Woodworkers know that certain types of lumber work better than others in some applications, and may be easier to handle depending on your project. For example, white pine is a soft wood and therefore not as practical for flooring or table tops as oak or maple would be. Pine does, however, make excellent bedroom furniture and is easily crafted for decorative items. Having a good understanding of what lumber works well for which projects is essential to the craft of woodworking. Having a plentiful supply of different lumber species on hand ensures that you always have the right wood for the job.

Suppliers offer woodworking lumber in planks or as scraps. Hardwoods such as maple, oak, walnut and cherry come in domestic and exotic varieties. Birdseye maple, for example, is prized by woodworkers for its unique wavy grain pattern. Brazilian oak and cherry have fine grains, and burled walnut has a distinctive grain caused by the knots in the wood. These woods make fine accent inlays for furniture, and some, such as Brazilian walnut, are very hard and durable for use as flooring.

Soft woods are valued by hobby woodworkers who fashion them into decorative pieces and furniture. Most of these woods accept stain well and resist warping. White pine, hemlock and cedar are very workable with either hand or machine tools, and their versatility makes them indispensable indispensable lumber for woodworking.

The choices in lumber for woodworking are many. On eBay you can browse for cherry, ebony, koa, mahogany, maple, oak, redwood,and more. Lumber from Africa, India and the Far East have become popular for flooring and furniture. Rosewood, mahogany and teak resist rot and disease, making them ideal for outdoor applications.