Wood Characteristics and Panel Care

Jayasudha Parthasarathy

Our wood panels are high relief carvings (deep carving) with great attention to fine details given to each carving in quality wood. The wood panels are machine carved showing intricate details and painstakingly hand finished for several hours, which includes removing rough edges, sanding, and finished with stain and lacquer. We work with a team of expert artists and wood carvers from around the world to bring out the excellence in each of our wood carvings. Some of the common wood we use are, Alder, Ash, Oak, Maple, Cherry, Beech, and etc.

Alder

The Versatile Hardwood! Fine grained wood similar to cherry, birch and maple. The grain structure and the light uniform color, makes it easy to form, fasten and finish.

Although classified as a hardwood, alder is one of the softest of all hardwoods and is more commonly referred to as a semi-hardwood.

Alder used for cabinet doors, interior doors, guitar blanks, kids toys etc.
Alders are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest of North America and mostly grow near streams, rivers and wetlands.

Ash

Ash is a light colored, smooth straight grained, light weight wood. Its known for its durability. Ash has very good strength-to-weight ratio ( light weight but very strong ) making it an excellent choice for fine carving, wall hanging.

Ash is widely used in making baseball bats and American furnitures due to its excellent shock resistance and high durability properties.

Ash grows widely across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Beech

Beech is a hardwood, strong and heavy, fine and tightly packed grain and even texture with good resistance to abrasion. Beech wood is very light in color and gives your room a warm feeling.

Beechwood is popularly used in furnitures, the white to pinkish brown color, fine grain makes it an attractive material for use in housewares.

Beech belongs to deciduous trees family, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America.

Cherry

Cherry wood has a smooth, closed grain pattern, much like that of maple wood. Cherry varies from rich red to reddish brown and will darken with age and on exposure to light.

Cherry is one of the preferred hardwoods used for making fine furniture and cabinets, flooring, musical instruments, carvings etc. 

Cherry is a deciduous hardwood common to North America, mostly found in Midwestern and Eastern U.S.

 

Oak

Oak is a tree that belongs to the Beech family, a popular hardwood known for its strength and durability. There are two kinds of Oak, Red Oak and White Oak. Both varieties of wood are sturdy and has well defined grain patterns. White Oak has light to medium brown color and Red Oak has light to medium brown color with reddish tint. Their grain patterns are familiar - straight, coarse and uneven textures.

Oak is a hard wood that requires good experience and specific tools to make proper carvings. Oak is a versatile hardwood that is used extensively in making hardwood flooring, furnitures, cabinets, and etc.

Oak is also an ideal material for boat making because of its strength and resistance to rot, decay, insects and fungus. Oak has been used for many centuries in the UK due to its availability and popular qualities.

Oak trees grow well in temperate and tropical climates and are found in regions of Asia and North America.

Maple

Maple wood is derived from Maple trees, a strong and durable wood by nature and known for its incredible beautiful color. Maple has a light cream color, with slight reddish brown tints, smooth grain pattern and fine texture. Some wood have variations in grain patterns like flame, bird eye, wavy, rippled as well. The beauty of Maple is that the wood needs "No stain" and can be finished with only lacquer thus making it an impressive wood for wood working and carving.

There are two types of Maple wood: Hard Maple ( also known as Sugar Maple or Rock Maple ) and Soft Maple, both varieties are used extensively for making furniture, musical instruments, flooring/cabinets etc. The species common among American wood workers is the Sugar maple or Hard Maple, which is extensively grown in Northern US and Canada and are also the source of Maple sap - a primary ingredient for making pure Maple syrup.

There are many species of Maple tress and are native to Asia, Europe, Northern Africa and North America.

Wood Characteristics, Treatment, and Preparation for CNC Carving

The beauty of wood carving lies in its natural grain patterns—each one a unique expression of the tree it came from. Even when using the same species, no two carved panels are ever alike, as every piece of wood presents its own variations in grain flow, tone, and texture.

Preparing Wood for Carving

To ensure durability and longevity, the wood goes through a strict preparation process before carving:

  • Kiln-dried or heat-treated at high temperatures to stabilize internal moisture and prevent warping or cracking over time.

  • Fumigated to eliminate any insects or larvae, ensuring the wood remains clean, pest-free, and safe for long-term indoor use.

Preparing Planks for CNC Carving

A single solid plank, especially if it is wide, may have inconsistent density or natural tension, which can cause warping or cracking over time. To overcome this, multiple planks are joined together, often with alternating grain directions. This balances internal stress and significantly improves structural stability. 

A single plank is generally used for small carvings, but for larger or thicker panels, multiple planks are joined side by side or stacked and bonded to form a strong, stable block that can withstand CNC processing. Once fully treated and conditioned, the stabilized prepared wood is mounted onto precision CNC machines, where every groove and contour is carved with accuracy while preserving the natural character of the wood, while delivering sharp, clean detailing throughout.

After carving, natural traits such as knots, mineral streaks, or darker patches may be visible. These are not defects, but proof of authenticity—affirming that each piece is made from genuine solid wood, not synthetic or engineered substitutes.

Wood Panel Care

Wood panels are easy to maintain, and require minimal maintenance.

  • Dust or wipe gently with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth periodically, at least once a month.
  • Avoid direct exposure to water, heat sources, or prolonged sunlight to preserve finish and shape--This helps maintain balance in the wood and further prevents surface dryness, warping or fine cracks over time, especially in regions with extreme seasonal dryness or fluctuating humidity. 
  • Do not use harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive pads, as they may stain or dull the surface.

All our precision wood panels are sealed with a lacquer coating which already provides strong protection against environmental changes. With minimal care, your carved wood panel will last for years and age gracefully, retaining both strength and beauty.



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