidentala

0.39

Avocado
Persea americana mill
Baldcypress
Taxodium distichum
Balsa
Ochroma pyramidale
Bamboo
Basswood
Tilia americana
Bay, California Laurel, Myrtle, Peppe Umbellularia californica
Beech
Fagus

0.70
0.46
0.16
0.37

0.37

0.57

0.56
0.64

American

grandifolia

0.64

European

sylvatica

0.64

Beefwood/Bulletwood
Birch

Betula

River

populifolia

Gray

nigra

Paper

papyrifera

0.55

0.55

Silver/European

pendula

0.59

0.59

White/European/Downy

pubescens

0.59

0.59

Yellow

alleghaniensis

0.62

0.62

Sweet/Cherry/Black

lenta

0.65

0.65

Black Locust/Robinia/False Acacia

Blackthorn
Blue Beech/American Hornbeam
Box Elder
Brazilian Cherry/Jatoba
Brazilwood/Pernambuco
Buckeye,

Robinia pseudoacacia

0.69

Prunus spinosa

0.87

Carpinus caroliniana
Acer nigundo

0.46

Hymenaea courbaril

0.91

Caesalpinia echinata

0.98

0.46

Aesculus

Yellow

octandra

California

californica

Buckthorn/Cascara/Chittam
Butternut
Buttonwood/Button Mangrove
California Nutmeg
Catalpa, Northern
Cedar

0.69

0.36

0.36

Ramnus purshiana

0.52

Juglans cinerea

0.38

0.38

Conocarpus erectus

0.85

0.85

Torreya californica
Catalpa speciosa

0.41

Chamaecyparis

Atlantic White

thyoicles

0.32

Port Orford

lawsoniana

0.43

0.43

Alaska

nootkatensis

0.44

0.44

Cedar

Thuja

Northern White/Eastern Arborvitae

occidentalis

0.31

Western Red/Giant Arborvitae

plicata

0.33

Yellow

???

0.44

Cedar

Cupressus

Leyland Cypress

x leylandii

Alaskan/Yellow

nootkatensis

Cherry

Prunus

Black/American

serotina

0.50

Sweet

avium L.

0.66

Bitter

emarginata

0.66

European Wild

avium

0.65

Common Chokecherry

virginiana

0.65

Western Chokecherry

virginiana var. demissa

0.65

Eastern

virginiana var. virtiniana

Hollyleaf/Evergreen

ilicifolia

Chestnut, American
Cottonwood

0.32

Castanea dentate

0.50

0.93
0.43

0.43

Populus

Black

trichocarpa

0.35

0.45

Eastern

deltoids

0.40

0.40

Crepe Myrtle
Desert Willow
Dogwood

Lagerstroemia spp.

0.75

Chilopsis linearis

0.61

Cornus

Flowering

florida

0..73

Pacific

nuttallii

0.75

American

sericera

Ebony
Eastern Red Cedar
Elderberry
Elm

0.73

Diospyros spp.

0.90

Juniperus virginiana

0.48

0.47

sambucus velutina

0.50

<0.50

Ulmus

English

procera

0.49

0.49

American

americana

0.50

0.50

Sippery

rubra

0.53

0.53

Wych

glabra

0.60

0.60

Rock

thomasii

0.63

0.63

Cedar

crassifolia

0.64

0.64

Winged

alata

0.66

0.66

Eucalyptus
Spotted Gum

Eucalyptus
maculate

Blue/Red/Grey Gum

Fir

1.00
0.65

Abies

Balsam

balsamea

0.36

0.36

White

concolor

0.37

0.37

Noble

procera

0.38

0.38

Pacific Silver

amabilis

0.38

0.38

California Red

magnifica

0.39

0.39

Norway

alba

0.43

0.43

0.48

0.49

Fir
Douglas

Fremontia/Flannelbush
Goncolo Alves
Guava
Hackberry
Sugarberry

Hawthorn
Hazel/Hazelnut

Psuedotsuga
menziesii
Fremontodendron californicum

0.40

Astronium fraxinofolium

0.79

Psidium cattleianum Sabine

0.90

Celtis occidentalis

0.53

0.53

0.51

0.51

0.83

0.80

laevigata
Crataegus spp.
Corylus spp.

Cali. Hazelnut/Filbert

cornuta

Common

avellana

Hemlock

Tsuga

0.42

Eastern

canadensis

0.40

Western

heterophylla

0.44

Hickory

0.80

Carya

Shellbark

laciniosa

0.69

0.69

Shagbark

ovata

0.72

0.72

Mocknut

tomentosa

0.72

0.72

Pignut

glabra

0.75

0.75

Nutmeg Hickory

myristiciformis

0.60

0.60

Water Hickory

aquatica

0.62

0.62

Pecan

illinoiensis

0.66

0.66

Bitternut Hickory

cordiformis

0.66

0.66

Holly

Ilex

American

opaca

0.56

0.56

European

aquifolium

0.68

0.68

Gleditsia triacanthos

0.66

0.66

Lonicera spp.

