In this video, Rob Cosden shares his 10 least favorite woods to work with. As an experienced woodworker, he has worked with over 60 different species of wood and has come to have a strong opinion on which ones he prefers not to use. From Paduc to Alder, Rob goes through each wood and explains why he dislikes it and suggests alternatives that may be more suitable.
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Key Takeaways:
- Rob Cosden shares his 10 least favorite woods to work with and provides reasons for his dislike of each wood.
- He suggests alternative woods that may be more suitable for certain projects.
- Rob’s experience and knowledge can be helpful for both new and experienced woodworkers in making informed decisions on which woods to use.
10 Least Favorite Woods
In a recent video, Rob Cosden shared his 10 least favorite woods that he prefers not to use in his shop. While some of these woods may be popular choices for other woodworkers, Rob provides his reasons for avoiding them and suggests alternatives that may save others from potential frustrations.
The first wood on Rob’s list is Paduak, also known as Vermillion. This wood is a brilliant orange when freshly cut, but the color quickly fades to a dark brown. Additionally, the dust from Paduak can be toxic for some people. Rob suggests finding an alternative wood if you are looking for a long-lasting brilliant color.
Southern Yellow Pine is another wood that Rob does not enjoy working with. While Northern White Pine is a beautiful furniture wood that ages wonderfully, Southern Yellow Pine is often used for construction and is much harder to work with. The density changes between the spring and summer wood, creating a challenging grain pattern.
Purple Heart is a wood that Rob finds difficult to work with. While the initial color is a lovely purple, it quickly fades to an unappealing brown. The wood is also susceptible to splinters and does not plane well.
Southern Tulip Poplar is a secondary wood that Rob suggests avoiding, especially for drawer sides. The green color can turn into an ugly brown over time, and the wood can emit a strong odor.
Spanish Cedar is a wood that Rob has had a negative experience with. While the color is right for some projects, the wood emits a terrible taste and smell when processed. Similarly, The Core, a dark wood similar to Mahogany, has the same quality that leaves a terrible taste in the mouth when processed.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, Rob remembers Mahogany being the wood of choice for trim in houses. However, the Filipino Mahogany or Luan that was commonly used is a soft and unremarkable wood that Rob considers a weed.
Jatoba is a wood that Rob finds incredibly hard to work with, describing it as planning a piece of concrete. While it may be a pretty wood, the difficulty in working with it outweighs its beauty.
Red Oak is a coarse and rough wood that Rob finds unappealing, with no redeeming qualities. He suggests exploring other woods once the initial awe of working with wood wears off.
Finally, Alder is a plain and unremarkable wood that Rob avoids using, preferring Poplar as a secondary wood instead.
While these woods may work for some projects and woodworkers, Rob’s experience and preferences suggest alternatives that may save others from potential frustrations.
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Paduc
Paduc, also known as Vermillion, is a wood species that originates from Burma and Africa. It is known for its brilliant orange color, which unfortunately does not stay that way for long. The color changes rapidly and can turn into a deep dark brown, which has no endearing qualities.
In addition to the disappointing color change, the dust from Paduc can be toxic for some people. However, protective equipment can be used to prevent this. Despite this, Paduc is not a wood species that Rob Cosden prefers to use due to its color change and toxicity.
Furthermore, Paduc is difficult to build around due to its sapwood. The sapwood grows on the outside of the tree and remains in contrast to the rest of the wood, making it challenging to work with. For those looking for a wood species with a brilliant color that will last, Paduc may not be the best choice.
Overall, Paduc is a wood species that Rob Cosden does not prefer to use due to its rapid color change, toxicity, and difficulty to work with. There are other wood species available that may be a better choice for those looking for a wood with a brilliant color that will last.
Southern Yellow Pine
Southern yellow pine is a type of wood that is commonly used for construction purposes. However, it is not a preferred choice for furniture making. The wood is hard and has a significant difference in density between the springwood and summerwood, which creates a distinct grain pattern. This makes it difficult to work with and not very enjoyable for woodworking.
