The hardwood is the staple material of any woodworker who
is focused on making fine furniture or other such
woodworking projects. In this article we will look at a
number of different types of hardwood for woodworking
purposes. But what is important to remember is that not all
hardwoods are "hard" as wood such as poplar is much softer
than pine but is still classified as a hardwood.
However the more common types of hardwood that are used
include, oak, maple, birch and poplar, but certainly a
woodworker's choice is not just limited to these. There are
the more exotic species around as well such as teak,
mahogany, rose wood and purple heart. All hardwoods come
from deciduous or broad leaved trees and most of these trees
will lose their leaves in the winter months. With hardwoods
you also are offered a much wider variety of colors and
textures than you would get with the softwoods.
So now let us have a look at two of the more popular types
of hardwood that are used in woodworking.
1. Oak
This is certainly one of the most used of the hardwoods and
is available in 2 varieties, red and white. Not only is it
strong but it is easy to work with and the white oak is
preferred for furniture making. This is because it has a
more attractive figure than the red oak. It is also
resistant to moisture so is great for making furniture that
will be outdoors. Plus it is less expensive than most of the
other hardwoods such as cherry and the grain has a beautiful
"ray flake" pattern to it. You can easily purchase red oak
from your local home improvement center, but if you want
white then you will need to take a visit to your local
lumberyard.
2. Mahogany
This is great for making furniture with and has a reddish
brown to deep red tint to it. It is straight grained with a
medium texture and is able to take stain well. It looks
great when coated with 1 or even 10 coats of wood oil. But
there is one drawback to mahogany and that is that is not
being grown in sustainable forests. Unfortunately if you
want to get some mahogany forget about your local home
improvement store if you want some decent stuff then you
will need to go to a reputable lumberyard. There is also
another drawback to this hardwood and that is the price.
So as you can see there are many varieties of hardwood for
woodworking available, but it is all down to personal
preference as to which ones you choose to use.
