Sticks & Stones / Wood

Customers ask me all the time whether a wood is "hard enough" for a ring. The honest answer is that almost any hardwood is, but the Janka scale is the closest thing we have to a single number that captures durability. It's useful, with caveats. Here's how it works and where some of my favorite woods land on it. What the Janka Scale Measures The Janka test is simple. You take a steel ball, 11.28 mm across, and you press it halfway into a piece of wood. The amount of force it takes to do that, measured in pounds-force (lbf)...

There's a common assumption that harder wood is harder to work with. That's sometimes true, but hardness is only one piece of the puzzle. Some of the most challenging woods in my shop are actually quite soft. Others are dense enough to overheat my tools in seconds. Some have grain that changes direction so many times within a single piece that there's no safe angle to approach from. What's funny is that several of these difficult woods are also my favorites. The properties that make them a challenge are usually the same properties that make the finished piece extraordinary. Koa...

You know figured wood when you see it. The grain stops you mid-scroll. The patterns pull your eye. Something about the wood just looks different. Figuring refers to the patterns, textures, and optical effects in wood grain. Growth irregularities cause it. Genetics play a role. Environmental factors contribute. The result is wood that looks like art instead of building material. For jewelry, figuring matters more than it does for furniture or flooring. A ring face might be half an inch wide. A pendant might be an inch tall. That small canvas concentrates the figure. Every pattern shows up prominently. You're...

Image courtesy of Cook Woods Have you ever looked at a piece of wood and had to stop and stare because the pattern was so captivating? That's exactly what happens when you encounter pomelle bubinga. The intricate, bubble-like patterns that ripple across the surface create a visual effect unlike almost any other wood. Working with pomelle bubinga is always a treat, and I'm excited to share what makes this figured wood so exceptional. What Makes Pomelle Bubinga Special? Image Courtesy of Oakwood Veneer Company Pomelle bubinga stands apart from standard bubinga through its distinctive figure. The wood displays a dense...

Image Courtesy of Hearne Hardwoods If you've ever watched light dance across a piece of wood and wondered why some materials seem to glow from within, you've witnessed chatoyance. It's one of nature's most captivating optical effects. The word comes from the French "chatoyer," meaning "to shimmer" like a cat's eye. That's exactly what chatoyant materials do: they display a luminous band of light that shifts and moves as you change your viewing angle. What Creates This Magic? Chatoyance occurs when light reflects off parallel fibers, tubes, or needle-like inclusions within a material. Think of it like thousands of tiny...

Image Courtesy of Hearne Hardwoods Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) represents an intriguing paradox in the world of fine woodworking. While native to Australia, this adaptable species now grows successfully in many parts of the world. Sometimes even too successfully – it's considered invasive in several regions outside its native range. This widespread availability, combined with its excellent working properties, makes it an increasingly popular choice for sustainable wooden jewelry. Understanding Tasmanian Blackwood's Natural Character Image Courtesy of Hearne Hardwoods For those familiar with Hawaiian Koa wood, Tasmanian Blackwood offers remarkably similar characteristics. In fact, they're often considered close cousins in...