EXPANDED S4S HARDWOOD BOARD STOCK
We are expanding our Hardwood Board stocking program to include expanded sizes in current stocking species. As well as adding 5 new species.
Why? We special order many of these products now, it will be in-house ready to go for our customers at a better cost. We no longer want our customer driving to Mars PA or into Ohio to source this product anymore!
Expanded White Oak Sizes:
White Oak S4S boards are valued for their strength, durability, and timeless appearance. Their light tan to pale brown color with subtle grain makes them adaptable for both traditional and modern designs, and quarter-sawn boards showcase the classic “ray fleck” pattern that designers and craftsmen love.
From a performance standpoint, White Oak is hard, dense, and long-lasting, making it equally suited to high-traffic interior applications like flooring, cabinetry, and stair parts, as well as exterior uses such as outdoor furniture, gates, and architectural millwork. Thanks to its natural water resistance and decay resistance (due to tyloses in the grain structure), it’s also the wood of choice for wine and whiskey barrels, a testament to its reliability in holding liquids and standing up to the elements.
For builders, architects, and homeowners alike, White Oak strikes the perfect balance of workability and durability. It machines, sands, and finishes well, while offering a refined look that can be stained, painted, or left natural to age into a classic silvery patina outdoors. Its versatility makes it a premium choice whether the project is a high-end custom interior or a structural, long-lasting exterior build.
Quartersawn White Oak:
Quartersawn White Oak differs from plain-sawn and rift-sawn mainly in how the log is cut, which changes both appearance and performance.
Plain-sawn boards show the familiar “cathedral” grain and are economical, but less stable. Riftsawn produces very straight, uniform grain with minimal ray fleck, ideal for sleek, modern looks. Quartersawn, the most distinctive, reveals dramatic “ray flecks” with a straight grain, offering superior stability against warping—making it the go-to for Arts & Crafts furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and architectural millwork where beauty and durability matter.
What Are S4S Boards?
S4S, or surfaced on four sides, refers to lumber that has been planed smooth on both faces and both edges, giving a uniform, straight-edged, and smoothsurfaced board right off the mill. This means less prep work for you compared to rough-sawn lumber
Cherry
Cherry hardwood is treasured for its natural elegance and the way it grows richer and more beautiful with age. Its warm reddish tones begin softly and then deepen into a luxurious patina that adds character and depth over time, making every piece unique. Craftsmen appreciate how smoothly it cuts, sands, and finishes, which allows intricate details and refined surfaces to come through effortlessly. Cherry is also highly stable once properly dried, so it resists warping and movement, ensuring projects remain solid and true for generations.
Because of its balance of beauty, strength, and workability, Cherry has become one of the most respected woods in fine woodworking. It lends a timeless quality to furniture, cabinetry, and millwork, creating interiors that feel warm, inviting, and enduring. When used in a home or commercial space, it brings a sense of sophistication that continues to improve as the wood matures. Choosing Cherry hardwood means selecting a material that offers both practical reliability and unmatched natural charm.
Hard Maple
Hard Maple combines beauty, strength, and versatility in a way few woods can match. Its light, clean appearance works equally well in traditional and contemporary designs, while its exceptional durability makes it a reliable choice for high-use surfaces like floors, cabinets, and countertops. Craftsmen value its fine, even grain for projects that need precision and refinement, and homeowners appreciate the way it holds up under daily wear while still looking elegant. Whether used in furniture, flooring, or custom millwork, Hard Maple offers a perfect blend of performance and timeless appeal.
The main difference between Hard Maple and Soft Maple boards lies in their density, strength, and appearance. Hard Maple, most often Sugar Maple, is heavier, denser, and more wear resistant, making it ideal for flooring, countertops, cabinetry, and other high-use surfaces. Soft Maple comes from several other maple species and, while still considered a hardwood, is lighter and easier to work with both by hand and machine. In color, Soft Maple often looks very similar to Hard Maple—creamy white sapwood with light brown heartwood, but it may show more variations and is less likely to have the very fine, uniform grain of Hard Maple. Because of these differences, Hard Maple is chosen when maximum durability and strength are required, while Soft Maple is often used for furniture, mouldings, and projects where ease of machining and cost savings are more important.
Hickory
Hickory is widely recognized as one of the toughest and most durable hardwoods available in North America, making it an exceptional choice for projects that demand both strength and beauty. Its hardness and shock resistance give it a reputation for reliability in high-traffic and heavy-use applications, from flooring that must stand up to daily wear to furniture that will serve families for generations. The natural contrast between the pale sapwood and darker heartwood creates a striking visual effect that adds bold character and rustic charm to any space. This unique appearance means no two boards are ever quite the same, giving finished pieces a one-of-a-kind quality that cannot be replicated with more uniform woods.
Beyond its visual appeal, Hickory’s density and resilience make it an ideal material for projects where toughness is paramount. Historically chosen for tool handles, ladders, and sporting equipment, it carries a legacy of trust in situations where failure is not an option. In modern design, it bridges that same rugged strength with a natural elegance, making it equally at home in a farmhouse kitchen, a mountain lodge, or a refined contemporary interior where bold grain patterns are desired. Choosing Hickory is not just about selecting a wood that will last—it is about bringing in a material that tells a story of endurance, authenticity, and timeless American craftsmanship.
Sapele
Sapele is admired for its ability to deliver both visual sophistication and long-lasting performance, making it a favorite among woodworkers, architects, and designers who want elegance without compromising strength. Its natural color, which ranges from medium reddish brown to deep mahogany tones, develops a richer luster with age and finishing, giving interiors and furnishings a timeless, luxurious appeal. Unlike many other hardwoods, Sapele can display a variety of striking figure patterns, such as ribbon stripe, quilted, or pommele, which bring a sense of artistry and uniqueness to each board. These figures make it especially desirable for statement pieces like furniture, cabinetry, and wall panels where aesthetics take center stage.
Beyond its appearance, Sapele is chosen for its reliability and versatility. With a hardness comparable to Red Oak, it provides the strength needed for flooring, staircases, and other high-wear applications, while still being workable with the right tools. Its interlocked grain can be challenging, but when carefully handled, it finishes to an exceptionally smooth and polished surface.
