Hey, all.
I'm looking for some advice. I made one Sofa Table Bookcase from curly (soft) maple; my plans have expanded to using the Bookcase as a base, and putting another unit on top. I need to make another Sofa Table Bookcase, plus the two tops, so I have to stretch my stash as far as I can. So I'm looking for secondary wood I can use for shelves, bottom panels, rear face frames, internal dividers, and so forth. The project is getting finished with a water-based stain (Russet Amber Maple, W1470, from Woodworker's Supply... a touch redder than what their printed flyer shows) and then Boiled Linseed Oil. The back is a Birch Ply panel that fits into the rear face frame. With the stain, it is close enough to the maple for me.
I can get Beech at $2 per board foot, and Birch at $2.85, IIRC. I forget what Ash was going for.
What would you choose?
Your Novice Termite, Chris