Identifying Wood

R. Bruce Hoadley is widely recognized as the preeminent authority on wood identification and wood science for woodworkers and forest products professionals.

• Academic Expertise: He is a Professor Emeritus of Wood Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he taught courses in wood anatomy, structure, and identification for over three decades. His academic work is foundational to the practical understanding of wood as a material.
• Literary Authority: Hoadley is the celebrated author of several definitive texts, including the classic Identifying Wood: Accurate Results with Simple Tools and Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology. These books are considered essential reading and the standard references for anyone who works professionally or passionately with wood.
• Focus: His writing translates complex botanical and structural information into accessible, practical knowledge, allowing readers to master the systematic methodology required to identify wood species accurately, using only basic tools like a hand lens.
• Recognition: Hoadley is a contributing editor for Fine Woodworking magazine and his expertise has been invaluable to restoration experts, furniture makers, luthiers, and forensic investigators worldwide.

Through his teaching and writing, R. Bruce Hoadley has empowered generations of woodworkers to understand the science, characteristics, and proper application of the world's most versatile natural material.