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Lumber is available in 2 main categories,
hardwood and softwood. Quite simply, hardwood is harvested from
any deciduous (leaf bearing) tree. While softwood is from
coniferous or needle producing trees. However a wood worker
also needs to decide if an engineered wood product like plywood
is better suited for the job.
We will demystify the these 3 classifications by taking a close
look at the 3 main choices a wood worker has to face when
buying project wood.
Hardwood
Looking at hardwoods first, it is important to remember that
these classifications really have no bearing on the true
hardness of the wood, not all hardwoods are "hard". Species
like poplar are much softer then pine even though poplar is
classified as a hardwood.
Some of the more common domestic hardwoods include, oak, maple,
birch and poplar although your choices certainly aren't limited
to these four. For exotic species there are too many to list
but teak, mahogany, rose wood and purple heart are just a
few.
Softwood
Softwoods on the other hand include species like spruce, fir,
pine and cedar and are often cheaper to buy then hardwoods.
This is mainly because softwood trees grow taller and
straighter than hardwood trees. This yields more lumber per
log. Along with the fact that most softwood is harvested
domestically it is the project wood of choice for most outdoor
projects and for many indoor ones as well.
How do you choose project wood?
There are a number of factors that need to be considered when
deciding which wood to use for what project. There are no set
rules stating what wood to use for an indoor or outdoor
project. Basically the characteristics of the species will
determine whether or not it will stand up to the punishing
conditions of the outdoors or if it better used indoors.
Both hardwood and softwood can be used for both indoor and
outdoor applications but some are more resistant to UV and
moisture then others. These are the ones that should be chosen
when being used outside.
These particular species have natural oils and resins that fill
the cells of the wood and provide, in some cases, very good
protection against rot and insects. Species like cedar for
example last for decades in direct contact with the ground
while spruce would be rotten in under 5 years.
Of course cedar is a softwood and is used a lot throughout the
furniture and house construction industry. However, some
hardwoods also have very good resistance to rot and insects.
Species like teak and mahogany are used a lot in the tropics
for boat construction, but since the cost of these exotic
hardwood species is so much in North America we tend to use
softwood in the outdoor applications.
Another important factor is whether or not you want you intend
to use a clear finish or paint to protect your project. Cedar
needs to be sealed to prevent oils from leaching through the
paint. Some species of hardwood like poplar and birch are great
for accepting paint but have a tendency to blotch when stain is
applied.
Dave Markel is the author of "The All Wood Working
Journal". He has helped hundreds of individuals improve
their wood working skills. Visit his site at
http://all-wood-working-plans.com
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