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"Figuring" is a term that woodworkers use to describe anomalies in the wood, and are almost always considered to add extra beauty and value to a piece. There are many different types, but all are caused by nature -- by a tree bending in the winds, insects moving in, or other factors. Curly, quilted, fiddleback, and birds-eye are some of the types of figuring. In this section, I am also including unusually grained woods, as well as others with natural unusual tendencies. Burls (burrs) can be found on the Oddballs Page.
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Leopardwood has incredible grain patterns; when cut, reveal tiny ovals of shineyness -- rather like fish scales shimmering in the sunlight. A type of Lacewood, Leopardwood tends to be on the darker side than what is commonly referred to as "Lacewood," which makes the contrast between the "scales" and the matrix wood all the more distinct. |
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Maple (Ambrosia) is surely food sent from the gods for all the little critters that lived inside the tree. Of course, nowadays, the former residents have been evicted, but they left beautiful blue/green-ish streaks running up along the grain lines. Of course, they also left their doorways intact, so pieces made with Ambrosia Maple often have a tiny little hole wich would have marked their entranceway. |
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Maple (Birds-eye figure) can be one of the most intensely packed examples of the figure found in any wood in the world! Maple tends to have teeny tiny birds-eyes which are found throughout the heart- and sap-wood of trees that have been exposed to specific conditions. |
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Maple (Curly figure) is definitely one of my most favorite woods. I LOVE the chatoyant shimmers that ripple down its length! It's almost magical to see these 3-D light refractions, and then, when you reach to touch them, it's perfectly smooth -- almost like a hologram. The best part is, it's all natural :) |
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Maple (Spalted) is caused when fungus starts infiltrating a tree, and it generally spreads along the grain lines, creating wonderful patterns of abstract art. Sometimes, the areas between the lines takes on a slightly darker color, giving the effect of ancient sepia-tone maps. A fun wood to use because the look of the final piece is highly unpredictable. |
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Narra (Tiger Stripe Figure) is something simply incredible to behold! Chatoyant streaks in a pattern resembling tiger stripes flow over these pieces of wood like a waterfall! |
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Knotty Pine reminds one of log cabins and seemingly ancient floorboards, of home-cooked dinners, and logs on the hearth; warm cozy quilts and that general fuzzy feeling of home. The knots that appear can range from very light in color to deep black. |
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Pyinma (Curly Figure) is not a wood I use very often, but I like it nonetheless. It reminds me of Asian Satinwood in terms of working -- the shavings glide off effortlessly. Shown in the photo is Curly Pyinma, with characteristic chatoyant stripes that appear almost 3-D in the light. |
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Please note: All of the information on this page is an opinion of the author. It is not to be relied upon for any purpose other than to find out another person's thoughts on the differing types of wood. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the factual information presented, however, absolute reliability cannot be guaranteed. This information is intended for use by the good folks who purchase and use hand-made wooden tools & ornaments. If you are looking to enter into woodworking, please consult safety guidelines before using any type of wood.
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