Substitute for American Chestnut

[street.smart]

Problem is, real chestnut is next to impossible to source unless you stumble on reclaimed beams or barn wood. What can I use as a stand in when I want the look and feel without paying through the nose for rare stock. Yes ash and even certain oaks are close cousins, but I'm not sure if they really give the same presence that chestnut does
I'm working on a couple of small furniture builds where I'd love to channel a good substitute to still get the chestnut vibe I want

 

[roxiebalboa_]

Problem is, real chestnut is next to impossible to source unless you stumble on reclaimed beams or barn wood. What can I use as a stand in when I want the look and feel without paying through the nose for rare stock. Yes ash and even certain oaks are close cousins, but I'm not sure if they really give the same presence that chestnut does
I'm working on a couple of small furniture builds where I'd love to channel a good substitute to still get the chestnut vibe I want

Try ash! It's like chestnut but a bit tougher and stains nicely, especially with warm browns. Get the finish right, and it'll look almost the same.

 

[countryfrench_66]

Problem is, real chestnut is next to impossible to source unless you stumble on reclaimed beams or barn wood. What can I use as a stand in when I want the look and feel without paying through the nose for rare stock. Yes ash and even certain oaks are close cousins, but I'm not sure if they really give the same presence that chestnut does
I'm working on a couple of small furniture builds where I'd love to channel a good substitute to still get the chestnut vibe I want

I had the same problem last year when I built a coffee table for my cabin. I wanted that chestnut look but couldn't find any, so I used white oak with a light walnut stain, it looked pretty close!

Have you tried poplar or cypress with a good finish? They're not exact, but they can give a similar feel for small projects. What are you building?

 

[street.smart]

Try ash! It's like chestnut but a bit tougher and stains nicely, especially with warm browns. Get the finish right, and it'll look almost the same.

Have you had luck with any specific stain brands or mixtures? I'm wondering if there's a formula that can really give the chestnut color without looking fake and does ash take the stain evenly or do I need to use a conditioner first?
Appreciate the suggestion