Advantages to hard woods are that finer detail can be achieved and the wood can be polished to an ultra smooth finish. Balsa has a weight of 8, Oak is about 45 and Ebony weights in at 80. By definition, the figure of a wood refers to the pattern caused by color differences in the wood. The figure is also the pattern created by different types of grain. The fibers of interlocking grain have a weaved structure, thus making the wood strong and less apt to split and suitable for bending.
Irregular grain is caused by an interruption in the growth of the tree by branches or crotches.
For ship building irregular grain is used for natural curved members such as knees. Texture ranges from coarse to medium to fine and to ultra fine. In ship building, coarse and medium textured woods are suitable for heavy timbering such as hull framing and deck beams. Fine textured wood is used for planking, moldings, rails ect. Fine and ultra fine texture is for carving small fittings and delicate parts.