Amish Wood Types | Stain Options

Requesting Samples

Generally, we will not send out stain boards until an order is placed. A "special instructions" box is provided at checkout to request samples. For example, if you type "Stain to be determined, please send medium stains on Oak", we will send 3 or 4 medium stains on Oak for you to choose from. You then make your selection and mail the samples back to us. Stain samples consist of 2 separate boards of contrasting grain which are glued, planed, sanded, stained, top coated and then cut to size. Needless to say, this is a time consuming and costly procedure. Because of this, a $25 re-stocking fee for each stain board will be assessed for boards and/or leather samples not returned to us. Please keep in mind that we can also custom stain pieces to match your existing furniture.

Hickory

A deciduous tree coming from the species Carya. They are native to North, South and Central America and very few are found in Asia. The hickory tree is predominately cultivated in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas throughout the United States. At 1820 on the Janka hardness scale, Hickory is our hardest wood.

(Acer Saccharum): Grown from the Great Lakes to Canada. Hard Rock Maple is excellent for high 'impact resistant' applications or where a uniform light creamy yellowish/white color is sought. Northern Maple is naturally 50% harder than Red Oak lumber, Maple has a strong, uniform physical grain structure. The luster or visual texture of Maple offers a changing panorama of beauty as light strikes the wood from various angles. Maple is growing in it's popularity due to its natural coloration. Maple scores 1450 on the Janka hardness test.

(Quercus Alba). All 1/4 Sawn orders on our site are built using White Oak. Very similiar to red oak but slightly harder and when 1/4 sawn, provides more "ray flake". Ray flake is the distinctive striping which is seen in antique wood pieces. 1/4 Sawn Oak is primarily used on Shaker and Mission style pieces to more accurately represent the look of antique furniture. White Oak scores 1360 on the Janka hardness test.

(Quercus Rubra), A beautiful hardwood chosen by the American consumer 50% of the time as their wood species of choice for furniture. It's three dimensional warmth, uniform color, durability and ease of finishing have built Oaks reputation. Grown in the eastern US, especially in the Appalachians, oak exhibits large open grain. Our regular Oak pieces are made using Red Oak, 1/4 Sawn pieces are built using White Oak which provides more "ray flake" (the distinctive grain in 1/4 Sawn Oak) . Red Oak scores 1260 on the Janka hardness test.

(Prunus Serotina): Found from Maine to the Appalachians. Finest growth is from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Light reddish-brown in color with a warm easygoing grain that may include small pitch pockets of minerals. Cherry will darken with exposure to light. Cherry scores 950 on the Janka hardness test. Rustic Cherry shares the same properties as our standard cherry. The difference being that it contains more "sap wood" and mineral deposits or "pitting" as shown in the sample below.

Brown Maple is the "heart wood" (wood towards the center of a tree) of various soft maple trees and not a specific species of tree. As it's from the center of the tree, it tends to run a range of colors from light to beige to medium brown. Brown Maple is a smooth wood often used for painting or for darker dye stains such as Espresso. We are currently working with our stainer to achieve results similar in appearance to Cherry but without the added Cherry cost. Brown Maple hardness varies, but it is in the same range as Cherry (950 on the Janka Scale).

American Beech is a species to eastern North America. The sapwood of American beech is white with a red tinge, while the heartwood is light to dark reddish brown. The wood wears well and holds a polish, and it bends readily when steamed. Care is needed in gluing, but the wood finishes well with paint or transparent finishes.American Beech scores 1300 on the Janka hardness scale.

Elm contains about 45 species native to Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean, South and Central America and North America. All species look alike microscopically. The sapwood of elm is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown to brown with a reddish tinge. The wood has no characteristic odor or taste. Elm is moderately heavy and stiff, with excellent bending and shock resistance. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain. American white Elm scores 830 on the Janka hardness scale.

Swietenia macrophylla. Mahogany varies from yellowish, reddish, pinkish, or salmon colored when freshly cut, to a deep rich red, to reddish brown as the wood matures with age. Mahogany is fine to medium texture, with uniform to interlocking grain, ranging from straight to wavy or curly. Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive figures such as fiddle back or mottle. Mahogany polishes to a high luster, with excellent working and finishing characteristics. It responds well to hand and machine tools, has good nailing and screwing properties, and turns and carves superbly. Mahogany is regarded by many as the world's premier wood for fine cabinetry, high-class furniture, trimming fine boats, pianos and other musical instruments, interior trim, and carving. Mahogany is a softer wood and scores 800-830 on the Janka hardness scale.

Black Walnut contains 15 species which grow in South America, Eurasia, and North America. The sapwood of black walnut is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown to dark, chocolate brown, often with a purplish cast and darker streaks. The wood is heavy, hard, and stiff and has high shock resistance. Black walnut is straight grained and easily worked with hand tools and by machine. It finishes beautifully and holds paint and stain exceptionally well. It also glues and polishes well. American Walnut scores 1110 on the Janka hardness scale.

Our furniture is finished with one coat of stain and two coats of Woodwright catalyzed varnish which resists moisture from penetrating the furniture. Fingerprints, cooking fumes, smoking residue etc. accumulates on any finished surface. None of these contaminants will harm the finish, but they should be periodically removed to restore the finish to its original luster. Just wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a non-wax containing polish or mild detergent solution. Avoid the use of ammonia - based products or silicone oils as they may cause damage if used over a long period of time. Following these simple steps will keep your finished piece looking like new for many years.
We also can custom match your new furniture to your existing furniture for an additional charge.

Distressing in the decorative arts is the activity of making a piece of furniture or object appear aged and older. Distressing has become a popular design style and decorative art form. The artisan attempts a rustic, attractive, one-of-a-kind appearance or vintage look. The final appearance is often called the patina. Distressing can be applied to a variety of surfaces and materials such as wood, glass, metal, plastic and paint. The Shabby chic style has made both distressing and antiquing popular.
source: wikipedia