0.85

Carpinus caroliniana

0.70

Aesculus hippocastanum

0.45

Ostrya virginiana

0.70

0.70

Tabebuia spp.

1.00

1.08

Juniperus

0.45

Honey Locust
Honeysuckle
Hornbeam, Ironwood, Musclewood
Horse Chestnut
Hophornbeam/American Ironwood
Ipe/Brazilian Walnut
Junipers
Alligator

Kentucky Coffeetree
Koa/Hawaiian Koa
Laburnum
Larch

0.70

deppeana
Gymnocladus dioicus

0.60

0.60

Acacia koa

0.60

0.60

Laburnum anagyroides

0.84

Larix

European/Common

decidua

0.53

0.52

Western

occidentalis

0.53

0.51

Calycophyllum candidissimum

0.67

0.67

Guaiacum spp.

1.14

Syringa vulgaris

0.82

Tilia vulgaris

0.48

Arbutus menziesii

0.65

0.60

Lemonwood/Degame
Lignum Vitae/Ironwood
Lilac, Syringa
Lime, European
Linden, American
Locust
Madrone, Pacific
Magnolia

Magnolia

Southern

grandiflora

0.48

0.50

Sweetbay/Laurel Magnolia

virginiana

0.48

0.48

0.50

<0.50

Mahogany
African

Khaya senegalensis

0.63

Central American

Swietenia spp.

0.58

Mango
Maple

0.45
Acer

Silver

saccharinum

0.47

0.47

Bigleaf

macrophyllum

0.48

0.47

Red

rubrum

0.54

0.54

Norway

platanoides

0.57

Black

nigrum

0.57

0.57

Vine

circinatum Pursh

0.60

0.60

Hard/Rock/Sugar

saccharum

0.63

0.63

Field

campestre

0.66

Tatar

tataricum

Massaranduba/Beefwood/Braz. RedwoManilkara bidentata

Mesquite/Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Mountain Laurel/Spoonwood
Kalmia latifolia
Mulberry
Morus
Red
White/Fruitless

Oak, Red

1.00
0.77

0.81

0.90

0.80

0.68

0.68

rubra

0.68

0.66

alba

0.62

Quercus

California Black

kelloggii

0.57

0.57

Southern Red

falcate

0.59

0.59

Black

veluntina

0.61

Northern Red

rubra

0.63

Pin

palustris

Scarlet

coccinea

Oak, White

0.63
0.63

0.67
0.63

Quercus

Bur

macrocarpa

0.57

Chestnut

prinus

0.59

Post

stellata

0.61

Sessile

petraea

White

alba

0.67

0.68

Oregon White

garryana

0.69

0.72

Swamp White

bicolor

0.70

0.72

Live

virginiana

0.85

0.82

0.62

0.67

0.63

Tanoak

Oak, European/English
Quercus robur
Ocean Spray, Creambush, Ironwood Holodiscus discolor
Olive
Olea europaea L.
Orange
Citrus spp.
Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera
Padauk
Pterocarpus spp.
Palm, Black Palm
Borassus flabellifer
Peach
Prunus persica
Pear
Pyrus spp.
Pecan
Persimmon/White Ebony
Diospyros virginiana

0.81
0.91
0.64
0.82

0.82

0.67

0.67

0.90
0.68
0.73

0.73

0.74

0.74

Pine

Pinus

Eastern White

strobe

0.35

0.35

Sugar

lambertiana

0.36

0.36

Western White

monticola

0.38

0.38

Ponderosa

ponderosa

0.40

0.40

Lodgepole

contorta

0.41

0.41

Red

resinosa

0.44

0.44

Scots

sylvestris

0.45

0.45

Loblolly

taeda

0.51

0.51

Shortleaf

echinata

0.51

0.51

Pitch

rigida

Southern Yellow/Georgia/Longleaf

palustris

0.57

0.55

elliotti

0.62

0.56

Slash/Dade County

Plum

0.51

Prunus

0.70

Wild

americana

0.73

Domestic

domesitca

0.68

Purple Leaf

cerasifera

0.69

Poplar, Yellow/Tulipwood
Poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

0.42

Populus

~0.37

Balsam

balsamifera

0.34

White

alba

0.36

European/Black

nigra

0.39

Grey

canesceris

0.40

Privet
Purpleheart
Quince
Ramin
Redwood
Rosewood, Honduras
Rowan/Mountain Ash
Russian Olive
Sassafras
Serviceberry/Juneberry/Shadbush
Scotch/Irish/English Broom
Silverbell
Snakewood
Spruce

Ligustrum vulgare

0.65

Pelyogyne spp.

