May 2021 | Purpleheart

Unique splash of color fits perfectly with Spring

Purpleheart is native to Central and South America and is sometimes referred to as Amaranth or Violet Wood. Gorgeous violet tones are a fit perfect for Spring, and the species is tremendously popular for furniture and other designs calling for a unique splash of color year round. When freshly cut, the heartwood of purpleheart appears purple brown. Upon exposure the wood becomes a deep eggplant purple. With further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes dark brown with hints of purple. We highly recommend using an UV inhibiting finish on the wood, which can help slow and minimize this shift in color.

Aircraft and yacht interiors, as well as architectural millwork including panels, furniture and cabinetry are all popular uses for purpleheart. When set side-by-side or combined with lighter species, this wood provides a splash of unexpected color along with natural contrast.

In addition to its unique color, purpleheart also has excellent strength properties, and is used in applications where strength is important — a wood for both form and function.

Purpleheart lumber availability

Mature purpleheart often reaches heights of 100-120 feet. Our current inventory of purpleheart live edge tabletops that span over 20 feet in length are a testament to the clear, cylindrical boles of these trees. They are suitable for fine furniture making fit for residential, corporate, commercial environments, and more.

We also offer 8/4 boules, which are perfect for larger jobs requiring consistent color and grain.

Contact us today

Contact us today to request physical samples and to learn more about our purpleheart wood offerings.

Click here to read the March-April Bohlke Lumber Newsletter.

Live Edge Heaven | Jon and Eddie have been working through our extensive inventory, leveling a slab out of each live edge log to highlight grain and color.

Instagram Earth Day Giveaway | Our special Earth Day Live Edge Slab Giveaway is back! Follow @mbohlkecorp on Instagram to try your luck at winning an awesome Mappa Burl slab, handpicked by Jon.

Camphor Burl Slabs | We highlight three incredibly attractive slabs available now, and share workability.

Complete Species List | Don’t see a species listed you’re looking for? Please inquire, as we generally have veneer logs to cut into lumber that can be kiln dried on short order.

Follow Jon on Instagram @mbohlkelumber

Exploring the beauty of European Sycamore veneer:

European Sycamore wood veneer is naturally quite white when freshly cut and in fact, it is one of the whitest woods in the world. Over time the veneer naturally darkens slightly to a creamy yellow white. This species can be quartered or flat cut, plain or highly figured. Fiddleback figure is most common for quarter cut, as seen to the left.

You may sometimes hear European Sycamore called European or great Maple because it is actually a Maple by genus. These trees reach heights of 100 feet with trunk diameters usually around 5 feet.

Common uses for European Sycamore veneer

Architectural and acoustic panels, cabinetry, furniture and millwork are all common applications. European Sycamore can be dyed to a variety of colors, including silver-gray. This color is quite popular for furniture and cabinetry, and produces a beautiful shimmer. Finishing with a clear coat is also a highly popular choice when the wood’s natural light yellow white and inherent warmth is most desired.

M. Bohlke Lumber availability

At M. Bohlke Lumber we carry European Sycamore in a wide selection of lumber forms. Our lumber inventory currently consists of:

• Figured boules in 4/4, 5/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4 thicknesses
• Plain boules in 4/4, 5/4, 8/4, 10/4 thicknesses
• Steamed, plain 8/4 boule
• Figured 5/4 FAS&BTR square edge
• European Sycamore Live Edge Slabs
• European Sycamore Burl Live Edge Slabs

---

Contact the M. Bohlke Veneer team

Contact us today to learn more about our European Sycamore wood veneer and lumber selections.

---

---

Although sometimes called Brazilian Cherry or South American Cherry, Jatoba is not a true Cherry. The overall similar look and warm red tones promote these names instead.

Jatoba veneer heartwood varies from an attractive salmon red to orange brown. Dark to russet brown streaks are common and Jatoba also has a natural golden luster. It can exhibit quite a large color variation from one log to the next.

The sapwood can be wide and is much lighter in color – either white or pink and sometimes gray, not darkening to the deep red-orange tones common with the heartwood.

Origin of Jatoba and its veneer applications

This tree is found on South American islands, and in Mexico, Brazil and Peru. Jatoba grows to impressive heights of 120-130 feet. Trunk diameters range from a mere 20 inches to 6 feet or more, making this species ideal for veneer production for architectural use.

Architectural and acoustic panels, cabinetry, millwork, as well as doors and furniture are all typical uses for both flat and quarter cut Jatoba veneer. Musical instruments, private aircraft and yacht interiors are additional uses as well.

Known for its hardness and durability, Jatoba is also the most popular hardwood flooring import from Brazil to the U.S.

M. Bohlke Lumber availability

We currently have 4/4 FAS&BTR, 8/4 FAS&BTR and Jatoba live edge slabs available. You can view a selection of our Jatoba tops here – please note we have a very select inventory of live edge tops at this time.

Contact the M. Bohlke team

Contact us today to request physical samples and to learn more about our Jatoba wood offerings.

Click here to read the January-February Bohlke Lumber Newsletter.

Highlight from our reclaimed lumber inventory | 8/4 FAS&BTR Knotty Pine has a story to tell and can be used in various settings.

Complete Species List | Don’t see a species listed that you’re looking for? Please inquire, as we generally have veneer logs to cut into lumber that can be kiln dried on short order.

We also include our newest Bohlke lumber arrivals.

