Pennsylvania Flitch-Cut Slabs, Boules, Lumber, and More

Ash’s light to medium brown wood has a medium texture with a predictably straight, regular grain. The occasional figured specimen is a rarity. Ash responds well to both hand tools and machinery and is often converted to flooring or millwork. Its excellent shock resistance makes it particularly suitable for baseball bats and tool handles. The emerald ash borer presents a serious threat to the health of this species. Horizon is diligent about having all Ash inspected by the USDA prior to shipping. The good news is that kiln drying eradicates this pesky beetle.

• Common Names:  White Ash, American White Ash
• Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana
• Distribution: Eastern North America
• Janka Hardness: 1,320 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4.9%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 13.3%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.8 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-5 ft dbh

Butternut is a close kin to Black Walnut, in fact it is occasionally referred to by its nickname, White Walnut. Butternut’s wood is considerably lighter in color than its Walnut cousin. It is also relatively soft and light weight. Butternut is noted to be a highly workable wood, both with hand and machine tools. It also accepts glues and finishes well. Care has to be taken to avoid the fuzzy surfaces that can develop with such a soft wood. Sharp cutters and fine-grit sandpaper typically does the trick!

• Common Names: Butternut, White Walnut
• Scientific Name: Juglans cinerea
• Distribution: Eastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 490 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 3.4%, Tangential: 6.4%, Volumetric: 10.6%
• Average Dried Weight: 2.25 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Horizon will always have an affinity for the magic of cherry.  Northwestern PA, our back yard, is noted to be the “Cherry Capital” of the world.  We attribute Horizon’s early success to our proximity to this wonderful species.   The satiny, lustrous, blush red color of Cherry deepens and matures with age.  The wood itself is stable, straight grained and notably workable. Through a trick of nature, Cherry is one of the species that occasionally develops an interesting figure in its grain pattern providing the wood worker with some spectacular visual interest in their products.

• Common Names:  Black Cherry, Cherry, American Cherry
• Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
• Distribution: Eastern North America
• Janka Hardness: 950 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 3.7%, Tangential: 7.1%, Volumetric: 11.5%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.5 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 50-100 ft tall, 2-4 ft trunk diameter

The heartwood of Elm is light to medium reddish brown surrounded by typically well-defined paler sapwood. The grain is coarse and interlocked. (This can make for a very cranky person when attempting to split firewood). It can be challenging to work with due to the interlocked grain, but it does have some redeeming characteristics; it stains and finishes well, is great at holding nails and screws and steam bends like a dream. On the negative side, it tends to smell like cat pee.

• Common Names: American Elm, Soft Elm, Water Elm, Grey Elm
• Scientific Name: Ulmus americana
• Distribution: Eastern to Midwest United States
• Janka Hardness: 830 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 5.3%, Tangential: 10.2%, Volumetric: 15.8%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.1 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Hard Maple has a fine, even texture and is generally straight grained but it is more noted for producing interesting figured, curly or quilted patterns than most other species. Color ranges from a creamy off white in the sapwood to a more reddish hue. It works fairly easily, although its higher density makes it a bit more challenging than Soft Maple. Often found as flooring for basketball courts, musical instruments, workbenches, bats and other turned items. Also fantastic for furniture. Figured grains are showstoppers.

• Common Names:  Hard Maple, Sugar Maple, Rock Maple
• Scientific Name: Acer saccharum
• Distribution: Northeastern North America
• Janka Hardness: 1,450 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4.8%, Tangential: 9.9%, Volumetric: 14.7%
• Average Dried Weight: 4 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 80-115 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Black Locust color ranges from a pale greenish-yellow to a darker brown. Over time the color darkens to a deeper russet brown. Black Locust occasionally is used interchangeably with Honey Locust, although they actually come from different genera and their characteristics differ slightly. Grain is typically straight, texture medium. Locust is both dense and hard with great resistance to decay, making it an optimum choice for fence posts and outdoor applications. Conversely, the density can create problems with machining. Locust does well when turned on a lathe, is good at steam bending and takes on a nice finish.

• Common Names: Black Locust, Robinia
• Scientific Name: Robinia pseudoacacia
• Distribution: Central – eastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 1,700 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.2%, Volumetric: 10.2%
• Average Dried Weight: 4 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

This medium red/brown wood has an interlocking grain that makes it very resistant to splitting. The characteristic grain also presents some challenges with tearout and fuzzy surfaces with planning. It does respond well to bending with steam and holds on tight to nails and screws. Used for furniture, baskets and hockey sticks. We have to admit the odor is kind of stinky when it is green, but the drying process makes the cat-pee smell disappear!

