| Whether you are looking to build or purchase a | | | | the ambrosia beetle penetrates other trees, the |
| custom wooden poker chip case to house your chips, | | | | maple seems to have partnered with it uniquely to |
| there is one thing that every woodworking project | | | | produce an enchanting result. Color can include cream, |
| has in common...wood! With so many different types | | | | light brown, and some dark streaks. The grain |
| of wood available, where do you start? Here are a | | | | patterns are artistic and are best characterized as |
| few helpful tips that you may want to consider | | | | arcing swirls. |
| before choosing the right wood for your case. | | | | The next type of wood which is commonly used for |
| The wood of different species varies considerably in | | | | cases is cherry. Cherry may have a pinkish color and |
| weight, strength, and appearance. Softwood is | | | | may become reddish brown when it is exposed to |
| normally uniform in grain (texture) and color. | | | | the sun. Much like maple, cherry tends to have a |
| Hardwood produces lumber in which the grain may | | | | straight grain and smells like roses when freshly cut. |
| run vertically or horizontally and may be coarse or | | | | It has a medium level of strength and density, and |
| smooth. Rarer decorative woods may be cut into | | | | the finish is excellent. Cherry has a pale yellowish |
| thin layers and glued to other wood structures to | | | | sapwood and a darker heartwood. The wood's color |
| form a vaneer. There are also several characteristics | | | | deepens to its characteristic reddish brown, almost |
| of wood that you will want to consider. | | | | mahogany-like color when exposed to the sun. The |
| Grain - the stripes in the wood created by growth | | | | sapwood never darkens to the same color of the |
| rings which may be tight, indicating slow growth, | | | | heartwood. Cherry often shows a waving curly figure |
| widely spaced, indicating quick growth, or any | | | | when finished. Heartwood can have dark spots or |
| variation in between. Different woods have distinct | | | | fine black lines that are actually gum pockets, that |
| grain patterns that help identify them. | | | | pose added challenges in finishing. Both maple and |
| Figure - the pattern in the wood that gives it a | | | | cherry tends to be midrange in price, and are |
| unique appearance that may be wavy, tiger striped, | | | | excellent for those who want to have a nice case |
| curly, flaming, or many other variations. | | | | without spending a lot of money. |
| Burl - an unusual growth on a tree that may be | | | | Walnut lumber is also frequently used for fine |
| caused by a virus or bacteria, often resulting in a | | | | wooden cases. The wood's color deepens to its |
| highly figured piece of wood. | | | | characteristic reddish brown, almost mahogany-like |
| The type of wood that you may want to use in | | | | color when exposed to the sun. The sapwood is |
| your case is dependent on a number of factors. | | | | creamy white and the heartwood is a rich chocolate |
| When designing a poker chip case, you have to take | | | | or purplish brown in color, with a dull sheen. Black |
| into account the weight of the chips, which can | | | | walnut is normally straight grained and is noted for its |
| approach 50 lbs for a 1000 poker chip case. Don't try | | | | beautiful grain character, producing more figure |
| to save money by using a 2" x 2" piece of spruce | | | | variation than any other wood. Over the years the |
| from Home Depot! Cases generally need to be made | | | | wood develops a lustrous patina. Walnut woods can |
| out of a good piece of Hardwood, such as Maple, | | | | also have a wavy grain. It has a medium level of |
| Cherry or Walnut. | | | | density, but is very strong. |
| A completely different way to look at things is to | | | | Another dark colored wood which is very expensive |
| choose a wood based on aesthetics. You can choose | | | | is ebony. The two types of ebony species which you |
| wood based on figure, color, grain, or texture. Figure | | | | will commonly see are African ebony and Indian |
| can range from Birdseye and Curly to Quilted and | | | | ebony. While most ebony species will have a straight |
| Burl. Different wood types have naturally different | | | | grain, they may also feature a grain which is wavy. It |
| colors; from white (Holly) to black (Ebony) and red | | | | has a high level of density and strength, but is highly |
| (Bloodwood) to green (Lignum Vitae.) You may want | | | | brittle as well. If it is well polished, Ebony will |
| to create a case with a unique grain. Try on some | | | | showcase a spectacular luster. |
| Zebrawood, Rosewood, or even a nice Black Walnut. | | | | Oak is an inexpensive type of wood which typically |
| As far as texture, Leopardwood, Oak, and Wenge | | | | comes in the form of a light colored sapwood. It has |
| have large, open pores, whereas Ebony, Cocobolo, | | | | a color which ranges from tan to a yellowish brown |
| and Hard maple have a very fine texture, making the | | | | color. While it can also be straight grained, it may be |
| boards feel smooth to the touch. | | | | irregular as well. Despite being one of the cheapest |
| Looking at specific wood types and their | | | | woods, it has a high level of strength and density. It |
| characteristics, the first type of wood to consider is | | | | can also be stained, and although it is good for those |
| maple. The sapwood has the color of cream, and is | | | | on a budget, it is not typically used for custom cases. |
| very similar to heartwood, and has a straight grain. | | | | Much like oak, pine is an inexpensive wood which can |
| Maple is somewhat dense and is strong. Rock Maple | | | | be white or yellow in color. It does not have a high |
| is one of the strongest species, and has a reddish | | | | level of density, but you have to pay close attention |
| color. Curley Maple is especially prized by | | | | to how you stain pine in order for it to work |
| woodworkers as a hard maple that is generally | | | | properly. |
| considered more durable, and often yields woods | | | | Mahogany is one of the most expensive woods you'll |
| with exceptional figuring. The undulating pattern of | | | | find. It can only be found in west Africa, and it will |
| wavy lines found in curley maple results from wood | | | | have a reddish brown color. The grain can be straight, |
| fibers in the tree becoming distorted as they grow. | | | | or it can be interlocked. Though it has a medium level |
| This striking pattern is known by a variety of names, | | | | of density, it doesn't have a large amount of |
| such as 'rippled', 'tiger-striped', and 'fiddle-backed'. | | | | strength. It can easily be polished and stained. |
| Ambrosia Maple is a species of hard maple, and the | | | | There are many varieties of wood available to create |
| 'ambrosia' in the name, refers to the ambrosia beetle. | | | | that one of a kind poker chip case. If you have a |
| The beetle bores into maple trees that are already | | | | better understanding of the types of wood available, |
| cut and deposits a fungus throughout the holes. The | | | | and how they can be used, you will be better |
| fungus reacts with the wood and creates the | | | | equipped to achieve the desired result of a quality |
| discoloration associated with ambrosia maple. While | | | | finished product. |