I don't know what they are made of but they are not wood. It looks like some kind of mixture of resin and wood. I have been making cabinets and furniture for over 20 years. My hand tools are sharp enough to shave me. They are touched up with a diamond sharpener before each use. They shave fine oak hair, but it won't fit through these pegs. Even the sand is fun, like plastic resin, not wood. Not for serious woodwork where this will show. Luckily I used them on the lower rocker rails where they are hidden. I'm pretty sure they won't get dirty. Very disappointed.