https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles.atom 2021-09-27T08:36:43-07:00 Cook Woods https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/wowee-figured-claro-walnut-sale 2021-09-27T08:36:43-07:00 2021-09-27T08:36:44-07:00 Tech Support Claro Walnut (Juglans hindsii) is a unique species from the Pacific Coast of the USA. We're fortunate that the wood grows right around the area where Cook Woods is located. Lumber, slabs, and blanks are known for rich color and extraordinary figure that is far superior to Eastern Walnut. Claro Walnut has been favored for high end rifles and shotguns by many over the years. It is commonly used for guitars of various kinds, fine furniture, slab tables, boxes, and high quality turned items. Most of the supply originates in orchards as either production Walnut trees or wind row trees. When orchards are removed, it is our privilege to recycle the beautiful stumps and logs from the trees. Despite its density, Claro Walnut works and finishes well with the use of a grain sealer. It is an unrivalled wood that is in high demand and short supply.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/40-off-port-orford-cedar 2021-09-22T09:00:07-07:00 2021-09-22T09:00:07-07:00 Tech Support Port Orford Cedar is a large, aromatic Cedar tree that is native to Oregon and California. It was first discovered near the city of Port Orford, Oregon and according to Wikipedia was introduced into cultivation in 1854, by collectors working for the Lawson & Son nursery in Edinburgh, Scotland, after whom it was named as Lawson Cypress by the describing botanist Andrew Murray. The EURA officially calls it by the name Port Orford cedar, as do most people in its native area, but some botanists prefer to use the name Lawson cypress. Port Orford cedar wood is fine grained and lightweight but strong & extremely resistant to rot. It has good tonal properties and a spicy, distinctive aroma! It is in high demand in Asia for religious uses, temples, and carvings. Turning blanks in this material are very rich in oil and turn easily. The aromatic resin pools in the stumps, forming an oily, dense consistency. This is a similar phenomenon to Moroccan Thuya burls, though Port Orford Cedar is slightly less dense than Thuya! We recommend a natural finish for turned articles. The more oils/resin in this wood, the more aromatic! Lumber and slabs of Port Orford Cedar can have less oil/resin and glue easily. When the wood is planed, it has a tendency to fuzz, but it can easily be sanded as a remedy. Our material was all salvaged from old growth trees/stumps that have lain dormant on the forest floor, sun bleached and aged for 40 to 70 years.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/pernambuco-lumber-sale 2021-09-20T15:30:33-07:00 2021-09-20T15:30:34-07:00 Tech Support Pernambuco is a rare exotic hardwood that is a burnt reddish-orange color. It is noteworthy that Brazil was named after this wood due to the fact that the vivid orange and burnt red colors of the wood closely resemble the soil of Brazil. Uses include but are not limited to orange dye, stringed instrument bows, and fine boxes. This is a very stiff wood that is the wood of choice for instrument bows. A glass like finish can be obtained for stunning articles! Scientific name, Caesalpinia echinata, this hardwood can also be called Ibirapitanga, Tupi, or Chakte Viga and has been laboratory tested with the University of Wisconsin EURA to confirm that it is the same genetic species as Pernambuco. We are really fortunate that we can offer this unique historic wood!]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/ok-well-share-camphor-burl-sale 2021-09-16T09:30:01-07:00 2021-09-16T09:30:01-07:00 Tech Support Camphor Burl, Cinnamomum camphora, is a rare burl from Southeast Asia that is highly prized. Camphor burl is very stable, requiring little special care in its conversion from large wet burls to cut blanks; unlike the majority of other burl species where the burls are very delicate requiring years of knowledge and experience to carefully cut and season. Camphor burl is usually available in veneer form and occasionally blocks and squares. We sell a lot of camphor burl for electric guitars as it makes a delightful top! The wood has a strong fragrance of root beer which is typically either loved or despised. Most like the rootbeer aroma.