COLOR:
Heartwood is light to dark reddish brown, lustrous; sapwood is light brown to pale with a light pinkish tone. Some flooring manufacturers steam lumber to bleed the darker heartwood color into the sapwood, resulting in a more uniform color.  Color darkens significantly with age.

GRAIN:
Fine, frequently wavy, uniform texture. Distinctive flake pattern on true quartersawn surfaces. Texture is satiny, with some gum pockets.

VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES:
Significant color variation between boards.

ORIGIN:
North America.

GRADE:
Clear, Select, CW1, CW2.

HARDNESS (JANKA):
950.

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY:
Above average.

NAILING:
No known problems.

SANDING:
Sands satisfactorily if the correct sanding sequence is followed. Suggested Sequence First Cut: 60 at a 7-15 degree angle with the grain Second Cut: 80 straight with the grain Third Cut: 100 Hard Plate: Not recommended Screen: 80 or 100

FINISHING:
No known problems.