The following descriptions are meant to provide you with a better understanding of the wood species that we offer.

CLEAR, RUSTIC, & KNOTTY clarification:

Custom Cupboards offers a “clean” and a “rustic or knotty” variation on most species. Although each set of cabinetry passes through multiple inspection stations and hand sorts, we cannot control the frequency and where knots, the sapwood, streaks, or other irregularities may fall. Because this is a product of nature each kitchen will have its own unique characteristics.

Clear (all woods): Small pin knots (under 1/4” diameter) may be visible especially on Alder. Larger, unfilled knots are permitted on the backs of doors and drawer fronts. Pinholes, gum pockets, light mineral streaking, and flecks of grey (in Beech) and brown (in Cherry) may also be visible. “Clean” varieties are selected for minimal natural character marks although some may make it through our hand selection.

Rustic (Cherry, Beech): Rustic varieties will include a light and random distribution of open and secure knots of various sizes, bird pecks, or equivalent gum pockets. Open knots that can be completely seen through will be partially filled with epoxy resin. Every door in a rustic will include mineral streaks, sapwood (heartwood on maple) and other naturally occurring characteristics that are unique to the species, however each door may not include knots, they are simply less frequently occurring on rustic species. Beech will also include heavy mineral coloring and streaking.

Knotty (Alder, Red Oak): Includes larger, open, secure knots than clear varieties. Open knots that can be seen through are partially filled from the back with black epoxy resin as a means of securing the knot, in general we strive for at least one knot per door, and in most instances multiple per door. Knots in face frames and finished ends are typically less frequent. Knots in plywood panels sometimes expose the tinted core of the plywood. This cannot be considered a defect due to the thin veneer and the brittleness of knots.

WOOD SPECIES:

Maple: Hard Maple is a heavy, straight-grained wood with a fine texture. The sapwood is white and selected for its light color.

 
Color: selected for it’s creamy white sapwood.
Grain: Straight, curly, or wavy.
Location: Canada and Northeast / North Central USA.
Density: Medium. 44 lbs. per cubic foot.

Cherry: a durable, moderately strong hardwood with reddish-brown hue, straight grain, & fine texture. Cherry may have brown flecks, gum pockets, and pin holes. Cherry darkens with age and exposure to light. Due to this cherry color samples are only valid for one year.

 
Color: Light red to dark reddish brown.
Grain: Straight and mild.
Location: Pennsylvania.
Density: Light. 35 lbs. per cubic foot.

Rustic Cherry: same as cherry PLUS can include all of nature’s characteristics including sapwood, knots, and mineral streaks.

 

Alder: Reddish-brown to pale yellow wood with soft, straight grain, even texture, and a subtle figure. Alder will have small knots, under ¼” diameter, and pinholes. Larger, unfilled knots are permitted on backs of doors and drawer fronts. Plywood has mostly closed knots of various sizes, which may be filled with putty; may be more visible with lighter stains. Alder lightens with age and exposure to light.

 
Color: Primarily reddish-brown or lighter.
Grain: Finely textured straight grain.
Location: Grows in the Pacific Northwest.
Density: Light. 28lbs. per cubic foot.

Knotty Alder: same as alder PLUS larger, open, secure knots of various sizes. Open knots are partially filled from the back only if you can see completely through them or as a means to secure the knot. Alder plywood will have closed or toned knots of various sizes.

 

Oak: Red oak is a straight-grained hardwood with a coarse texture and a pinkish-red hue. The texture of the wood varies according to the rate of growth.

 
Color: Pinkish to light reddish brown.
Grain: Straight, open grain.
Location: Wisconsin (Northern Red Oak)
Density: Medium. 44 lbs. per cubic foot.

Knotty Oak: same as oak PLUS knots and mineral streaks are allowed throughout the cabinetry. Short weather checks or cracks are permitted close to knots. Plywood may be free of these natural characteristics.

 

Quarter-Sawn White Oak: a very stable wood known for its uniform straight grain and high ray flake figure. The beautiful grain structure also has more resistance to warping than the conventional high-yield cutting method.

 
Color: Light tan to pale yellow-brown
Grain: Straight, open grain.
Location: Indiana.
Density: Heavy. 47 lbs. per cubic foot.

Beech: wwhitish to reddish brown, straight-grained wood with small grey flecks and light mineral coloring and streaking. Beech is a strong wood with a density that is similar to maple.

 
Color: Reddish brown to near white.
Grain: Even texture resembling sand on a beach.
Location: Germany.
Density: Medium. 44 lbs. per cubic foot.

Rustic Beech: same as beech PLUS will include repaired knots of various sizes, heavy mineral coloring and streaking, which is more visible on lighter finishes.

 

Hickory: a dense, tough, coarse-textured wood with white sapwood and reddish-brown heartwood. The color and graining patterns will have variations from black to brown in the heartwood to yellow in the sapwood. Certain stains will amplify this effect. The finished look of a hickory kitchen is usually described as “Rustic,” “Wild,” or “Natural.”

 
Color: Brown heartwood with creamy white sapwood
Grain: Straight, open grain.
Location: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Density: Heavy. 51 lbs. per cubic foot.

Painted Finishes:

Craftwood: also known as Medium Density Fiberboard, or MDF, Craftwood is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down softwood into fibers, combining it with wax and resin, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. As a result, Craftwood is less likely to shrink or expand and therefore superior for painted finishes. Please note that all Craftwood panels come standard with a flat sheen finish, and are not available with a standard sheen finish. The craftwood line has limited finishes, door styles and edges.

Paint Grade: Paint-grade hardwood (usually a non color sorted Hard Maple) face frames, door rails, stiles, and center panels. Paint-grade hardwood veneer is used for the cabinet ends. Used on opaque finishes with burn-thru or any distressing.

MDF Paint: For painted finishes we recommend using a hybrid of the two products which consist of paint-grade hardwood face frames, door rails and stiles, with MDF center panels and slab drawer fronts with paint-grade hardwood veneer cabinet ends.