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
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 in the United States. The aspen tree leaves shake in the slightest breeze, earning the tree the moniker of “quaking aspen.” Scientists believe that all aspen trees in an area … Read more
Purpleheart is a rather unique hardwood, mostly due to its color. While the color everyone associates with purpleheart is purple, true to its name, the wood can vary somewhat, it can also be greyish/brown. Generally speaking, the purple color really doesn’t appear when freshly cut, but upon exposure the wood turns more purplish. The use … Read more
Acacia has a unique history amongst woods, in that the furnishings of the Biblical tabernacle, sometimes referred to as the “Tabernacle of Moses” were made out of acacia wood. Some translations of the Bible use the term “shittam tree” rather than acacia, but the shittam is one of the many variants of the acacia. But … Read more