0.82

Cydonia oblonga
Gonystylus macrophyllum

0.59

0.59

Sequoia sempervirens

0.38

0.40

Dalbergia latifolia

0.90

Sorbus aucuparia

0.61

0.60

Sassafras albidum

0.46

0.46

Amelanchier spp.

0.75

0.70

Cytisus scoparius

0.66

Halesia carolina

0.48

0.48

Piratinera quiannsi

1.00

1.00

Eleaagnus angustifolia L.

Picea

Sitka

sitchensis

0.40

0.40

White

glauca

0.40

0.40

Black

mariana

0.40

0.40

Red

rubens

0.41

0.40

Norway

Sumac/Staghorn
Sweetbay
Sweetgum/Redgum/Sapgum
Sycamore/American Plane
London Plane

Syringa/Mock Orange
Tamarack
Tanoak
Teak
Toyon/California Holly
Tree-of-Heaven
Tulipwood, Brazilian
Tupelo/Black Gum
Black Walnut

albies

0.42

0.42

Rhus typhina

0.48

0.47

Liquidambar styraciflua

0.52

0.52

Platanus occidentalis

0.49

0.49

x acerifolia

0.55

Philadelphus spp.

0.75

Larix larcina

0.52

Notholithocarpus densiflorus

0.65

0.65

Tectona grandis

0.60

0.57

0.52

0.52

Dalbergia fructescens var. toment 0.86

0.86

Nyssa sylvatica

0.51

0.50

Juglans nigra

0.55

0.55

Southern California

californica

0.55

Northern California

hindsii

0.55

Walnut, European
Wenge
Willow

Heteromeles arbutifolia
Ailanthus altissima

Juglans regia

0.56

0.56

Millenttia laurentii

0.70

0.67

Salix spp.

0.39

Black

nigra

0.39

White

alba

0.40

Yellow

lutea

Witch Hazel
Yew, Pacific
Yew, European
Irish

Zebrawood

Hamamelis virginiana

0.60

0.60

Taxus brevifolia

0.64

0.63

Taxus baccata

0.66

0.66

0.68

0.68

fastigiata
Microberlinia brazzavillensi

MOR & MOE

SG
Wood DB

Porous?
Primitive Ways
0.66

0.64
0.45

Diffuse-porous

0.50

Closed pores
0.47
Semi-ring-porous

0.83

0.70

0.55

Diffuse-porous
Ring-porous

0.64
0.61
0.64
0.67

Ring-porous

0.68

Ring-porous

0.45

Diffuse-porous

0.43

Diffuse-porous

0.51

Non-porous

0.15

Diffuse-porous

0.50-0.85
0.42
0.63

Diffuse-porous
0.56

Diffuse-porous

0.72

Diffuse-porous

0.71

Diffuse-porous

0.56

Diffuse-porous

0.59

Diffuse-porous

0.61

Diffuse-porous

0.64

Diffuse-porous

0.62

Diffuse-porous

0.69

Diffuse-porous

0.74

Diffuse-porous

0.77

Ring-porous

0.79

Diffuse-porous

0.49

0.42

Diffuse-porous

0.91

Diffuse-porous

0.98

Diffuse-porous

0.40

Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous
0.41

Diffuse-porous

0.61
0.43

Semi-ring-porous

0.35

No resin canals
0.64

0.50

No resin canals

0.50

No resin canals

0.56

Semi-ring-porous to di

0.55

0.55

0.53

0.60

0.79

Diffuse-porous
0.68

Diffuse-porous

0.58

Diffuse-porous

Diffuse-porous
0.38

Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous

Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous
1.08

Diffuse-porous

0.82

Diffuse-porous to semi-ring-porous

1.11

Diffuse-porous to semi

0.69

Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Ring-porous (tyloses)
Diffuse-porous
Ring-porous
0.86

Diffuse-porous
0.97
0.64
Semi-ring-porous

0.89
0.61

0.51

Diffuse-porous
Diffuse-porous

0.85
0.67

0.65

Diffuse-porous to semi

0.84

Diffuse-porous
Semi-ring-porous

0.53

0.70

Notes
Over 1000 species. See Koa.
Treat as if SG 0.50 for safety. Steam-bends well.

Tends to check and warp while drying.

Takes an abnormally large set.
Weakest of the ashes.

The heaviest American ash, almost all sapwood. Oregon looks and acts like white.

surface as belly. Bamboo fibers tend to split and pull out when being cross-cut; use
masking tape over the cut line to prevent this.

Usually excessively twisted and gnarly.

