Know your Wood Types for Woodworking
The first step in any successful woodworking project is getting ready and planning everything out correctly. The planning can include drawing up plans for your project and getting all the right tools and PPE, but essentially the most critical step will come when you need to decide on what type of wood you want to use.
Not all wood was created equal, and it will benefit you to take a moment and consider a few things so that you know what to look for in the wood. Ask yourself:
- Will this project live indoors, outdoors, or both?
- How much weight will the timber I use need to bear?
- What kind of finished wood surface do I want in the end?
- How much "traffic" (e.g. Foot-traffic in flooring) will this finished project need to be able to handle?
There are a lot of winning factors wood needs to have to serve a successful woodworking project, so let`s take a look at
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN GOOD QUALITY TIMBER:
Appearance:
Freshly cut timber has a shiny appearance and gives off a slightly sweet odour. This smell is a sign of good quality wood. An A-grade timber board surface needs sanding with a minimum of 6-grit sanding for a shop-ready finish. There are plenty of other defects and signs to look for in wood.
Take a look at some of these by reading our article HERE
Colour:
When wood has a darker colour within its species range, it tends to be stronger. A lighter shade of wood within its species range of wood colour indicates weakness in the wood.
Durability:
Some wood is more resistant to the elements, and others are only resistant in this way once sealed and treated. Some wood is more resistant to warping and swelling. Depending on where you will use your wood, this is an essential factor to take into consideration.
Elasticity:
The "stretchability" and load-carrying abilities of the wood will be substantially higher when the grain runs along with the board. Where the grain runs across the board, the timber will be significantly weaker.
Fibres:
When looking at wood, its fibres should be straight, compact and firm within the grain. Wood with twisted fibre is significantly weaker.
Hardness:
Harder wood can handle much more wear-and-tear.
Shape:
High-quality timber will always retain its shape and structural integrity, even after the manufacturing and seasoning processes.
Sound:
When you knock on high-quality timber, it produces a clear ringing. If it sounds hollow, it is because there is low moisture content. If it sounds dull and heavy, it can be a sign of decay within the wood or the wood has a high moisture content.
Strength:
Any load-bearing timber should be able to withstand pressure and be durable over time. Usually, the rule of thumb is that the denser the wood, the stronger it will be.
Weight:
Heavier timbers are generally known to be the toughest and hardest. But unseasoned green wood with a higher moisture content before seasoning can also have a heavier weight, so consider this when testing for the weight of the board. Only seasoned, heavy timber should be used.
Workability:
Various factors like irregular grain in the wood or a high resin content can make it challenging to work with the wood, even clogging the saw teeth when you cut.
Another vital factor in wood is its resistance to natural elements, one of the most invasive being fungal attacks. Classification of wood takes place into a system of fungi resistance.
Let`s take a look at the 5 CLASSES OF FUNGI RESISTANCE:
- Very Durable
- Durable
- Moderately Durable
- Slightly Durable
- Not Durable
Essentially, all types of wood get divided into two types – Softwood and Hardwood. It is essential to distinguish which one of these you will need, before deciding on which strain of wood you would like to use. This decision will ensure your woodworking project success.
LET`S TAKE A HARD LOOK AT SOFTWOOD:
These aren`t weaker than Hardwoods. They come from coniferous trees such as Cedar, fir and pine and tend to be somewhat yellow or reddish. Most coniferous trees grow straight, so softwoods are generally less expensive than hardwoods. It`s also more porous, so it absorbs adhesives quickly, resulting in a better finish. However, it has typically low fire resistance.
PINE:
This variety of Softwood is straightforward to use, carve and drill. It is the most-used timber in woodworking craft projects. It has a light-yellow colour, and it is easy to stain. Once sealed, it generally takes the strain and bears loads quite well.
PINE IS IDEAL FOR:
- Construction Lumber Doors
- Cabinets
- Paneling
HOW PINE FINISHES:
It takes well to most finishes but needs to sealing first.
