Machining properties of wood are highly important in all woodwork for their selection for specific uses. This study reports on five machining properties, viz., planing, shaping, turning, boring and mortising offive indigenous hardwood species. The evaluation was based on frequency of occurrence of defect-free samples after machining operations. The defects were estimated by visual observation and the percentage of defect-free samples was determined. Of the five species tested only one species i. e. Toon showed high average to good qualities in different tests. In case of the other four species the qualities varied from excellent to very poor.