Compared to northern white pine or sugar pine, which are great choices for furniture making, southern yellow pine is not as pleasant to work with. It has a coarse texture and is harder than many hardwoods, making it a challenge to cut and shape. The wood is often used for construction because of its strength, but it does not have the same warmth and beauty as other types of wood.
If you are looking for a wonderful pine to use for furniture making, northern white pine or sugar pine would be a better choice. They are both easy to work with, have a warm texture, and age beautifully. Southern yellow pine may be a good choice for construction, but it is not recommended for furniture making.
Purple Heart Wood
Purple Heart wood is a hardwood that is often used in woodworking projects due to its vibrant purple color. However, according to Rob Cosden, it is not a wood that he prefers to use. He notes that the wood doesn’t plane well and the lovely purple color does not last. When first machined, the wood turns an ugly brown and then as it oxidizes in light, it goes back to being a real ugly brown.
Additionally, Purple Heart wood is really coarse and susceptible to splinters. While some woodworkers might like it, Rob Cosden suggests that there are better woods to use if you’re looking for a beautiful and durable wood for your projects.
It’s important to note that just because Rob Cosden doesn’t prefer to use Purple Heart wood doesn’t mean that it’s not a good wood to use. As with any woodworking project, the choice of wood depends on the project and personal preference.
Southern Tulip Poplar
Southern tulip poplar is a type of wood that is commonly used as a secondary wood in furniture making. It is a medium density wood that is often used for drawer sides, drawer backs, and internal parts. However, the speaker in the video does not recommend using this wood, especially for drawer sides.
One of the main reasons why the speaker does not like southern tulip poplar is because it tends to have a green color that can turn into an ugly brown when it oxidizes. This can be especially problematic for drawer sides, where the green can turn into an unattractive brown color. The speaker suggests using a wood like aspen instead, which tends to stay white and has a nice contrast on joint lines.
Additionally, the speaker mentions that poplar has a strong smell that they cannot stand when it is being processed. This can be another reason to avoid using southern tulip poplar, especially if the wood will be processed for an extended period of time.
Overall, while southern tulip poplar may be a popular choice for secondary wood, the speaker in the video recommends using other woods like aspen instead. This can help ensure that the final product looks and functions as intended, without any unattractive color changes or unpleasant smells.
Spanish Cedar
Spanish Cedar is a wood that is often used for furniture making due to its attractive color. However, the speaker in the video does not like this wood because of the terrible taste and smell that it produces when processed. The wood planes decently, but the unpleasant taste and smell make it a wood that the speaker would rather avoid.
The color of Spanish Cedar is similar to that of mahogany, which is why the speaker chose it for a project where he needed a dark wood. However, he found that the taste and smell were so unpleasant that he would not use it again. The wood is also quite soft, which means that it is not suitable for use in areas where it will be subject to wear and tear.
Overall, the speaker recommends avoiding Spanish Cedar and instead looking for other woods that have similar colors but are more pleasant to work with. While the wood may be attractive, the unpleasant taste and smell make it a poor choice for furniture making.
Makor
Makor is a type of wood that Rob Cosden, the owner of the shop, does not like to use. Having grown up in the 60s and 70s, mahogany was the wood of choice for trim and houses, but they didn’t use true mahogany. They used what was called Filipino mahogany or Luan. Rob considers it to be a weed, and it’s soft with no great figure like you find in some of the true mahoganies. It’s not something that Rob would ever choose to use under any circumstances.
When it comes to woodworking, there are many beautiful woods available, and Makor is not one of them. It’s not a wood that Rob recommends using, and there are better choices out there. While it may be tempting to use Makor because it’s readily available, it’s not a wood that will give you the results you’re looking for.
In conclusion, while Makor may be an option for some woodworkers, it’s not a wood that Rob Cosden prefers to use. He believes that there are better choices out there that will give you the results you’re looking for. It’s always important to do your research and choose the right wood for your project to ensure that you get the best possible outcome.
Filipino Mahogany
Another wood that is not recommended by Rob Cosden is Filipino Mahogany or Luan. This wood is considered a weed and has no redeeming qualities. It is soft and lacks the great figure that is found in some of the true mahoganies.
