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are a group of shellfish (mollusks). The number of species recognized world-wide ranges from about 100 to 130 (due to the occurrence of hybrids).The shell of the abalone is known for being exceptionally strong. Did you know the dust created through the grinding and cutting of abalone shell is dangerous? It is known to cause respiratory problems and is treated with care while used in cue building. The iridescence of the inside of the abalone shell lends itself to decorative inlays. It is found in coastal waters all over the world.
It has a distinctive pattern that resembles tiny, swirling eyes disrupting the smooth lines of grain. Birdseye maple is not a variety or species of maple and is not to be confused with maple burl.
Research into the cultivation of Birdseye maple has so far discounted the theories that it is caused by pecking birds deforming the wood grain or that an infecting fungus makes it twist. However, no one has demonstrated a complete understanding of the combination of climate, soil, tree variety, insects, viruses or genetic mutation that reliably produces the effect.
is the common name for several unrelated groups of trees. One of the primary sources is a South African tree with large yellow-orange flowers. It yields a thick red juice which isoften used in the production of black dyes. Its wood is generally from a light pink to a deep blood-red, and is incredibly dense. This wood is often used by woodworkers for its natural ability to take a polish, and its unmistakable red coloring. Different but similar variations of the blood wood tree also grow in Mexico, South America and Australia. Blood wood is so hard it has a reputation for blunting the tools used to craft it.
is often used by in the construction of harps and other fine furniture as well as pool cues. The primary source for Bubinga wood is the Congo in Africa. Bubinga is also used in the production of archery bows, in particular as the main wood of the handle in some flat bows. Bubinga is also used in furniture making, usually for tables, as large slabs of the dense wood can be cut, and with very little manipulation, be used for a table top.
is a very beautiful wood, known to change color after being cut. It is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. It is fine textured and oily in look and feel, and stands up well to repeated handling and exposure to water. The wood is very hard, and is easily machined. Cocobolo is native to Mexico and Nicaragua, and is considered part of the rosewood family of trees.
also known as flame maple, fiddle back or tiger stripe is a feature of maple in which the growth of the wood fibers is distorted in an undulating pattern, producing wavy lines known as "flames". This effect is often mistakenly said to be part of the grain of the wood; it is more accurately called "figure", as the distortion is perpendicular to the grain direction. These maple products are most often found in Southern Canada and the Midwestern United States.
is one of the most intensely black woods known, which, combined with its very high density (it is one of the very few woods that sink in water), fine texture, and ability to polish very smoothly, has made it very valuable as an ornamental wood. Ebony has a long history of use, with carved pieces having been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. The primary source of Ebony is in Africa although it can be found in Asia as well as central regions of South America.
In many western cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths. The wood is heavy, hard and whitish. One traditional use is for chess pieces, with holly for the white pieces, and ebony for the black. It is often used in cue building as a close replacement to ivory. Holly is dense and can be sanded very smooth. In the 17th and 18th century the sharp thorns of Holly were planted in places to deter unauthorized persons from entering private properties, and may have prevented break-ins if planted under windows.
A hard, white, opaque substance that is the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals such as the elephant, hippopotamus, walrus, mammoth and narwhal. The word "ivory" was traditionally applied to the tusks of elephants. If you look closely at genuine ivory you can see the grain or vascular structure. Ivory trade today is highly regulated across most international borders.