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/tropical-lychee-lumber 2021-09-13T09:00:00-07:00 2021-09-13T09:00:00-07:00 Tech Support Rambutan, Nephelium lappaceum, is a medium-sized tropical tree that grows within about 10 degrees of the Equator. The fruit produced by the tree is also known as Rambutan. The earliest record of Rambutan trees show that they were cultivated by the Malayan jungle tribes around their temporary settlements. Rambutan trees grow to a height of 35-60 ft. producing boards that are 2-5 ft. long with widths of 2-8. The tree grows from sea level up to 1,600 ft. with best growth in deep soil; clay loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter, and thrives on hilly terrain as it requires good drainage. The wood is similar in color to Goncalo Alves and equally dense and durable. It is perhaps a bit deeper in its orange color. It can be found with a dense flame figure that rivals the nicest curly Maple. Sharp blades are needed as the wood is extremely dense and tough.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/premiere-of-peruvian-pepperwood-burl 2021-08-31T17:00:01-07:00 2021-08-31T17:00:01-07:00 Tech Support Peruvian Pepper wood, Schinus molle, is a small evergreen tree native to the Peruvian Andes that only grows to heights of 25- 40 ft. with diameters of 1-2 ft. The wood is heavy and has fine grain that can show beautiful swirls, color, and burl. Colors range from light pink and golden brown, to brown with gray veining. Pepperwood is often used for high end woodworking articles, wood furniture, and veneer.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/curly-eastern-maple-sale 2021-08-27T11:00:00-07:00 2021-08-27T11:00:00-07:00 Tech Support Acer saccharum (translated sugary) refers to the sweet sap that maple sugar is derived from. It is known as Hard Rock Maple, Sweet Maple, White Maple, and Black Maple. This valuable tree produces Hard Rock Maple lumber and Maple Sugar. It is the state tree of 4 states. Fiddleback is only present in select logs and produces beautiful wood! The wood works well and takes a nice polish.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/cottonwood-burl-turning-sale 2021-08-25T08:30:00-07:00 2021-08-25T08:30:00-07:00 Tech Support California Cottonwood, Populus fremontii, is a large growing species native to California and several other Southwestern States. Occasionally there are burls on the trunks. The wood is easy to work and finishes well. Woodworkers will appreciate the stark contrast between bronze colored heartwood and creamy yellowish-white sapwood, which yields showy woodworking projects.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/dont-drool-too-much 2021-08-16T08:40:00-07:00 2021-08-16T08:40:00-07:00 Tech Support Khaya, or African Mahogany, (Khaya ivorensis) is a beautiful hardwood species from equatorial West Africa. It is similar in appearance and working properties to Honduras Mahogany without the expense. Interlocked grain in select logs produces a beautiful ribbon figure when quarter sawn. The wood is easy to cut, glue, and finish and is nearly an equal to Honduras Mahogany. Trees are large with average logs in the 2-4' diameter range and tree heights of 75-125' tall. The wood is used for anything from musical instruments to boats to everything imaginable in between!]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/big-redwood-lace-burl-sale 2021-08-11T08:00:00-07:00 2021-08-11T08:00:00-07:00 Tech Support Redwood is in the family of the largest living trees that have ever been on planet earth! Coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest trees but their cousin, the giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) takes the record for the largest living trees in the World. In the mid 1800's logging operations commenced in the forests where these beautiful trees grow, leaving behind a path of stumps and logs that were deemed unusable. Today, stumps and logs less than 16' long are being extracted from these areas. Most of this salvaged wood still produces solid wood that has been aged and slowly dried over a hundred or more years. Redwood is suitable for large tables, bar tops, mantles, cabinets, Guitar tops, and turnings. Figured boards are sometimes available with flamed fiddle back or burl eyes and can produce beautiful bass or electric guitars. Our Redwood is all salvaged.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/masur-birch-lumber-sale 2021-08-06T12:00:00-07:00 2021-08-06T12:00:00-07:00 Tech Support Masur Birch is a slow growing, short tree with a trunk covered by distinctive bumps and ridges that conceal a wood with a marble-like pattern. The most prominent patterns are under bark that shows a kind of bursting and cracking, as if the burl-character forces the volume out of the logs. This kind of pattern only appears when the tree has been in particular soil conditions. There are often live edges & pin holes associated with this species. Most of the wood has nice figuring that is very similar to burl or birdseye Maple though of a different origin. The creamy, golden color with occasional dark brown streaking yields stunning contrast for specialty and decorative items. Workability of this very rare wood is excellent. Our material is kiln dried and ready to use.