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VCR selected the five species below for their suitability in contemporary furniture manufacturing. In practical terms, this favours the use of light-coloured species and/or those with unique characteristics.
Designers and SME producers can also consult the hardwood science resource and the book list on this topic. VCR highly recommends Understanding Wood and Identifying Wood by R. Bruce Hoadley. Also
Fine Woodworking on Wood and How to Dry It.
Ecolabelling Issues
VCR advocates the use of FSC-certified, recycled wood or timber from well-managed local woodlots (sources). Rare wood species should be used primarily for veneered agriboard panels or other certified boards (MDF, plywood), manufactured with non-toxic adhesives.
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Red alder - Alnus rubra 
Common names
Oregon alder, western alder.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
None.
Tree
Found in pure stands on moist bottom land in coastal valleys of the Pacific Northwest; grows up to 24 m (80 ft) in height and 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter; relatively short-lived (sawlog-size trees are produced in 35-50 years) and tends to decay within 90 years; ecologically important as roots supply nitrogen to soil in preparation for growth of other climatic species.
Geographical distribution
Coastal BC.
Wood
Light reddish brown with little distinction between sapwood and heartwood; certain kiln schedules can produce a creamy white appearance similar to maple; grain usually straight with pleasing pattern when wood is quarter-sawn.
Density (12% mc)
460 kg/cubic metre (29 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 40.00 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 2.86 MPa
Modulus of rupture 73.80 MPa
Processing
Seasons easily with little degrade; non-resistant to microbial stain therefore green lumber must be kiln-dried immediately or promptly stacked for air-drying; works easily with hand and power tools; takes stain readily; good finishing, gluing, screw-holding properties.
Uses
Furniture, plywood ("Appleply"), domestic woodenware, turning, toys and firewood!
Identification features: hand lens
Diffuse porous; pores usually in radial rows of 2-4; growth ring terminated by thin line of denser fibrous tissue; no tyloses; rays mostly fine, not visible to unaided eye; large aggregate rays easily visible to unaided eye but appear only at irregular intervals.
Paper birch - Betula papyrifera 
Common names
Canoe birch, white birch.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
Yellow birch - Betula alleghaniensis. Generally considered superior to paper birch for furniture manufacture (it is slightly harder and stronger with a trunk diameter of 60-100 cm); found in the southern regions of the eastern provinces, whereas paper birch is found across Canada (except in the southern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Vancouver Island).
Tree
Found with other pioneer species in unshaded stands; stem is long and cylindrical with characteristic peeling bark; grows up to 16 m (52 ft) in height and 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter.
Geographical distribution
As noted above.
Wood
Heartwood pale brown; sapwood creamy white; normally straight-grained with uniform, fine texture; some logs exhibit a curly figure known as "flame birch."
Density (12% mc)
640 kg/cubic metre (40 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 44.70 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 7.17 MPa
Modulus of rupture 94.80 MPa
Processing
Seasons satisfactorily but with relative high shrinkage; machines reasonably well with hand and power tools; glues well (yellow birch does not); takes stain and finishes easily; moderately good steam-bending rating.
Uses
Veneer, plywood, furniture, domestic woodenware, toys, dowels, clothespins, fruit baskets, medical spatulas.
Identification features: hand lens
Diffuse porous; pores mostly solitary, some aligned in short radial rows; growth ring often indistinct, terminated by thin band of denser fibrous tissue; little or no tyloses; rays very fine.
Black cherry - Prunus serotina 
Common names
Cherry, cabinet cherry, wild black cherry.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
None.
Tree
Found in mixed stands with other hardwoods; grows up to 30 m (96 ft) in height and 60 cm (2 ft) in diameter; relatively scarce in Canada.
Geographical distribution
Extreme southern regions of the eastern provinces.
Wood
Heartwood lustrous and varies from light to mid reddish brown; usually narrow, whiteish sapwood.
Density (12% mc)
610 kg/cubic metre (38 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 50.4 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 6.07 MPa
Modulus of rupture 87.1 MPa
Processing
Seasons satisfactorily but with relative high shrinkage; dimensionally stable after kilning; excellent machining properties because of its uniform texture; moderately heavy, stiff and strong.
Uses
Furniture, decorative veneer, panelling, architectural millwork.
Identification features: hand lens
Diffuse porous; pores small and uniformly distributed; line of pores in the earlywood marks the growth ring; rays visible to the naked eye and lighter than the other cell mass.
Sugar maple - Acer saccharum 
Common names
Bird's-eye maple, curly maple, hard maple, rock maple, sweet maple.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
Broadleaf maple - Acer macrophyllum, found on the southern coast of BC. Black maple - Acer nigrum, found in the extreme south of Ontario.
Tree
Found in mixed stands with other hardwoods; famous for its sweet sap from which maple syrup is made; grows up to 30 m (96 ft) in height and 150 cm (4 ft) in diameter; relatively scarce and therefore expensive timber.
Geographical distribution
Southern regions of the eastern provinces.
Wood
Heartwood light to medium brown; sapwood usually wide and whiteish to pale brown in colour; fine and uniform texture.
Density (12% mc)
740 kg/cubic metre (46 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 56.4 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 9.21 MPa
Modulus of rupture 115.00 MPa
Processing
Seasons well with little or no degrade; good bending and crushing strength; machines well with hand and machine tools; good steam-bending properties; gluing properties variable; easy to finish.
Uses
Furniture, decorative bird's-eye and fiddleback veneer, plywood, turnings, architectural millwork, flooring.
Identification features: hand lens
Diffuse porous; pores mostly solitary or several aligned radially; growth ring may not be distinct but terminated by thin line of denser fibrous tissue; rays of two sizes: smallest barely visible with hand lens, larger easily visible with naked eye.
White oak - Quercus alba
Common names
Stave oak.
Related "commercial" Canadian species (with similar properties)
Red oak - Quercus rubra, found in the southern regions of the eastern provinces. VCR listed the details for white over red oak because the later's ubiquitus application in millwork and flooring has reduced its "perceived value" as a vehicle for contemporary furniture products. The density of red oak is lower (690 kg/cubic metre). Bur oak - Quercus macrocarpa, found in southern Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
Tree
Grows slowly with a life span of 500-600 years; prefers sites with deep soils and good drainage; grows up to 30 m (96 ft) in height and 100 cm (3 ft) in diameter.
Geographical distribution
Extreme southern regions of Ontario and Quebec.
Wood
Heartwood light to grey/green brown; sapwood whitish but narrow; cells plugged with tyloses (a clear reflective bubble-like membrane in the pores) that makes it impervious to liquids and the premium choice for wine barrels; resistant to decay; low stiffness.
Density (12% mc)
750 kg/cubic metre (47 lb/cubic foot)
Strength (12% mc)
Compression parallel to grain 49.80 MPa
Tension perpendicular to grain 6.52 MPa
Modulus of rupture 121.00 MPa
Processing
Kilning requires a long and careful scedule to avoid checks and splits; machines well when attention paid to grain direction; excellent steam-bending properties; creates a black stain in contact with mild steel; susceptible to above-average moisture movement in use.
Uses
Furniture, decorative rift-cut "flat" grain and "flake" figure veneer, plywood, panelling, tool handles, boat building.
Identification features: hand lens
Ring porous; distinct large early wood pores; tyloses (a clear reflective bubble-like membrane in the pores); tangential lines of lighter parenchyma cells; rays either extremely large or so fine they are barely visible with a hand lens.
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