Follow Jon on Instagram @mbohlkelumber

Sen wood veneer heartwood ranges from a beige yellow to a pale gray yellow, or greenish brown. The grain is generally straight and has a moderately coarse texture. Depending on the log and cut, this veneer can sometimes display dramatic figure as well, including fiddleback.

Although Sen and Japanese Ash are sometimes seemingly interchangeable trade names, these species do belong to different families.

Popularity in applications

Sen is primarily found in Japan and is used in a variety of applications there: paneling, interior joinery, and construction to name just a few. Sen wood veneer is similar to ash here in the United States. Its light hues make it a popular furniture and cabinetry choice as well.

M. Bohlke Sen inventory

We have a variety of veneer panel sizes available in this species, as well as 4/4 and 8/4 square edge lumber. Sen’s elegant and soft light color is steadfast and doesn’t fade over time like other veneer species.

Contact us to request samples, or to schedule an in-person visit or a virtual veneer log inspection!

Our Live Veneer Log Inspection service allows you to view a veneer log inspection via a live stream! We also offer the flexibility of sending recorded video directly to you for viewing at your leisure.

Watching a veneer log inspection at your convenience provides the same control as if you were here. You can pause the inspection for longer views of grain structure and color consistency and, if streaming live, request to see logs a second time the moment you need to.

In addition, we are happy to share that our facilities are open for scheduled visits. Please contact your M. Bohlke sales rep or use our contact form to schedule a visit.

January 2021 | Western Red Cedar

Our Red Cedar veneer inventory currently consists of various door and panel lengths. Typically quarter cut, Western Red Cedar veneer heartwood is generally light reddish-brown in color with straight, tight grain. Pink hues occasionally pop up and darker red or brown streaks are fairly common as well. Otherwise, Red Cedar veneer is quite uniform in color and grain structure throughout individual logs and is free of knots or other defects. In comparison to the warmer heartwood, Red Cedar sapwood is almost white. The texture is usually moderate to coarse before finishing.

Western Red Cedar provides relatively large veneer sizes

Found primarily in the Pacific Northwest, Red Cedar is sometimes dwarfed by Redwood, however, this species reaches heights of over 200 feet. Trunk diameters are usually around 10 feet, but sometimes span a 20+ foot width.

Red Cedar veneer is produced mostly from square cants rather than logs because the trees are subject to extensive amounts of rot that is not usable for any wood application. However, due to the overall size of mature Red Cedar trees, the cants remain large.

Red Cedar veneer is available in attractive lengths and widths for architectural projects calling on a consistent and natural aesthetic.

Common applications

Architectural millwork including panels and doors, as well as furniture and cabinetry are all popular choices for Western Red Cedar.

Contact us today

Our team can help elevate your next project to new levels. Contact us today to request samples, or to schedule an in-person visit or a virtual veneer log inspection.

Click here to start reading the November-December Bohlke Lumber Newsletter.

Solid hardwood project highlights | 34’+ Kosipo slab perfect fit in tap room. Mahogany boule lumber part of almost century old boat restoration. And stunning Bubinga Pommele live edge slab exudes luxury in home.

A note from our team | We reflect on 2020 and look forward to 2021.

Follow us on Instagram @mbohlkelumber

Figured Mahogany veneer continues to be an excellent wood for furniture.

Don’t forget architectural panels, millwork, and cabinetry, either. Other noteworthy applications include musical instruments, as well as both yacht and aircraft interiors. Figure can be moderate to heavy. Furthermore, the type of figure ranges from fiddleback, stripey, mottled, crotch and more. Figured Mahogany wood veneer ages nicely after installation. It “tans” well with exposure to sunlight and UV, and has a classical and elegant aesthetic.

Just as the figure varies, the heartwood of Figured Mahogany does as well. Pale pinkish browns to deeper red browns provide a wide range of warm, natural tones. Medium, uniform texture. Figured Mahogany also has a wonderful natural luster, as seen in our photos.

---

M. Bohlke Lumber Mahogany inventory:

• Honduras Mahogany: Backing Boards, Square Edge SEL&BTR and FAS&BTR of varying thicknesses, as well as Boules of varying thicknesses
• Khaya Mahogany: Khaya Crotch Live Edge Slabs, FAS&BTR Square Edge, and Boules
• Sapele Mahogany: Square Edge FAS&BTR and Boules of varying thicknesses
• Sapele Pommele Mahogany: Live Edge Slabs

---

Contact us today to learn more about our Figured Mahogany wood veneer and lumber selections.

Click here to read our September-October 2020 Lumber Newsletter.

Highlights this issue:

Over 3000 tabletops available | From Albizia to Wenge, we have hit a live edge slab milestone!

Ebiara & South American Chechen | Two new arrivals at M. Bohlke Lumber that steal the spotlight this issue.

Working Cottonwood | Cottonwood is a poplar species and relatively easy to work with both hand and machine tools. We have various sized Cottonwood live edge slabs available for purchase.

Eucalyptus inventory | New figured and plain Eucalyptus square edge in stock! Quartered Eucalyptus is a good substitute for Rift White Oak.

Complete Species List | Don’t see a species listed that you’re looking for? Please inquire, as we generally have veneer logs to cut into lumber that can be kiln dried on short order.

Follow Jon @mbohlkelumber on Instagram to be the first to see new arrivals and what’s going on in lumber.