Hi glr1109
I do woodwork and so have a lot trimmings laying around. In an old reference it stated that dogwood was the preferred wood for pegwood, but if a wood type is listed in advertisements it's usually orange wood. I don't know what type of pegwood I do have, but it's quite a bit softer than dogwood. I've been using scrap trimming for my larger pegwood needs (it is less convenient than sticks that are already round). I've found that sugar maple works good. It's white, the grain is fine and even, it's actually harder than the pegwood I have, and it resists breakage. I don't know if it is because I can get a better grip on the larger and not quite round stick, but if I clean a hole with pegwood and then re clean with maple it seems to get more dirt out (but not vice-versa). I've been thinking of posting a question to see if anyone else has used different types of wood and what the results were, but I never have.
Well anyway, after rambling for a while my point is that you might check at a cabnetmakers shop if you can't find actual pegwood. Another possibility is basswood, which is available at almost any hobby, craft, or art supply store. Or if you would like to try some maple I could send some to you (I don't think I have my e-mail listed, but if you private message me I'll get it).
I think the desireable qualities for pegwood would be those I listed above, so other types of wood that I think should work would include apple and possibly pear (although it's not as white), and there are probably others but I haven't spent much time contemplating it. I would avoid softwoods (conifers like pine and spruce, because I suspect the resins and other constituents might cause a problem) and for the same reasons I would avoid any wood that was very aromatic. I would also avoid wood that is brittle and/or susceptible to splitting (ash for example), coarse grained wood (like oak), and soft hardwoods (balsa).
