Yellow Pine- Not in my house.
White Pine- Ok. Can be used in areas where moisture is not a problem. If this wood is primed on all sides, it can be used outside. I personally stay away from it unless there is no other option.
Poplar- Harder than White Pine, not generally used outside where moisture is a concern. It has fairly decent milling characteristics. The cost is only a little more than White Pine. Some people refer to this wood as "the poor man's walnut." I don't really see it.
Soft Maple- Generally for interior use, although I have made windows out of it, but only when protected by a large porch. This hard wood is fairly good for cabinets and the like.
Red Oak- Not really a favorite of mine; the grain is so open. Care must be taken that this wood is cured correctly to avoid checks and cracks, which can occur later.
White Oak- Outstanding! When this wood is quarter-sawn it has a unique grain pattern. If you like Arts-and-Crafts furniture, this is a must. The wood is quite stable because of the method of cutting, which makes the grain stand vertically on the board. In my opinion quarter-sawn wood is stronger.
Spanish Cedar- Excellent for any exterior purpose. Though not really a hardwood, it looks like mahogany. It is stable and is ideal for making windows and doors. It is not really that much more in cost than White Pine.
Sapele- Quite hard and heavy, this wood looks like mahogany. It is stable with a nice grain and is being used more often now in place of Honduras mahogany. This wood comes from Africa, where some countries are restricting the felling of these trees; however it is by no means endangered.
Honduras Mahogany- ENDANGERED? Not as much as we are led to believe. There are plantations that still allow us to use this, the king of woods.
