3/4" Natural Oak An open-grained wood, oak is the traditional.   Some variation in color is normal.  Good choice when stained or with a clear finish.  White or off-white stains do not take as nicely as more traditional wood stain colors.  When painted, even many coats,  the grain still shows through.
	3/4" Natural Birch A tighter grain, still some variation in color.  This evens out some when stained.  Will take white stains, but the grain color variation will remain.  A more even color is achieved with the traditional wood stain colors.  Darker stains take fairly evenly.  Paints up well because of the tighter grain.
	3/4" Natural Maple Of the woods shown here, maple has the tightest grain.  Takes virtually any color stain, but the darkest colors (deep cherry, dark walnut, etc.) do not take as well.  Very little grain color variation.   May be painted because of the smooth tight grain.
	3/4" Paintable A hardwood, may be an import birch or other tight grained wood.    Very little 'character' to this wood.  That's one reason it paints up nicely.  There's really not much grain to 'photograph' through, so the finished job appears very smooth. Usually would not stain well without a pre-stain sealer of some sort.
	1/2" 9-Ply 9 cross-grained layers (or 'plys') glued together make this a very sturdy board for its thickness.  However, the 3/4" materials used in all the other Sliding Shelves is stronger.  The face (top & bottom) layers normally are import birch or other tight grained wood.  Edges typically are not banded, showing the edges as in the photo.