Starting with the fundamentals for the novice woodworker, wood comes from trees, however there are couple of additional basic details. You may possibly know of two unique types referred to as Hardwoods and Softwoods. The peculiar point is actually that all hardwoods do not happen to be hard, and to add more to the bafflement not all softwoods are soft. Truth is some hardwood is softer than some softwood!
For example just take the preferred wood widely used to build model boats and airplanes, Balsa wood. It is one of the softest and lightest variety of wood available, but not the absolute lightest. Pound for pound, however, it is remarkably strong for its weight. Balsa is a hardwood.
The Yew tree provides an extremely hard kind of wood. Actually Yew is undoubtedly as hard a wood as one of the hardest hardwood, however, Yew is a softwood.
Perhaps you are asking yourself just how or where these puzzling terms originate. Well, Hardwood comes from broad-leafed trees and Softwood is related with fir trees.
Common Hardwoods being used in do-it-yourself and construction projects consist of Oak, Ash, Teak, Birch, and Mahogany.
Oak wood has great strength and hardness, and is very resistant to insect and fungal attack. Today oak wood is commonly used for furniture making, flooring, timber frame buildings, and for veneer production. It is a popular choice material amongst professional carpenters & joiners. Novice do-it-yourself woodworking project enthusiasts should avoid working with Oak wood since it is an incredibly tough wood.
On the other hand, Ash is a hard, strong and elastic wood, which is why it is extensively used for handles and sports equipment. Ash veneers (thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that are typically glued onto core panels (typically, wood particle board or medium-density fiberboard) are commonly used in the construction of office furniture as oppose as Birch veneers which is quite popular in the making of home furnishings and musical instruments.
Teak is a hard and durable kind of wood closely associated with the making of furniture, floors, doors and, window frames. Because of our awareness of the importance of sustaining natural resources, Iroko (African Teak) wood, being a more sustainable resource, has largely replaced teak. Iroko color is initially yellow but darkens to a richer brown over time. It is a very durable wood; Iroko does not require regular treatment with oil or varnish when used outdoors. Although it is almost as durable as teak it does not have the same stability.
Birch wood is fine-grained and pale in color, often with an attractive satin-like sheen. Birch wood is suitable for veneer, and birch ply is among the strongest and most dimensionally-stable plywood, although it is unsuitable for exterior use. Birch ply is made from lamination of birch veneer. It is light but strong and has many other good properties. Birch ply is used to make long boards (skateboard), giving it a strong yet flexible ride.
Mahogany wood is a richly colored material that is among the more valuable wood species in the world. It is known for its unique pink coloring, which develops into a deep reddish-brown as the wood ages. Unlike alternative wood products such as oak or pine, mahogany wood features very few knots or voids. This gives the wood a smooth, even grain pattern, which makes it ideal for fine furnishings and wood craft.
Of the Softwoods, Pine, because of long lasting, fast growing, and fairly low-priced character is without question largely in use. In fact, it is frequently used and directly linked with diversified product categories such as furniture, window frames, paneling, flooring, cabinet building etc.
Spruce is one of the most important woods for paper manufacture, as it has long wood fibers which bind together to make strong paper. Spruce wood, often called whitewood, is used for many purposes, ranging from general construction work and crates to highly specialized uses in wooden aircraft and many musical instruments, including guitars, mandolins, cellos, violins, and the soundboard at the heart of a piano. Because this species has no insect or decay resistance qualities after logging, it is generally recommended for construction purposes as indoor use only (ex. indoor drywall framing). This wood, when left outside can not be expected to last more than 12–18 months depending on the type of climate it is exposed to. It is commonly referred to by several different names which include North American timber, SPF (spruce, pine, fir) and whitewood.
Larch is a wood valued for its tough, waterproof and durable qualities; top quality knot-free timber is in great demand for building yachts and other small boats, for exterior cladding of buildings and interior paneling. The timber is resistant to rot when in contact with the ground, and is suitable for use as posts and in fencing. In central Europe Larch is viewed as one of the best wood materials for the building of residences.
Lastly keep in mind that wood is offered in a variety of dimensions and types (boards, planks, sheets etc) to fit specific purposes. Therefore comprehending the particular features of the different woods available will certainly guide you through making the right choice for your woodworking project.