PROS: Beautifully colored no need for stains, wood is dark red-brown to a lighter pink-red color. If you apply an oil based polyurethane it will naturally darken to a most wonderful tone, my absolute favorite.

CONS: While more dent resistant than birch it is softer than oak. Can be expensive and usually has to be specially ordered. Must be sanded extra-fine, as sanding lines will show in this fairly flat grained wood. Most stains will blotch this wood so use a gel stain if you must darken the wood.