Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
Hardness
On the soft side; easy to work, but marks with hard use.
Overview
Light, soft, and surprisingly rot-resistant, with a coarse oak-like grain. Easy to work and stable, an underrated outdoor and carving wood.
Commonly built
- Carvings
- Outdoor furniture
- Frames
Appearance
Greyish to golden-brown with a coarse, open grain resembling a soft, lightweight ash or oak.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Soft and very easy to work and carve. Good decay resistance for a domestic wood. Lightweight and dimensionally stable. Finishes reasonably; open grain may need filling.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn catalpa panel moves roughly 0.26 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Catalpa move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Catalpa?
Catalpa has a Janka hardness of 550 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Catalpa suitable for outdoor use?
Catalpa stands up reasonably well outdoors, especially with a protective finish and regular maintenance.
How easy is Catalpa to work with?
Catalpa has Excellent workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Catalpa move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn catalpa panel moves roughly 0.26 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Lightweight, open-grained, and decay-resistant; takes stain and clear finishes evenly with a warm grayish-brown tone. Fill the coarse grain for a smooth film finish. Its softness and stability make it forgiving to finish. Often clear-finished to show its distinctive grain, and used outdoors with a penetrating exterior finish.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used catalpa, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.