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NOTE: there is rarely any "standard" or "typical" look for a wood so take what's in this table with a grain of salt the REST of the pictures on this page will give you a better overall feel for this wood
	sassafras / Sassafras spp. 5" x 5" flat cut, 4" x 4" quartersawn, 1" wide end grain, and a 1/4" x 1/4" end grain closeup. Ring porous with a thick row of earlywood pores trailing somewhat gradually to very small pores throughout the latewood, with some confluence starting half way through the latewood. Rays are obvious at 10X. Occasional pore multiples in the earlywood.

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting --- colors will vary under other lighting conditions

many of the lumber samples were donated by Jim Glynn, on two separate occasions. Thanks very much, Jim

both sides of a sample plank of sassafras / Sassafras albidum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of sassafras / Sassafras albidum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of quartersawn sassafras / Sassafras albidum --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of sassafras / Sassafras albidum --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


small slab --- both levels of enlargement are available. This pic has a red tint that the wood does not. It is green like the end grain pic directly below.


end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above. The update was done many years after the end grain shot, so the much darker color is partially patina and partially due to the smoother surface.


small piece of flat cut sassafras thinwood


section of a wide plank


two small planks cut from the same long one, plus the end grain of both --- although I did not sand the butt ends as smoothly on these as I did on the first sample that Jim gave me (see the top pic), these were just naturally less distinct than on the first one.



the same planks as directly above, but moistened with water. In the 2nd set, the water had started to dry off by the time I took the pic, but I just left it that way.


both sides of a little stick of sassafras. HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above



both sides and both ends of a sample --- the green tint is accurate


end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE of the piece directly above


sample plank and end grain sold to me as sassafras / Sassafras albidum --- the color of my pics all came out poor except for the end grain shot which is correct. The others were corrected to show, to the extent I could, the same color as that shot.


end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of curly sassafras / Sassafras spp. --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was contributed to the site by Frank Deel. Thanks, Frank. The first side is freshly sanded and the second side has an age patina, thus the noticeable color difference.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


first face and the end grain of a sample of sassafras. This part of a collection which is discussed here: COLLECTION B


the second face, before and after slicing off 1/8" showing how the patina from aging is only surface deep and the normal greenish color is right there under the patina.


end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above.


small piece of sassafras and the END GRAIN UPDATE of it


small piece of sassafras with sapwood and bark --- I assume the sapwood is dark instead of the normal lighter color because of blue stain but that's just a guess.


end grain of the piece directly above


a couple of long veneer sheets (first pic) and some closeups from them. The green color is quite accurately captured by the pics.


quartersawn veneer with accurately depicted tan color and a closeup of the 2nd sheet showing ray flakes


flat cut veneer --- grain looks EXACTLY like American white ash, but the color is accurately depicted here and does NOT look like ash.

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The Wood Book pics


flat cut, quartersawn, end grain
sassafras (Sassafras albidum) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are present for all 3 views

I think this is one of those cases where the samples that these images were take of have darkened considerably over time and the purple tint is more likely an effect of the photography than a true wood color

web pics:

log section (rings show better in the enlargement)


plank with both wet and dry sections


flat cut planks


plank that has been oiled


rift cut plank --- color is unlikely


quartersawn plank


flat cut plank and closeup


planks, all from the same vendor --- the last pic is a closeup of the set just before it. This vendor's pictures all tend toward too much green, which seems to be the case here


two sets of planks. The color on the second set could be correct if these are weathered planks


curly plank


pen blanks


flat cut veneer


flat cut bookmatched veneer


quartersawn curly veneer


figured veneer


bowl blanks


sassafras bowl blanks, freshly cut (unseasoned)


bowl blanks --- I'm not sure about the color on these but they seem unlikely


bowls


sassafras bowls turned and photographed by Tom Pleatman, whom I thank for these pics and other contributions to the site. Big enlargements are present.


natural edge bowl with a particularly attractive use of an interesting wood feature. Take a look at this one in the 2nd enlargment. It's really neat.