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/figured-brazilian-blackheart 2021-08-03T13:30:01-07:00 2021-08-03T13:30:01-07:00 Tech Support Brazilian Blackheart, is an amazing and dense hardwood also known as Pau Santo, Zollernia spp. It comes from a medium sized tree that can grow as large as 100 feet tall with diameters of 2-3 feet. Many of its qualities as well as its density are similar to Lignum Vitae. This very rare species can cause skin irritability in some. It has no odor.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/more-burl-shop-this-maple 2021-07-13T08:30:00-07:00 2021-07-13T08:30:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Oregon Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a diverse and beautiful species from the coastal regions of Pacific North America. It is slightly coarser than European or Eastern Hard Rock Maple with specific gravity of .44, .55 (Basic, 12% MC) and as so is somewhat harder to work. Despite this, the beauty of the wood easily overcomes any difficulties in working. It has excellent colors that range from white to coral pink & light brown. Figure, color, and burl variations range greatly from piece to piece; no two boards are the same. This is another reason that Maple is such a wonderful wood for those who seek depth and distinction in their woodworking projects.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/curly-cherry-lumber-sale 2021-07-02T09:00:00-07:00 2021-07-02T09:00:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Prunus serotina is commonly called Black Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Rum Cherry, or Mountain Black Cherry. The wood produced is hard, reddish-brown and is valued as a hardwood for wood turning, cabinetry, musical instruments and more. American Black Cherry wood is also used for smoking foods (particularly meats) in North America, as it lends a distinct and pleasant flavor to the product. Young trees have a straight trunk and symmetrical conical crown, becoming rounded to irregular on old trees. They grow to heights of 50-100 tall with diameters of 1-1/2 5 feet. The bark is smooth purplish-brown with prominent horizontal grey-brown lenticels on young trees, becoming thick dark blackish-brown and fissured on old trees. This is a striking batch of very colorful and highly figured American Black Cherry that has been kiln dried and surfaced on two sides. An occasional rough edge or planer bite may be present. You will assuredly love each and every one of these very unique boards!]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/try-out-patagonian-rosewood 2021-06-29T08:30:00-07:00 2021-06-29T08:30:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Patagonian Rosewood, is also known as Angico Preto, Kurapay, Curapay, and Curapau. It is extremely hard and dense with a Janka rating of 3840! A relatively rare species originating in Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia, Patagonian Rosewood has rich colors. Although it is not a true Rosewood, it shares many of the same qualities and colors. It is less expensive than true Rosewood which is a definite advantage! Used for many fine woodworking projects, pick up your piece and enjoy a little diversity in your woodworking.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/quilting-figure-fancy-that 2021-06-18T12:00:01-07:00 2021-06-18T12:00:01-07:00 Admin Assistant Oregon Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a diverse and beautiful species from the coastal regions of Pacific North America. It is slightly coarser than European or Eastern Hard Rock Maple with specific gravity of .44, .55 (Basic, 12% MC) and as so is somewhat harder to work. Despite this, the beauty of the wood easily overcomes any difficulties in working. It has excellent colors that range from white to coral pink & light brown. Figure, color, and burl variations range greatly from piece to piece; no two boards are the same. This is another reason that Maple is such a wonderful wood for those who seek depth and distinction in their woodworking projects.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/outstanding-olive-on-sale 2021-06-15T08:30:00-07:00 2021-06-15T08:30:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Olea europaea, grown throughout many areas of Central Europe, was planted by locals, soldiers, and anyone who has enjoyed eating olives or cooking with olive oil. Native European stock tends to produce larger boules with larger, thicker, and more stable lumber. Ideal for high end cabinets, end tables, and fancy turned articles. European Olive tends to have regular grain patterns (not fiddle back or burl) unlike the orchard trees in the United States. A rare and prized species in exotic lumber. This is the same species of olive that is sent from the "Holy land" it has just been grown elsewhere.