Choose the Right Wood for Project

A primary building and crafts material, wood offers strength, beauty or a combination of both.

Of the hundreds of wood species, only a few, mostly native softwoods, are used in the building trade. Wood from trees grown in managed forests is sold in home centers and lumberyards as dimension lumber (the size after planing or other surfacing), boards and manufactured products such as moldings and doors.

The hobbyist or furniture maker may use native woods as well as exotic woods from other countries. Available in forms such as boards and carving blocks, these woods are usually bought at specialty lumber dealers or through woodworking magazines and catalogs.

Hardwood and softwood are terms generally used to categorize wood, but they don’t always accurately describe a specific species. In fact, some softwoods, such as Douglas fir, are harder than some hardwoods, such as Philippine mahogany.

Softwoods come from coniferous, that is cone-bearing, trees, such as pine, cedar, hemlock, redwood and spruce. As a rule, softwoods are cheaper and easier to find than most hardwoods.

Softwood is used mainly for structural framing, scaffolding, flooring, siding, shingles, decking, concrete forms and many other construction uses. Some softwoods--such as sugar pine--are excellent for furniture and moldings. Lumberyards and home centers stock softwoods.

Hardwoods come from deciduous trees--those that seasonably shed their leaves, such as oak, birch and walnut. Hardwoods are generally stronger and longer-lasting than softwoods, but they cost more.

They have better surface-finishing properties, and they can be cut, joined and turned as successfully as softwoods provided you keep your tools razor-sharp. Not all hardwoods are available at lumberyards. Depending on the type, you may have to locate a special dealer by checking under lumber in the Yellow Pages.

Among common softwoods used around the home, eastern and western red cedars are highly decay-resistant. Eastern has a fine texture, good for use in chests and closets. The western’s coarse texture is more appropriate for shingles, moldings and doors. Both are fairly easy to work and finish well.

Douglas fir is used for residential framing and plywood veneer. It has a coarse texture and does not take paint readily.

Eastern white pine and sugar pine have a medium texture. They’re easy to work. The eastern variety is used for knotty paneling, and sugar pine finds use in doors, frames and window blinds.

Redwood is highly decay-resistant with medium texture. It finishes fairly well and is used for outdoor furniture, boards, joists and posts.

Among the common hardwoods, yellow birch is difficult to work but finishes well. It’s used for cabinets, cupboards, plywood veneer and doors.

Black cherry and true mahogany are fairly easy to work. Both are used for furniture, fine veneers and paneling. Philippine mahogany, also called lauan, finds use in lower-quality furniture and shelving. It’s easy to work but its finish may be blotchy.

Flooring and furniture are made with sugar maple. It’s difficult to work but it finishes well.

Red oak is ideal for flooring and sturdy furniture. White oak is also used for furniture and for furniture veneers. Both are fairly easy to work and finish well.

Teak is highly decay-resistant and is excellent for outdoor furniture, boats and veneering. Moderately easy to work, it finishes well.

Black walnut is also highly decay-resistant, easy to work and finishes well. It’s frequently used for fine cabinet work, furniture and decorative paneling.