Want a masterclass on wood selection? Here it is with Glenn Whitehead of Annapolis Valley Woodworks.
So, you have your plans for your next project to hand or perhaps its still an idea bouncing around in your head. Or maybe you have a specific request from your partner and they want it done yesterday. A major step in planning your project is selecting the wood you want to use because it has a significant effect on the outcome, including the design and style, method of work, colour, strength ,and durability, and of course the cost. Let's take a look at some of the various woods available and what they can do for your project.
Softwood or Hardwood?
The terms “Hardwood” and “Softwood” have nothing to do with the hardness, density or weight of the wood. The names go far back in history and the meaning or the reason for their use in this case has been lost in the passage of time.
Softwood comes from coniferous trees like the pine, cedar or spruce and hardwood is from deciduous trees like the maple, oak or ash. It's a confusing designation, as for instance balsa, the softest wood ever measured and a wood commonly used in crafts and model making, is actually a hardwood. Having said that, hardwoods generally are stronger and less resistant to scratching and are harder wearing, softwood is lighter in colour and has a less conspicuous grain pattern.
Softwood(s)
Softwoods like fir, hemlock and spruce are generally used in construction with fir commonly used in plywood. Hemlock and Douglas Fir are often seen in joists, beams and trusses due to their strength and stiffness.
Pine
Pine however is more of a dual purpose wood in that it is regularly seen in construction, particularly doors, windows, trim and panelling as well as in cabinets and furniture. It is relatively inexpensive and combined with it's whitish to yellowish colour and brown knots, makes a good choice for rustic or farmhouse style furniture. It takes paint well so it's a good choice for children's furniture.
Cedar
Cedar has long been used in the construction industry due to its beauty, strength and durability. It flourishes in damp climates so it doesn't expand, shrink or decay which makes it an ideal choice for outdoor projects. Cedar is often used for the building of decks, fences and patio furniture as well as siding, roofing and interior panelling. The oil in cedar wood can control invading insects such as termites, ants and beetles.
Eastern Red Cedar's colour ranges from pinks to dark reds with the occasional band of cream and brown. Northern White Cedar varies from white to tan to brown. Cedar is easy to work with, cuts well and is easy on tool edges.
Hardwood(s)
Hardwood that grows naturally in North America is referred to as “domestic” whereas wood from other parts of the world is known as “exotic” wood. There is of course a broad range of exotics and of course are much more expensive than domestics so I won't get into them too much here. The domestic woods most often used in furniture making and wood working are oak, walnut, maple, cherry and ash so I will take a look at a few of those.
Oak
White oak and red oak are abundantly available in a wide range of widths and thicknesses in both flatsawn and quartersawn lumber. Flatsawn and quartersawn are methods of milling the timber with quartersawn generally producing a more dramatic grain pattern while flatsawn produces a straight grain pattern. White oak has a light to medium brown colour with a slight olive cast while red oak sometimes has a slightly red tinge to it.
Oak is easily workable with hand and machine tools and produces good results. It is susceptible to shrinking and expanding which should be taken into account when making joints. It stains, glues and finishes well.
Oak is commonly used in furniture, cabinets, flooring, interior trim and ornamental items. With it being beautiful, strong, easily workable, rot-resistant, readily available and relatively inexpensive it represents good value for wood working and furniture making.
Maple
Maple is very strong, durable, takes stain well and looks great. The sapwood has a light creamy colour while the heartwood ranges to a browny-reddish colour with a smooth grain pattern. There are many species of maple trees around the world but the maple most commonly used in North America is the Hard or Rock Maple and the Sugar Maple with the Sugar Maple also providing us with our maple syrup.
With its strength and durability comes the difficulty in working with it as it tends to dull hand and machine tool blades and is prone to chipping. Some of the most amazing grain patterns can be found in maple such as fiddleback, birds eye, curly or quilted.
Maple is a good choice for woodworking and furniture making due to its strength, beauty and durability however its being that it is a little more difficult to work with and tougher on tools should be taken into account. It's price is in the mid-range of domestic hardwoods but of course the figured grains are much rarer and more expensive.
Cherry
Freshly milled cherry has a light pink colour to it which darkens through the natural aging process to a rich, warm reddish brown. The grain is striking and can sometimes show up in a curly or quilted pattern. It is easy to work with, readily available and relatively inexpensive.
Cherry is easily the most popular wood among furniture makers and wood workers alike and I must say it is my favourite of all the woods I have worked with. It is used in fine furniture, musical instruments, carving, flooring, mouldings, doors and much more.
Conclusion
I have touched on a few of the woods available for furniture making and wood working and their relevant properties and characteristics but it all comes down to how you want your finished product to look and its purpose. Generally speaking as a guideline, pine for a rustic, farmhouse look, cedar for outdoor projects, oak for craftsman or mission style, maple for cabinets or shelving units and cherry for fine furniture. There is much to consider when selecting wood for your project and it pays to do your research but in the end, do what works best for you and make it your own.
Glenn lives and works in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia
Glenn is a business owner and runs Annapolis Valley Woodworks. Check him out here:
© 2023 Glenn Whitehead for The Project Garage
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