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/5-star-desert-ironwood-sale 2021-06-11T12:00:01-07:00 2021-06-11T12:00:01-07:00 Admin Assistant Desert Ironwood (Olneya tesota), a unique species that is a staple for the carving trade in Mexico and is scarce on the US Market. Difficult to obtain and dry properly, this beautiful and very dense hardwood has a great deal of chatoyance (luster) which gives great depth and color to finished projects. When turned, Desert Ironwood produces an incredible finish that is glass-like and silky smooth to the touch. Colors range from black & brown to warm honey gold with a tinge of red. Checks are normal with this species as it dries in the desert for years before being harvested in dead tree trunks or fallen / dead limbs; we typically cut off 95% of them. Creative artisans use crushed or powdered Arizona Turquoise to fill voids. Our Desert Ironwood is from the desert Southwest.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/shop-the-real-deal 2021-06-08T16:30:00-07:00 2021-06-08T16:30:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Hawaiian Koa, Acacia Koa, has been treasured for hundreds of years by the Hawaiians. They have used it for anything from outrigger canoes, paddles, boxes, and furniture, to Ukuleles. It is an excellent tone wood which produces a rich, warm sound. Supply of Koa is scarce as the Hawaiians have only recently started replanting their beloved Hawaiian Koa trees. Koa is renowned for its iridescent shimmer and luscious color which ranges from tan to warm gold with brown and black accents. The luster in this wood is particularly exceptional on the quarter sawn grain. Workability of Hawaiian Koa is similar to Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). It has open grain, sands and finishes well, and turns nicely. The specific gravity of .53, .61 (Basic, 12% MC).]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/monkeypod-turning-sale 2021-06-01T16:30:00-07:00 2021-06-01T16:30:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Monkeypod is a hardwood that is derived from a graceful and beautiful tree with a 2-4 ft. diameter and a trunk of up to 70 ft. Derived from Costa Rica or the South Pacific, Monkeypod is an excellent choice for furniture and turned articles. Dark chocolate browns and golden colors swirl together with black striping to form a beautiful hue. The wood is moderately hard, lightweight and fairly strong. It finishes beautifully and turns easily, making it a natural choice for turners! Monkeypod has colors that are smooth blend of Hawaiian Koa and Chocolate Heart.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/just-plain-gorgeous-amazique-sale 2021-05-28T16:00:00-07:00 2021-05-28T16:00:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Amazique is still available in large logs. Color is similar to East Indian Rosewood and the grain is interlocked like Bubinga. In fact, Amazique is from the same family as Bubinga and shares many of the same traits. This wood is a great value.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/brazilian-itauba-turning-sale 2021-05-25T16:00:01-07:00 2021-05-25T16:00:01-07:00 Admin Assistant Itauba is a little known species in the United States. From Eastern Brazil, its colors range from reds to browns with the overlying feel of African Sapele that is slightly denser. The wood turns well with sharp tools. Grain is generally interlocked, giving some three dimensional properties to quarter sawn faces. The wood has moderate to high blunting of tools but saws without difficulty. It glues well under normal circumstances. This is a great, low cost substitute for Mahogany!]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/black-limba-sale 2021-05-21T16:30:00-07:00 2021-05-21T16:30:00-07:00 Admin Assistant Black Limba, Terminalia superba, is a beautiful west African species that has black stripes in the lower trunk of the tree presumably were the tree disposes of its toxins. Upper sections of the trees have white heartwood and this is called white Limba and is generally sold as a different species on the commercial market. It is easy to work and slightly less dense than American walnut. Worm or pin holes are common with the species. Uses include guitar bodies, turned articles, fancy boxes, and other fine woodworking projects.