Types of Wood for Woodworking

It is important to understand different wood types whether you want to use them for wood carving, furniture making, cabinetry, joinery, building houses, wood turning, or any other use. The three types of wood available are engineered wood, softwoods, and hardwoods. Knowing the characteristics of each and how they are used helps a woodworker to narrow them down depending on their projects.

• Engineered woods- These are manufactured woods and are often treated through heat processes or chemicals to meet desired qualities. An example is plywood.
• Softwoods- They are milled from trees that produce cones and have needles. The trees are known as conifer trees. An example is pine.
• Hardwoods- They come from deciduous trees. They produce leaves and seeds and have no cones or needles. An example is Walnut.

Types of Wood and Their Characteristics

Walnut

Walnut is a great wood for special projects. It is known for its rich brown and dark coloring. The fine-grained wood is easily stained and protected. It also looks magical once polished. It has dense fibers that enable it to withstand or absorb shock. It is an ideal wood for inlays, and accents to add extra details and appeals in a project.

Walnut is used for hardwood flooring, cabinets, gun making, and car manufacturing. It is also used for musical instruments such as violins and guitars. It is an economical choice of wood that produces clear tones for instruments.

Oak

Oak is available in two varieties; Red and white oak. Red oak has a reddish color and is a bit softer than white oak. Oak is used for building furniture, heirloom pieces, flooring, and cabinets. White oak is considered more attractive and thus commonly used for furniture. Red oak is preferred when building while white oak is used for hard flooring and outdoor furniture.

Oak is resistant to moisture, decay, and rot. Using proper sealing and treatment makes it perfect for outdoor applications. Notably, oak is also prone to shrinking and swelling depending on temperature and moisture conditions. Therefore, oak should acclimate in the shop before using it.

Cherry

Cherrywood has exceptional woodworking traits and comes from the black cherry fruit tree. It is stained and finished with ease. The wood color ranges from whiteish cream to reddish brown which deepens as it ages. Cherry wood has a straight grain which creates a smooth surface, great or a good finish.

Cherry wood workability and aesthetics are ideal for cabinetry, high-end furniture making, paneling, carvings, flooring, and crafting musical instruments.

Maple

Maple wood is a versatile and durable hardwood that comes in two varieties; red maple and sugar maple. Red maple is soft and, thus, popular with woodworking. Sugar male is hard and ideal for hardwood flooring due to its hard nature. Maple wood has an attractive straight grain that offers great stability.

Maple wood is resistant to splitting, non-toxic, and takes all finishes. It can also be cleaned using a damp cloth as it is resistant to moisture. It is an ideal wood for desks, kitchen furniture, tables, butcher blocks, and other furniture that is in constant use.

Elm

Elmwood comes in two species; hard and soft elm. The difference between them is the density.  Elm wood has an interlocking grain which gives the wood exceptional strength and durability. It is also resistant to splitting, moisture, pest infestation, and decay. It is an ideal wood for furniture as it withstands shock and bending.

Elm wood can be left in its natural state or stained. Either way, it can give your space a striking and warm charm. Elmwood is also capable of taking on various finishes with no issues. The wood is ideal for making outdoor furniture, cabinets, tables, chairs, dressers, musical instruments, carvings, detailed engravings, and flooring.

Myrtle

Myrtle wood has a distinctive and striking color and texture that makes a statement in spaces. It comes in a blonde to dark chocolate and radiant gold range. It has a typical straight grain but can also be wavy sometimes. Other than an aesthetic appeal, it is also sturdy and durable.

It is a sustainable wood, ideal for environmentally conscious projects. Its attractive nature and figure make it desirable for flooring, furniture, cabinets among other home and office projects.

The project at hand plays a major role in determining the type of wood to use. Understanding the characteristics and how each wood works is helpful for every project. The list of wood types here will help you determine the best for your intended project.