There are 2 different types of natural woods: hardwoods and softwoods. This differentiation is biological and not actually due to the density of the wood. Hardwood comes from flowering trees such as Oak, Walnut and Cherry. Softwood comes from conifer or seed-bearing trees such as Pine, Spruce or Cedar. There is a third category of wood used for building furniture, engineered wood.
Each category comes with its own properties determining the pros and cons of using it for building furniture. Hardwood is typically more expensive because the trees grow slower. The wood is typically heavier. It is more durable and has a higher fire resistance. Softwood trees are a non-porous wood so they absorb adhesives quicker, resulting in a better finish. They are typically lighter in color with a lightweight structure. They have a lower fire resistance. Sobczak Woodworking and Welding typically uses the Oak and Walnut, hardwoods, and Pine and Cedar, softwoods.
Oak: Oak is the most commonly used hardwood for fine, durable furniture. Oak creates furniture that lasts for generations. It comes in red or white varieties. Red Oak has a rosier hue while White Oak leans more towards beige to brown. Oak has prominent annual rings accompanied with large pores. This combination creates a prominent grain allowing the Oak to stain well. Oak can also be painted; however, painting oak hides the beautiful, natural wood grain.
Oak Wood Grain
Walnut: Walnut is a strong, hard wood used in crafting furniture. Walnut is typically light to a dark chocolate color. It is a fine, straight-grained wood that stains nicely. As with oak, it is better to stain the wood to bring out the grain rather than hiding it by painting it.
Walnut Wood Grain
Pine: Pine is an economical, sustainable and durable wood. It has a uniform texture or grain with a creamy white or pale yellowish white color. The wood resists shrinking, swelling and warping. It can be painted or stained. It is best suited for indoor use unless it is treated. Treated wood is rot and pest resistant.
Pine Wood Grain
Cedar: Cedar is a light softwood that is reddish-brown in color. It is uniform in texture with an aromatic smell believed to repel insects. It is resistant to decay making it an ideal choice for outdoor projects.
Cedar Wood Grain
Engineered woods are manufactured wood products meaning they do not occur naturally. They are treated through a chemical or heat process. The three more popular types of engineered wood are Fiber Board, Plywood and Particle Board.
Fiber Board: Fiber board is created by combining broken down hardwoods and softwoods binding them with wax or resin. It is typically denser than plywood but not very moisture resistant.
Plywood: Plywood is made by adhering multiple layers of veneer together. Veneer is a thin layer of wood that is peeled from a tree and attached to an underlying layer. Plywood comes in a variety of thicknesses. It can be used treated, untreated, painted or stained.
Particle Board: Particle Board is waste wood product that is made by mixing sawdust with adhesives. Not only is its moisture resistance low, it can become unstable when directly exposed to moisture.
Please contact Sobzcak Wood Working and Welding for your hand crafted furniture needs.
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