The art of burning wood with electricity produces fragmented designs burnt into the surface of the wood. These designs are called “fractiles,” after the statistical principle of the same name. Without getting into complex descriptions of the mathematics behind the fractile, the basic idea is that each succeeding section is smaller than the previous. In … Read more
Birch plywood is one of the more popular hardwood plywood options available today. Generally sold as either “baltic birch” in Europe or “appleply” in the United States, birch plywood is used extensively in the cabinetmaking industry, as well as for furniture and architectural applications. While it is used more for furniture and cabinetmaking today, it … Read more
Different woods are constantly moving towards the forefront as others become less common. Over-harvesting of certain woods drives the price up, as the trees near extinction. At the same time, other woods, which have been largely ignored, gain in popularity. Such is the case of alder wood, a hardwood from the northwestern coastal area of … Read more
The American Basswood tree is a hardwood tree producing a very soft wood; softer than pine, but not as soft as balsa wood. In England, the same species of tree is referred to as the “lime,” and the name “linden” is used in other parts of Europe. Mature Basswood trees can grow anywhere from 65 … Read more
The aspen tree grows extensively through the Rocky Mountains, especially in Colorado and Utah. Other than that, more aspen trees are found in Canada, than are found in the United States. The leaves of the aspen tree shake in the slightest breeze, earning the tree the moniker of “quaking aspen.” It is believed by scientists … Read more