Wood Species Guide
Apple
Malus domestica and related Malus species
Also called: Applewood, Apple Wood, Orchard Apple, Crabapple (wild relatives)
About the name “Apple”
Apple wood comes from the orchard apple and its relatives, including wild crabapples. Woodworkers treat them as one wood, since they look and work much the same.
What Apple looks like
Heartwood is a light reddish to pinkish brown, sometimes with darker streaks, and the sapwood is pale cream. Spalted pieces are common from old orchard trees.
Grain and texture
Grain is usually straight but can be wild near knots and crotches. Very fine, even texture.
Working Apple: planing, cutting and gluing
Hard and dense, but it turns and carves beautifully and takes crisp detail. It is prone to checking and warping while it dries, so seal the ends and dry it slowly. Glues well.
Finishing Apple: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil, wax and film finishes well and polishes to a soft shine. The tight grain seals quickly, so epoxy work is easy. Seal spalted areas first, because they soak up finish unevenly.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not durable outdoors and susceptible to insects. Orchard wood often has checks and pith, so plan around them. In Florida, keep finished pieces indoors.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Apple is a small-piece wood, great for spoons, mallets, tool handles, bowls and pen blanks. Orchard prunings and old trees are the usual source, and they come with checks and character. The wood is also a classic for smoking meat. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Apple
Turnings, spoons and utensils, carving, tool handles, mallet heads, small boxes and smoking wood.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Most wood comes from orchard removals and prunings.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. No reactions beyond ordinary wood dust irritation are known.
- In the shop
- Normal dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Good choice for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Apple has no known reactions beyond the general irritation any wood dust can cause. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Apple in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Apple listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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