About the Woods used in Heartwood Creations Products
The Heartwood Creations craftsmen use a variety of wood types, both domestic and exotic. No endangered species are used.
Says Michael Fisher, "As woodworkers, we depend on nature; it is imperative to give back and restore what has been used. We take this conviction very seriously."
In 1990 Mr. Fisher made a commitment to develop a tree planting policy that would replenish the trees used to make his wooden boxes. He spent many hours communicating with the people that cut trees and sell lumber, talked to non-profit organizations that protect the forests and read articles on the subject of forest management.
"I decided that one proactive step to take was impose a "self tax" on the wood that we buy. Money saved for this purpose could then be placed directly into the hands of the people who devote their time to planting trees. Since 1990, we have provided funds to 5 major tree planting organizations resulting in the planting of over 100,000 trees in North America and Costa Rica."
The organizations supported by Heartwood Creations plant 10 inch to 18 inch hardwood seedlings native to the areas being replanted. The planting sites include riverbed areas, fire damaged state parks and forests, erosion damaged and denuded hillsides. They also supply scouting troops and schools with seedlings for planting in their communities.
Heartwood Creations replants approximately five trees for every tree they use.
Bubinga : This West African wood is also known as African Rosewood. The color can vary from reddish-brown with stripes of gold or purple.
Bird's-Eye Maple : Grown mostly in the upper peninsula of Michigan, this creamy-white wood has a unique burl which looks like the eyes of birds.
Bloodwood : A Brazilian wood of dark red color. One of the many Eucalyptus that abundantly grow throughout Brazil.
Cherry : American cherry wood is one of the finest hardwoods domestically grown in the eastern USA. Freshly cut cherry is a light blonde color that deepens with age to a rich, rosy-brown.
Cocobolo : Closely related to Brazilian Rosewood, this exotic wood is grown in Central America and Brazil. The heartwood may be a rainbow hue of red-yellow-brown with black streaks.
Hard Maple : Also known as Sugar Maple, grows most prevalently in New England. An extremely dense wood that is tightly grained and almost white in color.
Kewazingo : This is burl bubinga with high figure. Wood is then cut using a flat-cut or half-round method which brings out the wood’s swirling pattern.
Madrone Burl : Grown principally in northern California and Oregon. Varies in color from a pearly-pink to a deep red. Madrone is a highly-figured and dense wood.
Padauk : This African hardwood has a striking, deep-red color and tools remarkably well.
Purpleheart : South American hardwood with a deep purple-violet color which matures to dark brown.
Quilted Maple : This wavy, highly figured wood comes from Big Leaf Maple trees that flourish in Oregon. Almost white in color with waves of gold tones.
Teakwood : Varying in color from golden-brown to rich-brown with dark chocolate steaks, Teak’s density and natural oils make it popular for use in boats and furniture. Our teak is exclusively plantation-grown in Central America.
Tulipwood : Also known as Yellow Poplar, this hardwood has a yellowish cast and features dark streaks.
Walnut : A domestic American hardwood which varies from grey-brown do a dark, purplish brown. Walnut produces a greater variety of figure types than any other hardwood. We use both longwood and Burl Walnut.