Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionCrack Willow Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Crack Willow is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameSalix fragilis
Janka hardness640 lbf
Average dried weight27 lb/ft³
Best fitBaskets
Overview
Why choose Crack Willow?
Crack Willow is a domestic hardwood species. Native to Europe; naturalized across North America. Common uses include baskets, crates, furniture, carvings, utility wood and other small specialty items.
Scientific nameSalix fragilis
DistributionNative to Europe; naturalized across North America
DurabilityThe wood is perishable to non-durable and prone to insect attack.
Crack Willow colour, grain, and figure
The heartwood spans light tan through deeper reddish brown, with darker streaks at times. The sapwood runs white to tan, and the boundary with the heartwood is not always sharp.
Straight grain; texture is fine to medium and uniform.
Working notes
Low density gives Crack Willow poor machining behaviour, and planing often leaves fuzzy surfaces. It also tends to suffer many drying defects and is hard to season.
Willow wood itself has few adverse health effects on record (Salix genus), but the tree's bark and its other parts are reported sensitizers.
Crack Willow should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Crack Willow
Best projects
Common uses include baskets, crates, furniture, carvings, utility wood and other small specialty items.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Crack Willow from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Crack Willow FAQ
What is Crack Willow best used for?
Common uses include baskets, crates, furniture, carvings, utility wood and other small specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Crack Willow beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Crack Willow?
The buying section on this page links to any Crack Willow Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.