• Common Names:  Red Elm, Slippery Elm, Soft Elm
• Scientific Name: Ulmus rubra
• Distribution: Eastern to Midwest United States
• Janka Hardness: 860 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4.9%, Tangential: 8.9%, Volumetric: 13.8%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.5 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 50-80 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh h

Sometimes referred to as ‘satin walnut’, Red Gum has a fine, uniform texture with an interlocking grain. Color ranges from light pink-tan to reddish brown. When quartersawn, the pieces take on a ribbon-stripe appearance. It is generally considered easy to work, although there may be some tearout when planing due to the interlocking grain. There is a fair amount of movement in the wood, even after the initial drying process. Often used for plywood, furniture, interior trim and turned objects.

• Common Names:  Sweetgum, Redgum, Sapgum
• Scientific Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
• Distribution: Southeastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 8580 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 5.3%, Tangential: 10.2%, Volumetric: 15.8%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.1 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Heartwood may have a reddish cast to its natural light /medium brown color. Classic ray fleck patterns appear in the quartersawn material. The grain is straight, and carries a coarse, variable texture. Pores are large. Nicely workable by hand or machine. It is hard and strong and very popular as cabinetry, trim, flooring and furniture.

• Common Names:  Red Oak
• Scientific Name: Quercus rubra
• Distribution: Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada
• Janka Hardness: 1,220 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4.0%, Tangential: 8.6%, Volumetric: 13.7%
• Average Dried Weight: 4 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 80-115 ft tall, 3-6 ft dbh

Color ranges from light to medium brown, sometimes with a touch of an orange hue. The grain is straight, texture coarse. It is very workable, dimensionally stable once dry, and glues and finishes well. It has that oh-so-special spicy scent. On of Horizon’s workers claims he loves coming to work on days when Sassafras is on the sawing schedule. The scent is recognizable even in the parking lot!

• Common Names:  Sassafras
• Scientific Name: Sassafras albidum
• Distribution: Eastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 630 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4%, Tangential: 6.2%, Volumetric: 10.3%
• Average Dried Weight: 3 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 50-65 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Soft Maple is a generic term that does not refer to any specific species, but is used broadly to differentiate it from Hard Maple. The identity of Soft Maple varies geographically. For Horizon’s purposes, the terms Soft Maple and Red Maple are used interchangeably. The grain of this wood runs from straight to wavy with a fine, even texture. Like its cousin, Hard Maple, this wood does occasionally present with some dandy figured or curly patterns. Color ranges from light golden to reddish brown.

• Common Names:  Hard Maple, Sugar Maple, Rock Maple
• Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
• Distribution: Eastern North America
• Janka Hardness: 950 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 12.6%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.5 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Soft Maple is a generic term that does not refer to any specific species, but is used broadly to differentiate it from Hard Maple. The identity of Soft Maple varies geographically. For Horizon’s purposes, the terms Soft Maple and Red Maple are used interchangeably. The grain of this wood runs from straight to wavy with a fine, even texture. Like its cousin, Hard Maple, this wood does occasionally present with some dandy figured or curly patterns. Color ranges from light golden to reddish brown.

• Common Names:  Hard Maple, Sugar Maple, Rock Maple
• Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
• Distribution: Eastern North America
• Janka Hardness: 950 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 12.6%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.5 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

Sycamore is similar to maple with a fine and even texture. The wood is often largely sapwood of a white to light tan color. The heartwood tends towards a darker, reddish brown color. Quartersawn surfaces reveal distinct ray flecks making it look sort of freckled. Sycamore is easy to work with and finishes well, but if you are into steam bending, you’d be better off finding a different species to deal with.

• Common Names: Sycamore, American Plane
• Scientific Name: Plantanus occidentalis
• Distribution: Eastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 770 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 5.0%, Tangential: 8.4%, Volumetric: 14.1%
• Average Dried Weight: 2.8 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-100 ft tall, 2-3 ft dbh

The current king of the market place. Horizon keeps pace by sourcing high quality logs from all the right places.  This species varies in color and cleanliness from region to region, and is often steamed in production volumes to homogenize the color differences.  A regal species which works well, and is used in many high-end applications.

• Common Names:  Eastern Black Walnut, American Walnut, Black Walnut, Walnut
• Scientific Name: Juglans nigra
• Distribution: Eastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 1,010 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 12.8%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.40 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 50-150ft Tall, 1 – 6 ft dbh

White Oak is a light to medium brown with an olive like cast. It maintains a straight, coarse grain and the texture tends to be uneven but the wood is strong, beautiful, and easy to work with. Widely used in cabinet and furniture making and flooring. White Oak’s durability and rot resistance also make it sought after in boat building and tight cooperage applications.

• Common Names:  White Oak
• Scientific Name: Quercus alba
• Distribution: Eastern United States
• Janka Hardness: 1350 lbf
• Shrinkage: Radial: 5.6%, Tangential: 10.5%, Volumetric: 16.3%
• Average Dried Weight: 3.9 lbs/bdft
• Tree size: 65-85ft tall, 3-4 ft dbh