See Massaranduba
Lighter birches somewhat tension-brittle, and fret in compression. Served well by a
rawhide backing.

Stronger in tension than compression. Frets and chrysals easily, making this wood
ideal for teaching you how to tiller.
Not Hophornbeam, as Tim Baker indicates.
A maple.

Treat like a medium-density birch. 6-8" diameter trunks, so not commercially avail.

Behaves like lower-density yew

Cedars are brittle, typically poor wood. Pick densest, oldest growth possible.

Very light and brittle.

According to Wikipedia, yellow cedar is also Thuja occidentalis.

Excellent bow wood.

Not a typo for SG

Dogwood-like.
Not a willow.
Tough and strong. Endures a large set before breaking.

See also Persimmon.

A juniper. Exceptional potential. Elastic, but weak in tension (?). Heartwood is purplered. Thin rawhide will help compensate for tension weakness.
SG 0.40-0.6. Better if denser. Ligher wood should be longer and wider.
Elms are especially strong in tension compared to compression.

Somewhat brittle in tension, chrysals easily, tends to be twisted.

Most other varieties, esp. younger trees, are lighter and more brittle.
Grown in Cali. for timber, reportedly strong, but tested weak.

Look for heartwood boards or trees with high percentage of dark in rings. If dense, like
mid-weight ash.
Light, tough. Withstood taking a design suitable for SG 0.65.
Difficult to steam bend. May be better flat than crowned.
Heat-bends well. Seems promising.
Steam-bends very well. Very similar to elm.
Treat like a light elm.

The champ. Strong in tension. Unless violated, never needs backing.

More sapwood than black locust. All sapwood is OK if longer/wider than usual.
Usually twisted and gnarly, but if straight, can be good.
Treat like a denser maple.
0.40-0.50, usu. All varieties can make excellent bows.
Possibly the densest kind
Grain is usually slightly interlocked, and sometimes wavy.
Excellent, elastic wood.
Tamarack is another larch.

Similar to pecan. Trees grow very straight.

~0.85 sapwood; sapwood makes good bows
Has good potential if straight wood can be found.
See Basswood
See Black Locust, Honey Locust
Somewhat brittle in tension. Rawhide will help. Shorter bows, even sinew-backed, have
been reported breaking.

Large variety of similar woods. Density matters; lighter staves should be longer and
wider to compensate.

Tension-strong. Great bow wood.

Like Ipe, but straighter.

orous to semi-ring-porous
Very hard and tough.
Heavy and strong but brittle
Cousin of osage. Make about 25% wider than osage, ceteris paribus. Like osage, can
leave sapwood on the stave if undamaged.

All white oaks are very strong. They take set, but are hard to break. Tylose fills the
pores.

Heaviest true oak, and heaviest North American tree. Only non-ring porous oak.
Not a true oak; see Tanoak
Strong, durable. Highly prized for making arrow shafts.
Checks easily while drying.
Other citrus species generally similar.
Heaviest common North American wood. Lighter yellow wood typically less dense,
more brittle, but cast better.
Tested brittle in tension, but few sample available.
Denser on the outside. Use outside as the belly. Make longer than usual to keep set
low.
Somewhat prone to checking.
See Hickory
Interlocking grain. Strong in tension.

Typically considered terrible bow wood. Good bows can be made, however.

0.60-0.65. elliotti var densa grows in Florida.

All plums difficult to dry without checking.

Compression strength as if SG 0.70. Frets easily. Treat like hophornbeam. Strong in

tension, but hard to pick out flaws due to color of wood.
Should be similar to other rose-family trees, particularly apple and pear.
Small tool handles can make fine kid bows. Large handles bows to about 50#.

Weaker in tension than compression. Try working-handle designs, especially an ELB.

Treat like plum. Tends to check while drying.
SG 1+. Very dense.

See Magnolia
Good bows reported. Crowned bellies often fret. Often warps while drying.

A larch.
Sapwood is very wide and not clearly differentiated from the heartwood.
SG 0.55-0.65. Oily. Rot-resistant.
Fairly brittle.

Great wood. Like cherry, but stronger in tension. Can use heartwood, sapwood, or
both.

tension to tolerate being a backward bow: the crowned sapling surface as belly, the
split back surface tillered.
Usu. quoted as SG ~0.88, but tested lighter on avg. Brittle in tension relative to
density.
SG usu. <0.40. Best for making wide, thin and long, light bows.

Near identical to European Yew.

rings/inch is good. Density reported as high as 0.80. Sapwood elastic in tension,
heartwood strong in compression; self-bow stave acts like it has a natural backing.
Common landscape yew. Very pin-and-branch filled, thick-ringed and weaker than wild.
Not ideal, but better than nothing. Pins and branches where sun reaches trunk.
Maple-like.