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Discover the natural beauty and enduring strength of hardwood. Perfect for furniture making, cabinetry, flooring, and custom woodworking projects, our hardwood selection includes a wide variety of species such as maple, ash, walnut, birch, cherry, and more. Whether you’re looking for rough-sawn lumber or live edge slabs, we carry top-quality hardwoods in a range of sizes and finishes to meet your needs. Each piece is carefully sourced for character, grain consistency, and long-lasting performance, ideal for both DIYers and professional craftsmen. As a proudly Canadian company with locally owned stores, Windsor Plywood specializes in hard-to-find wood products and offers expert, one-on-one service to help you bring your vision to life. Visit your local store to browse our full hardwood selection and get the guidance you need for your next project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is koto wood and what is it used for?
Koto (Pterygota spp.) is an African hardwood with a pale cream to golden-yellow colour, fine texture, and an often-interlocked grain that produces an attractive mottle or ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. It has a moderate hardness and is used as a substitute for maple and other pale-toned hardwoods in cabinetry, furniture, and interior millwork, particularly in European markets.
How does koto compare to maple as a cabinetry material?
Koto is lighter in colour and softer than hard maple. Its fine, consistent texture makes it an effective paint-grade or light-stain hardwood for cabinetry. In European cabinetry, koto is used similarly to maple for painted and lightly stained door panels. It machines cleanly and accepts finish consistently, making it a practical alternative where maple is not available or is cost-prohibitive.
Does koto take stain evenly?
Koto stains with reasonable consistency due to its fine, uniform texture. A pre-stain conditioner is recommended for most stain applications. The pale base colour makes it suitable for lighter stains and clear finishes where a clean, bright appearance is desired. Darker stains may produce some variation.
Is koto available in wide boards?
Koto grows in reasonably large trees and is available in wider boards than many tropical specialty hardwoods. However, as a specialty import species, availability of specific widths and lengths at Windsor Plywood locations varies. Contact your local branch to confirm current koto stock.
Does Windsor Plywood carry koto?
Windsor Plywood carries koto as a specialty hardwood subject to current availability. Confirm current stock and available dimensions with your local Windsor Plywood location before specifying koto for a project.