Where can I find information on each specific wood characteristics??

[Duane Bledsoe]

I've been reading here, and in magazines, about different projects being done and occasionally I will run across a small piece of information regarding a certain species of wood and how it will expand or contract differently than another one will, or how one wood is more prone to raised grain when finish is applied, stuff like this in general. Is there a place I can check to get a general overview of what to expect or what should be considered when using each specific species of wood to work with??

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Duane,

Here's one.

168242

[Dave MacArthur]

http://plants.usda.gov/index.html (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GLTR)

[Damon Stathatos]

About the most complete one I've found:

http://www.woodworkerssource.com/wood_library.php

The 'Working Properties' tab under any specific wood is fairly complete with information regarding sanding, glueing, turning, polishing, etc. The remaining tabs, 'General, Numerical Values, Tree Wood and Descriptions, and Drying' will tell you just about all you'd ever need to know about the wood you're interested in.

[John Messinger]

Bruce Hoadley, Understanding Wood is a wealth of useful information on all aspects of wood characteristics and properties. I wood recommend it for all woodworkers.