When it comes to woodworking, fruitwood is generally favorable since it has fine and even texture and is good for carving and shaping. If you have access to fruitwood, you have a lot of options for creating beautiful wood products through detailed crafting of the wood.
Apple, pear, plum, apricot, cherry, and peach wood are suitable for woodworking. Peach trees are not large enough and hence their use in the commercial lumber industry is limited. But this only means that they are popular among woodworkers looking to work on wood that has many good properties.
Peach wood is good for woodworking as it is strong, durable, has gorgeous and colorful streaks, and has a sweet mild aroma. It is well-suited for making figurines, toys, spoons, clocks, bowls, pens, combs, and other intricate wooden craft.
While access to peach wood is relatively scarce for a lot of people, if you can work on it, you will be amazed at the versatility of the wood. It is similar in property to cherry and plum wood but with peach wood that has beautiful colors and good grains, you can expect to create works of art. There is always the problem of splitting with fruitwood. But, if you can follow some proven sealing methods, you will not have the problem and will in turn have good wood for woodworking.
You would be surprised how often this question comes up. We are very lucky to have a couple Master Woodworkers in our workshops who have used every type of wood imaginable on Cucamonga Woodworking. You can watch our past workshops on YouTube here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
Is Peach Wood Good for Woodworking?
Peach wood is good for woodworking as it can produce amazing details that other wood cannot. The strength of this wood makes it extremely reliable for small yet sturdy wooden crafts. The color and durability of the wood make it pleasing to work with it. It can be combined with other wood in making wooden materials.
A few characteristics of the peach wood set it apart from other wood in its ability to create good wood products.
1. Strength
The peach wood is strong and hard. The strength of the wood is one reason why it is favorable among woodworkers looking to carve small wooden pieces that serve a purpose, like a spoon or a fork.
It does not easily break and hence can be shaped to make wooden products of minimum thickness that are strong. Care must be taken before carving to ensure that the wood does not split. If this is taken care of, then you can ensure that the strength of the wood remains as you create your work with it.
2. Durability
Peach wood is durable and lasts long. The storage of the wood before it becomes completely dry has to be taken care of. Once the wood is dry, you can expect it to last long. The durability of the wood is a factor that makes it attractive for woodworkers to craft intricate works of art with the wood.
3. Aroma
The aroma of the peach wood is mild and sweet. The fruity aroma of the wood makes it a good choice of wood for making wooden products that can be presented as gifts to others. While pear is similar to peach, the distinct smell of peach along with its properties of being strong and durable makes it a choice for small wooden objects.
In addition to its use in woodworking, due to the aroma of the peach wood, it is used as wood in smoker grills and barbeques. The aroma of the wood adds the fruity punch to the meat being cooked. They are usually chipped and burned during the process to burn faster. However, chunks of peach wood are also used for slowly burning the wood to add a mild and sweet flavor.
The distinct aroma of the peach wood makes it suitable to wear as rings and earrings. They look great as an ornament.
4. Color
The peach wood is soft and has a fresh orange color that is accentuated by a tinge of red. The color of the wood makes it a clean option for use in wooden boxes and cabinets. The light tan color is preferable on wooden products as they add an artistic touch and feel to the product.
Peach wood also comes in gorgeous and colorful streaks that make it ideal for carving figurines and toys. The streaks on the wood spruce up the essence of the art, making it look more artistic and gives the delightful high of owning a custom wooden product.
What is Peach Wood Good for in Woodworking?
The fine texture of the peach wood makes it ideal for carving. It holds shape better than most other wood with a similar texture. The invaluable ability to hold carved shapes make it ideal for creating a lot of wooden crafts and products.
1. Figurines and Toys
Peachwood is an excellent choice of wood if you’re planning on making figurines. Woodworkers find it absolutely pleasing to carve out the smallest details on the figurines with the wood. In fact, most of the peach wood figurines on custom and handmade online stores have many positive reviews.
You can get the desired figure on the peach wood and since the wood can be strong with a minimum amount of thickness, it allows for greater customization.
Peachwood is also used for making toys. As people move away from plastic toys and other non-environment-friendly toy options, wooden toys have found a place in households. The versatility of the peach wood to allow close cuts and designs have made it a favorite for kids’ toys. You can then sell these toys online if you want to turn this into a moneymaking hobby. (Link Here)
2. Spoons, Forks, and Bowls
Wooden spoons, forks, and bowls can be made with ease with peach wood. Favoring the making of these kitchen utensils is the durability of the wood. Woodworkers can make these items as disposable wooden products that can be used for a long time and safely disposed of if not needed.
The woodworking time needed to make these wooden products depends on the condition of the peach wood. If the wood is dry with no splits, it can be readily used and you can draw out the desired shape of the final cut and make use of the different woodworking tools to achieve the final product.
3. Combs, Beads, Rings, and Earrings
The aroma of the peach wood makes it ideal to be worn as a wooden ornament. The properties of the wood along with its aroma make it a good choice for carving combs. These combs with wooden bristles are more durable and gentler on the hair. They are a better option for the scalp when compared to synthetic brushes and combs.
Small wooden beads made out of peach wood can be tied together and worn as a necklace. The mild, sweet, and lively color of polished and well-crafted beads will make it an attractive accessory to add to your collection.
Another impressive collection made out of fine wood art from peach wood is rings and earrings. These are a style statement in itself and the customization options available make them more desirable. You can get to make fine details on the earrings and rings while maintaining the glorious streaks of patterns of the wood. The calming and soothing look for the earrings that can be worn all day will be an absolute hit for you.
4. Small Boxes
Peachwood is better suited for making small boxes. Woodworkers appreciate the ability of the wood to match with other fruitwood, especially plum and cherry wood. This gives the option of combining the wood to create small and compact boxes that can serve many purposes. While the creativity of the woodworker is no bar for the end product, the wood is better suited for boxes that can be given as gifts or kept for special occasions.
It has to be noted that woodworking on the peach wood to make them into boxes has to take into consideration the dryness of the wood before crafting them. It is better to seal the ends of the wood with paraffin wax or paint after removing the bark and allowing the wood to dry before beginning the work.
5. Clocks and Pens
You can get solid build clocks and pens out of peach wood. These can serve the purpose of being custom gifts that can be given away. As these are worked from logs, the pattern can be slightly different for different pieces. They are sanded to a lustrous shine and are smooth on the hands and eyes.
6. Intarsia and Marquetry
Peach wood is great in Intarsia and Marquetry. The beautiful colored wood veneers add a unique and custom feel to the original art. The eye-catching element of the wood gives it endless possibilities.
Like any other fruitwood, peach wood is indeed a very good choice for woodworking. The only thing that has to be taken care of while working with peach wood is the splits. The wood tends to split if it is not sealed and stored properly. While this is something that can need a little attention, when managed properly the peach wood with its many strong properties will quickly become your choice of wood for woodworking.
