Douglas fir

[Bill McCall]

Looks like water stain to me. I wouldn’t have used it in a door panel, rail or stile. I’d also put the fine grain in the center, but that’s just a matter of taste.

Some folks like ‘bear claw’ too. Not me, but what do I know?

[tree]

I don't exactly know what "water stain" means, but if it is a stain caused by moisture on the surface of the wood, that isn't what this discoloration is, IMO.

Discolored wood is made of dead xylem cells, a reaction by the tree to either injury, infection, or age.

The wider grain on the discolored side of the boards indicates to my eye that that side of the original quarter sawn board was oriented toward the pith, and the gradient toward tighter grain on the other side of the board indicates that that side was oriented toward the cambium. So the discoloration appears to me to be either "heartwood", or a reaction to an old injury or infection.

[JeffLearman]

... I did find this thread: https://mandolincafe.com/forum/threa...ir-as-tonewood ... I couldn't find a definitive answer as to whether or not Doug Fir was a suitable tonewood. I am primarily interested in resawing it for flat top instruments.

The above thread talked about a lot of other kinds of Firs, but I didn't see a ye or nay on Doug Fir.

Possibly because Douglas fir isn't actually a fir; it's a pine. Go figure.