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/slam-dunk-woodturning 2021-05-19T10:30:01-07:00 2021-05-19T10:30:01-07:00 Admin Assistant Port Orford Cedar is a large, aromatic Cedar tree that is native to Oregon and California. It was first discovered near the city of Port Orford, Oregon and according to Wikipedia was introduced into cultivation in 1854, by collectors working for the Lawson & Son nursery in Edinburgh, Scotland, after whom it was named as Lawson Cypress by the describing botanist Andrew Murray. The EURA officially calls it by the name Port Orford cedar, as do most people in its native area, but some botanists prefer to use the name Lawson cypress. Port Orford cedar wood is fine grained and lightweight but strong & extremely resistant to rot. It has good tonal properties and a spicy, distinctive aroma! It is in high demand in Asia for religious uses, temples, and carvings. Turning blanks in this material are very rich in oil and turn easily. The aromatic resin pools in the stumps, forming an oily, dense consistency. This is a similar phenomenon to Moroccan Thuya burls, though Port Orford Cedar is slightly less dense than Thuya! We recommend a natural finish for turned articles. The more oils/resin in this wood, the more aromatic! Lumber and slabs of Port Orford Cedar can have less oil/resin and glue easily. When the wood is planed, it has a tendency to fuzz, but it can easily be sanded as a remedy. Our material was all salvaged from old growth trees/stumps that have lain dormant on the forest floor, sun bleached and aged for 40 to 70 years.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/gotta-love-that-figure 2021-05-14T08:30:00-07:00 2021-05-14T08:30:00-07:00 Antoinette Bustillo Birch wood is bright, clean, and beautiful in appearance. The specific gravity is .72 and it lends itself to a wide variety of uses such as furniture, doors, flooring, cabinets, boxes, toys and more! The native Americans in the Eastern US and Canada made arrow shafts from Birch. Occasionally the lumber has flamed or curly grain. The easy workability and finishing of this species make it an American classic!]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/marvelous-maple-sale 2021-05-11T09:00:00-07:00 2021-05-11T09:00:00-07:00 Antoinette Bustillo Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a diverse and beautiful species from the coastal regions of Pacific North America. It is slightly coarser than European or Eastern Hard Rock Maple with specific gravity of .44, .55 (Basic, 12% MC) and as so is somewhat harder to work. Despite this, the beauty of the wood easily overcomes any difficulties in working. It has excellent colors that range from white to coral pink & light brown. Figure, color, and burl variations range greatly from piece to piece; no two boards are the same. This is another reason that Maple is such a wonderful wood for those who seek depth and distinction in their woodworking projects.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/beeswing-figure-a-show-stopper-1 2021-05-07T09:30:00-07:00 2021-05-07T09:30:00-07:00 Antoinette Bustillo lumber is highly figured with beeswing patterns present in many boards. It has been kiln dried, surfaced on two sides, and is ready to use. A minor check, gum pocket, or slight twist/cupping may be present. Show off outstanding projects with this stand out lumber!]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/beeswing-figure-a-show-stopper 2021-05-07T09:30:00-07:00 2021-05-07T09:30:00-07:00 Antoinette Bustillo veneer is a beautiful reddish tone and ideal for many woodworking projects. See photos for varying degrees of grain and figured ranging from standard to beeswing & basket weave patterns. It is dry and ready to use. Minor checking or rough edges may be present.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/olive-this-wood-is-gorgeous 2021-04-30T08:30:00-07:00 2021-04-30T08:30:00-07:00 Antoinette Bustillo Olea europaea, grown throughout many areas of Central Europe, was planted by locals, soldiers, and anyone who has enjoyed eating olives or cooking with olive oil. Native European stock tends to produce larger boules with larger, thicker, and more stable lumber. Ideal for high end cabinets, end tables, and fancy turned articles. European Olive tends to have regular grain patterns (not fiddle back or burl) unlike the orchard trees in the United States. A rare and prized species in exotic lumber. This is the same species of olive that is sent from the "Holy land" it has just been grown elsewhere.]]> https://www.enlightenedcuisine.com/blogs/articles/monkeypod-3 2021-04-23T13:13:03-07:00 2021-04-23T13:13:03-07:00 Antoinette Bustillo Monkeypod is a hardwood that is derived from a graceful and beautiful tree with a 2-4 ft. diameter and a trunk of up to 70 ft. Derived from Costa Rica or the South Pacific, Monkeypod is an excellent choice for furniture and turned articles. Dark chocolate browns and golden colors swirl together with black striping to form a beautiful hue. The wood is moderately hard, lightweight and fairly strong. It finishes beautifully and turns easily, making it a natural choice for turners! Monkeypod has colors that are smooth blend of Hawaiian Koa and Chocolate Heart.]]>