Hardwoods

Product Info:

We’re your Denver hardwoods resource for any woodworking project you have in mind.

Looking for hardwoods in the Denver Metro area? We have increased the hardwoods we stock! In addition to carrying 1×4 through 1×12 in Red Oak, Maple, Poplar, and Cherry, we also carry domestic hardwoods including White Oak, Ash, Hickory, Alder, Walnut, Sugar Pine and Aromatic Cedar. In more “exotic” species, we have a selection including Wenge, Zebrawood, Lacewood, Padauk, Bubinga, and Mahogany.

We stock at least a few boards in over 20 species.

Denver hardwoods resource!

The world of hardwoods is handled much differently than framing lumber. Hardwoods are much more a piece-by-piece item and certainly is based on a customer’s needs and tastes. We do stock a few types in other thicknesses also.

Stop by as seeing is really the only way to appreciate the variety and looks of the different species of wood.

There are a variety of hardwoods available for any project that you can dream of. Most are sold on a “random length, random width” basis, meaning that there will be a variety of boards in varying widths and lengths, and you must choose the best boards for your particular needs. Hardwood lumber is cut to yield the maximum amount of usable material.

This production method limits waste and reduces costs. This translates into that even top grades may still have some knots, wane, splits, etc. Each board is sawn as long and wide as the log allows, and trimmed to make the edges and ends square.

Baltic Birch plywood is a great product for constructing drawers, cabinets and boxes. Its void-free interior veneers means better gluing and fastener holding power. A thicker face veneer reduces the chance of sanding through the veneer. The uniform core allows great machining for routing edges or cutting more decorative joints than other plywoods.

Birch has many more plys than other plywoods, increasing its stability, strength, and workability. Birch provides an excellent painting surface. These products are generally manufactured in Europe, so the thicknesses are actually metric, but we stock the ⅛″, ¼″, ⅜″, ½″, ⅝″, ¾″ and 1″ thicknesses in 5 x 5 sheets.

We also carry 4 x 8 sheets in ½″ and ¾″.

Why are some trees called hardwood?

All trees reproduce by producing seeds, but the seed structure varies. In general, hardwood comes from a deciduous tree which loses its leaves each year while softwood comes from a conifer, which usually remains evergreen.

Hardwoods tend to be slower growing, and are therefore usually denser. The most common species of hardwoods in North America are oaks, maple, hickory, birch, beech and cherry.

Food safety tip.

Use ONLY food-safe oil sealers on countertops, cutting boards and other projects you make and use.

We have increased our stock of Denver hardwoods. Stop in today!

Available Sizes

Sizes listed are most readily available and not meant as a guarantee of stock. Boards are generally available in random lengths. Specified lengths will be available in very short lead times.

Surfaced Four Sides (S4S)

Nominal 13/16″ Thickness

Sizes:1×41×61×81×12*Plywood (thickness)
Oak21/8”, 1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4”
Birch    1/8”, 1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4”
Blue Stain Pine    1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4”
Cherry 1/4”, 3/4”
Poplar1 
Maple 1/4”, 3/4”
Walnut  1/4”, 3/4”
Clear Vertical Grain
Dougas Fir2
  1/4”, 3/4”
Clear Vertical Grain
Western Red Cedar2
   
Mahogany    1/8”, 1/4”

Surfaced Two Sides (S2S)

Straight Line Rip One Edge

Thickness:1/2″4/4
~13/16″
5/4
~1-1/16″
8/4
~1-3/4″
12/4
~2-1/2″
16/4
~3-1/2″
Alder    
Aromatic Cedar    
Ash   
Basswood   
Cherry 
Hickory (Pecan)    
Knotty “Rustic”
Walnut
    
Maple 
Poplar1   
Purpleheart   
Red Oak3   
Red Oak,
Quartersawn
    
Sugar Pine    
Walnut 
White Oak   
White Oak,
Quartersawn
    
Wormy Maple   

* 1×12 in solid boards may actually be glued-up boards
1 – Also stocked in 5/4×4” and 5/4×6” nominal in 16’ lengths.
2 – Available in 2×4, 2×6 and 2×12
3 – Available in 2×4, 2×6 and 2×8

Additional Information

There are a variety of hardwoods available for any project that you can dream of. Most are sold on a “random length, random width” basis, meaning that there will be a variety of boards in varying widths and lengths that you must choose the best boards for your particular needs. Hardwood lumber is cut to yield the maximum amount of usable material. This production method limits waste and reduces costs. This translates into that even top grades may still have some knots, wane, splits, etc. Each board is sawn as long and wide as the log allows, and then may be trimmed to make the edges and ends square. Determining your “yield” is paramount in project planning and minimizing costs.  Oak, cherry, maple and poplar are readily available in pre-machined board sizes (1×4, 1×6, 1×8, 1×10 and 1×12**). The most common thickness will be “4/4”, netting out to approximately ¾”. A 5/4 thickness is approximately 1⅛” thick, 6/4 is 1⅜” and 8/4 is 1¾”. Many other species are available in two other ways:

Surfaced 2 Sides (S2S): …meaning individual boards have been planed down to the net 13/16” thickness (other thicknesses available). This enables you to view the entire board for appearance. If requested, the wood can be additionally machined. Remember that each additional machining step will add expense for the milling completed and the “lost” wood to further refine the board(s). Put another way – you’re paying for the work to create a beautiful board and the scraps that you’ll never see. This is the best way to purchase hardwoods for most projects and customers.

