When shopping blocks are divided into dyed and non-dyed or natural blocks.

TYPES OF WOOD:

Boxelder is desired over maple because white will give you colors that are more true to their color. Several things measure burl quality but the main trait is the number of eyes per square inch and Boxelder has many small eyes. Boxelder can be dyed in multiple colors whereas most wood will accept only one dye. Boxelder will produce a red color in defense of an injury or fungus. When red is present they call it red or flame Boxelder. Boxelder has spectacle spalting line and colors are well

Russian Olive has wonderful brown burl better than any walnut burl.

With Poplar the longer the cell fibers the more the wood will show a shimmer. Poplar is as good as it gets and accepts multiple dyes like boxelder. This is my favorite wood.

Tamarisk wood is naturally pink and open grained so the growth rings or gain add to it’s beauty.

There are many other species I use if the wood is pretty like Aspen which is popular, silver maple, Buckeye Burl, Red Willow, Cotton Wood, Mulberry Burk, Japanese Yew

Jananese Yew

Rocky Mountain Juniper is chosen for its wavy grain and good shitoiance or silk shimmer. It comes in a variety of tan to brown tones with growth rings so close together you can’t even count them. One knife handle may have 60+ years of growth. Accepts dye well.

Utah Juniper looks just like Eastern aromatic cedar. It to has wonderful wavy grain and dyes well.