What is a Rare Wood and When to be on the Alert for Fakes?

The beauty of exotic woods is that they offer beautify coloring and patterns. You might be focused on finding the right exotic wood for a specific woodworking project or to create a piece of furniture and shelving. However, as with any type of exotic wood, there is the potential to have domestic wood passed off as exotic wood.

Therefore, to understand what an exotic wood is and what it is not, you need to know that exotic wood is not just coming from a foreign country. Here are a few of the things that you need to know to understand what falls into the exotic wood category and how to be on the alert for potential fakes.

How Does It Measure on the Janka Scale?

First, various woods might be billed as exotic hardwoods, when they might not truly qualify as such. The Janka hardness scale is the industry standard, thus grouping exotic woods by their hardness. Therefore, if a wood is being billed as an exotic hardwood, but is far down on the Janka scale, then you might want to question whether you are getting a true exotic hardwood.

Therefore, when you are choosing your exotic wood, recognize that the Janka scale can help you to know if you have received the right wood with the right hardness for your needs.

Was It Logged Sustainably?

Many exotic woods are found in old growth forests, and in general, exotic hardwoods are going to grow much slower than softwoods. Therefore, if the logging of these hardwoods is not done sustainably, then those wood supplies are likely to quickly disappear.

Programs, such as the Forest Sustainability Council (FSC), provide a way to verify that the exotic wood was obtained in a sustainable way . Certain protective agencies, including the Rainforest Relief, insist that lumber only be harvested from second-growth managed forests can be deemed sustainable.

When you are choosing an exotic hardwood to work with, it is important to ask about how it was obtained. Our knowledgeable staff works to make sure that our products are obtained in a sustainable way, allowing you to purchase a beautiful exotic wood.

What Are the Differences Between Domestic and Exotic Woods?

Both species of wood may be found in North America, but the term exotic can also be based on where the wood is harvested. The simple definition for most exotic woods is that they are not native to North America, even if they may have been planted and harvested within North America.

Therefore, it is important to understand that an exotic wood can still be consider exotic even if it was harvested within the United States. Working with a qualified exotic wood source, you can be sure that you are getting the right exotic wood to meet your needs.

If you have questions regarding the exotic woods or are not sure about the various specifications of different wood species, then working with a qualified and knowledgeable team can help you to navigate this space. Contact us today to learn about the options available for your next woodworking project.

Global Wood Source is a family owned and operated lumber yard and mill specializing in exotic woods from around the world and rare domestics. We personally acquire and inspect each piece of log and timber obtained from forests and jungles worldwide.