Different Woods for Different Woodworking Projects

Easy Guide for Your Woodworking Projects

Do you know what kind of wood to use in your planned woodworking project? Be careful of the wood you choose. There are numerous species and each has different characteristics, so you might never know which one will best work for you. Some may be too tough and some are too malleable.

Moreover, there are particular types that are best for cabinets, machineries, moldings, boat building and more. Some also easily finish and some don't.

Hardwoods

1) Mahogany

This is used for making highly-valuable woodwork projects such as cabinets, musical instruments, veneers and wood facings, patterns, and boat building. It has a reddish brown color and fine grains. It is so durable that it resists shrinking, warping and swelling.

2) Walnut

It is fine textured, easy to work with, and strong. It can end up being an excellent material for a quality woodworking project because of its “velvety natural colored sheen” when sanded.

3) Oak

It can resist moisture absorption, is durable and finishes well. It can be a bit heavy and strong but bends easily. It is used for more complex wood projects like outdoor furniture, trimming, baskets, boat framing, desks, chairs and flooring.

4) Maple

This type of wood can shrink moderately and has a fine texture. It usually defies denting and decay and doesn't split easily when screwed or nailed. Because of its unvarying color, it is best used when making first-rate woodworking projects such as woodenware and excellent furniture.

5) Cherry

This tree species is closely related to fruit bearing trees like plums, peaches, apricots and almonds. They belong to the Rocacea family. Aside from the edible fruit that cherry trees produce, it is also known for the fine-textured, shrink and warp-resistant lumber that reddens when exposed to sunlight.

Because of the lumber’s capacity to age well, it is commonly used in making woodworking projects such as cabinets, furniture handles, novelties and boat trims.

Softwoods

1) Pine

It is rather stiff, has uniform texture and is soft and light. It has “low resistance” to shock and easily glues and holds nails and screws as well. It is usually utilized in the construction of houses, paneling, caskets, crates, boxes, furniture and molding.

2) Redwood

Redwoods, also called sequoia trees, are huge evergreen trees that are known for their reddish brown trunks that can grow up to 100 ft. It has a buttressed base to support the conical tree. All of the sequoia species belong to the Taxodiaceae family.

Redwood lumbers are known to be durable, and naturally decay-resistant. That is why it is preferred to be used in woodworking projects such as building outdoor furniture as well as fencing and house sidings. It can also be used indoors for your indoor finishing, paneling and veneering.

3) Spruce

Spruce grows in the farther north, where it converges with the Arctic forest. It belongs to the Pinaceae family, together with cider, pine and fir. It has woody leaf bases and pendulous cones, its distinct characteristics.

The spruce lumber is resistant to decaying. It shrinks moderately too and has a nice finish. More so, it is lightweight. That is why it is ideal in spars and masts in boats and wooden parts in aircrafts, boxes/crates, and ladders.

4) Cedar

Cedar is closely related to the tree mentioned previously. However, there are unique features that draw the line between cedar and spruce. The wood produced from this tree species is naturally sweet in odor and reddish in color. It can easily be worked on. It is the ideal wood in chest-making, Venetian blinds, dock planks, shingles, linings in closet, and novelties.

5) Hemlock

"Non-resinous,” can defy low decay, light weight, uniformly textured. It can be glued without difficulty but can be a bit brittle. It is usually used for building construction, lumber, sidings, doors, paneling and sub flooring.

6) Fir

It has uniform texture and is “non-resinous.” It can also defy low decay. It is commonly used when making furniture frames, doors, windows, plywood, interior trims and veneer.

So, have you decided which one to use for your woodworking project? Take note that some types of woods may not be readily made available in your state not considering the fact that some nice ones come with a higher price. There are always alternatives and ways to cover up woods flaws so you can manage your woodworking projects in a breeze.