According to Rob, growing up in the 60s and 70s, mahogany was the wood of choice for trim and houses. However, they didn’t use true mahogany, they used Filipino Mahogany or Luan. Rob considers it to be a weed and would never choose to use it under any circumstances.
In summary, Filipino Mahogany is not a recommended wood to use in furniture making due to its softness and lack of great figure. There are better choices available in the market.
Jatoba
Jatoba, also known as Brazilian cherry, is a hardwood species that grows in Central and South America. It is a popular choice for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry due to its durability and beautiful reddish-brown color. However, it is not a favorite wood for Rob Cosden.
Rob had a bad experience with Jatoba while teaching a class in Ontario. He needed a dark wood to use as a contrasting wood to Poplar or pine, and he was told that Jatoba was a good substitute for mahogany. However, it turned out to be extremely hard and difficult to work with. Rob described it as “planning a piece of concrete.”
Despite its hardness, Jatoba is a beautiful wood with a unique grain pattern. It is also resistant to rot and insects, making it a popular choice for outdoor applications such as decking and fencing. However, Rob prefers to avoid it due to its difficulty in processing and the physical strain it puts on the woodworker.
Overall, Jatoba may be a good choice for certain applications, but it is not a favorite wood for Rob Cosden.
Red Oak
Red Oak is a coarse and rough wood that is not a favorite among woodworkers. Its grain pattern is pronounced and can be overwhelming. While it has a nice color, it tends to yellow over time.
The speaker mentions that when fast food restaurants start using Red Oak for their interior trim, it is long past the time when we should have stopped using it. The wood has no redeeming qualities as far as the speaker is concerned.
The speaker suggests exploring other options once you get past the awe of working with wood. There are many prettier woods available, such as white oak and English brown oak.
In summary, Red Oak is not a desirable wood for woodworking due to its coarse texture and pronounced grain pattern. It tends to yellow over time and has no redeeming qualities. There are many other prettier woods available for use in woodworking.
Alder
Alder is a wood species that comes from the Pacific Northwest. It is considered a secondary wood, and it is often used for internal parts of furniture such as drawer sides and backs. However, Rob Cosden, the owner of the shop, does not prefer Alder and considers it a “Plain Jane” wood.
According to Rob, Alder has an ugly reddish-brown color and a coarse texture. It is also soft, which makes it less durable than other woods. He describes it as a weed and says that he hates using it.
Rob suggests using Poplar instead of Alder for internal parts of furniture. Poplar has a nice white color and a contrasting joint line that looks great in furniture. He recommends avoiding Alder and looking for other options that are more visually appealing and durable.
In conclusion, Alder is not one of Rob’s favorite woods due to its unattractive color, coarse texture, and softness. He recommends using Poplar instead for internal parts of furniture.
Other Beautiful Woods
Aside from the 10 least favorite woods that Rob Cosden shared in the video, there are still plenty of beautiful woods that woodworkers can choose from. Some of these woods are highly figured and have unique characteristics that make them stand out.
One of the most popular woods is the highly figured fiddleback maple. This wood has a distinctive wavy pattern that resembles the strings of a fiddle, hence its name. It has a creamy white color with reddish-brown streaks that add to its charm. This wood is often used for musical instruments, furniture, and decorative items.
Another beautiful wood is the bird’s eye maple, which has small, swirling patterns that resemble the eyes of a bird. This wood has a light color with dark brown or black swirls, making it a popular choice for cabinetry, furniture, and decorative veneers.
Ebony is also a highly sought-after wood for its deep black color and fine texture. This wood is dense and heavy, making it ideal for carving and turning. It is often used for decorative accents, musical instruments, and high-end furniture.
Kingwood is another beautiful wood that has a rich, reddish-brown color with darker streaks. It has a fine texture and a high degree of luster, making it a popular choice for inlay work, turning, and decorative veneers.
Overall, there are countless beautiful woods available for woodworkers to choose from. Whether you prefer highly figured woods or those with unique characteristics, there is a wood out there that will suit your needs and preferences.
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