Straight Line Ripped (SLR): …meaning that one of the edges has been cut straight so that you can place that edge against your saw fence and rip to whatever exact width you need. Keep in mind that the boards can vary in width from one end to the other.

Rough Sawn: These are boards that have been rough sawn by the mill and shipped. If you order 1” thickness, that’s what you will receive. Although this is the most economical way to buy hardwoods since there hasn’t been additional milling done to the boards; the roughness of the boards can hide both the beauties and the beasts. Obviously you maximize yield off the wood but end up doing most of the work (planing, straight line ripping, etc).

Surfaced 4 Sides (S4S): Another variation is S4S boards, which are perfectly machined boards (i.e., 1×6 nominal, net measurement is 5½”). This is the most convenient, but MOST expensive way to purchase hardwoods because you’re indirectly paying for all the work and waste going into making that “perfect” board (you don’t get the trims).

Types Of Wood

When deciding what type of wood to use, consider the following topics.

Availability

Many types of wood are highly desirable; however they may only be available in short lengths, narrow pieces, select grades, etc. We suggest that you always buy more than what you believe you’ll need to ensure enough of the batch to complete your project. You can always make a small toy, box or picture frame from your scraps.

Moldings/Plywoods

If you’ll want matching pre-made moldings for your project, this may severely restrict your readily available selection to pine, fir, oak, maple, cherry, poplar, knotty alder and walnut. Most hardwoods molding will only be available in shorter lengths – 6’ to 10’. The similar accessibility will apply to plywoods; only a relative few species are available in plywoods. Note that most hardwood plywoods are now made with a MDF core, especially on thinner sizes. MDF fiberboard (particle board) machines like a dream but does create a lot of dust, is heavy and any exposed edges obviously are not for stain-grade appearance. However, edge veneer is available to cover these exposed edges.

Workability

Some hardwoods are notorious for their tool dulling aspects and splitting, chipping or hardness. Many will leave clean sharp machined edges and corners, some more fuzzy. A few will cause dermatitis in certain individuals or create excessive dust that may create a hazard. Along with other safety equipment, use dust masks/dust control.

Grade

Generally, Front Range Lumber will only offer “first and second” (FAS) grade. This grade maximizes the value you receive while holding the costs to a minimum. Beware of other grades as they may allow more defects (knots, splits, etc.) that interfere with the layout of your project.

“Your Board”

Hardwoods and their uses are fundamentally different in many ways from other woods (i.e. Construction). In most cases, customers need or want to pick their particular boards. Because of the uniqueness and “want-to-show-it-off” nature of a project made with hardwoods, grain patterns and color and other qualities are understandably very important. Just like two trees are not alike, no two pieces of wood look exactly alike. No man-made material can replicate woods variety, strength, low cost, and genuineness. Remember, as with any natural wood item, coloration and other characteristics vary between boards.

Expansion/Contraction

Expansion and contraction will occur in wood as the boards take on or release moisture with the prevailing weather and/or site conditions. Your construction should allow for this movement. Using a tabletop application as an example, we suggest elongated screw holes on the underside of the top and then attaching the base through those long holes to allow movement. Install fasteners to the center of that slot taking care not to predrill the hole too deep.

Species Stocked
  • Alder
  • Aromatic Cedar
  • Ash
  • Basswood
  • Bloodwood*
  • Bubinga*
  • Canarywood*
  • Cherry
  • Cypress*
  • Hard Maple Padauk*
  • Hickory/Pecan
  • Holly*
  • Lacewood*
  • Mahogany
  • Poplar
  • Purpleheart
  • Red Oak
  • Sapelle*
  • Spanish Cedar
  • Sugar Pine*
  • Tigerwood*
  • Utile*
  • Walnut
  • Wenge*
  • White Oak
  • Wormy Maple
  • Yellowheart*
  • Zebrawood*

* Based on availability
** 1×12 in solid boards may actually be glued-up boards to obtain this width and provide a more stable board.

Downloads
File (click to download)Size
  General Tips About Wood99 KB
  Joining Wood92 KB

Please note: All product items/sizes/lengths/brands may not be available at either location, please call to verify availability.

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