CEDAR:
This Softwood variety has a straight grain and is easy to use. It often has warm red tones in appearance and carries a faint, aromatic scent. It is highly resilient to insect and moth attacks, moisture and rotting.
CEDAR IS IDEAL FOR:
- Outdoor furniture
- Clothing cupboards
- Fenceposts
- Carvings
- Birdhouses
- Small wooden specialist items (such a jewelry box)
- Decks
HOW CEDAR FINISHES:
Using an oil finish on Cedar is recommended.
REDWOOD:
This variant of Softwood has a slightly reddish colour, paints well, is very resilient to moisture. It has a straight grain, and it makes it generally easy to use.
REDWOOD IS IDEAL FOR:
- Outdoor furniture
HOW REDWOOD FINISHES:
Mostly natural finish
CHERRY:
This Softwood is slightly more challenging to work with because it is moderately hard and has a faint grain. It is known to be a softer Hardwood.
CHERRY IS IDEAL FOR:
- Cabinets
- Architectural woodwork
- Furniture
- Concealing pipes
HOW CHERRY FINISHES:
Looks best with natural to light finishes
MAPLE:
This Softwood is available in a variety of hard and soft strains. It carries a faint grain and can be very stable. It is also not very porous and is easy to wipe clean.
MAPLE IS IDEAL FOR:
- Furniture
- Flooring
- Butcher Blocks
- Kitchen Furniture
- Any project that requires sturdiness
HOW MAPLE FINISHES:
It takes well to all types of finishes.
NOW, LET`S TAKE A HARD LOOK AT HARDWOOD:
Most woodworkers prefer working with hardwoods. The aforementioned is because Hardwood provides a greater variety of textures, colours and grain patterns. It is expensive to work with hardwoods. In general, they tend to be less likely to rot and decay and have a rougher wood texture with denser quality timber. It is best to be selective when working with Hardwood because not all strains are suitable for making furniture.
ASH:
This Hardwood is usually white to pale brown and has a straight grain. It tends to be heavier and more robust than other strains of timber and has a coarse texture. It is easy to work with, however, but it is harder to find.
ASH IS IDEAL FOR:
- Cricket & Baseball bats
- Hockey sticks
- Furniture
- Any project where curved wood is required
HOW ASH FINISHES:
Works well with most finishes
BIRCH:
This Hardwood is available in two varieties – yellow & white. It resembles maple and has a medium weight with a hard surface. It does not stain easily and gets blotchy, so it is best to repaint it.
BIRCH IS IDEAL FOR:
- Furniture
- Countertops
- Surfaces
HOW BIRCH FINISHES:
Takes well to all finishes
MAHOGANY:
This Hardwood variety has a reddish-brown to deep-red colour, which darkens over time. It has an interlocked, straight grain and a medium coarse texture. It can be costly and hard to find.
MAHOGANY IS IDEAL FOR:
- Furniture
- Sturdy constructions
- Decorative veneer surface
- Pattern making in woodwork
HOW MAHOGANY FINISHES:
Often does not need a finish, simply sanding sealer or a thin layer of oil.
OAK (White):
This Hardwood has as a strong grain figure, is hard and heavy and stains well. It is also resistant to moisture and takes preference in furniture making.
OAK IS IDEAL FOR:
- Outdoor furniture
- Flooring
HOW OAK FINISHES:
Natural finish or with oil, depending on the particular strain.
TEAK:
This Hardwood variety is scarce to find and is often costly. It is also very weather and moisture resistant, but it is also very hard on your tools because it is a durable wood. It has an oily feel and a golden-brown colour.
TEAK IS IDEAL FOR:
- Outdoor furniture
- Flooring
- Exterior construction
HOW TEAK FINISHES:
It is best to finish this wood with simple wood lacquer.
WALNUT:
This Hardwood variety has a rich brown colour and is very hard and very expensive. It works well where strong and stable wood is needed, and it also works well as accents or inlays to dress up a project. It also polishes very well.
WALNUT IS IDEAL FOR:
- Furniture
- Carving
- Cabinets
HOW WALNUT FINISHES:
Finish it off with an oil-based polyurethane.
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