Wood for furniture (1 softwoods)
// November 7th, 2009 // wood
A visit to an well-stocked timberyard is an adventure! First, we will be impressed by the number of different types of wood available, and the variety of lengths and sizes in which it is presented. And then there is the olfactory experience – the variety of aromas exuded form woods is a pleasure in and of itself.
The different woods will be in two major categories: natural wood (direct from the tree) and man-made ‘wood’ (manufactured from by-products of wood from the tree).
Natural wood: This category is devided into two major groups: softwoods and hardwoods. when applied to wood, the terms ’soft’ and ‘hard’ are usually in relation to each other, but there are exeception. Balsa, for example, is physically probably one of the softest woods available commercially, but due to its make-up, it is scientifically classified as a hardwood. Balsa is a light wood, both in weight and in colour, and has very little structural strength. It is not used for furniture making, but mainly in the construction of model aeroplanes and othe such projects. At the other end of the scale are hardwoods, such as teak and ironwood, which are amazingly strong, hard and durable.
Softwoods : are harvested from trees that take about 20-25 years to mature, the most prolific wood in this category comes from the family of trees known collectively as pine. Pine is available almost all over the world and still relatively inexpensive. The trees grow tall and straight, a characterictic which, in year gone by, made them suitable for the masts of sailing vessels as well as large constructions beams. Their long, uninterrupted growth makes pine tress perfect for use in the furniture and building industries.
Cedar : generally the colour of liquid honey, most varieties of cedar are aromatic and have a straight, clearly defined grain. Western red cedar is often used in the construction of houses and joinery, while cedar of Lebanon is a popular choice for cabinet-making as its chemical make-up deters insects. Many varieties in the cedar family are not particularly strong, but they are very durable.
Oregon pine (Oregon cedar, Douglas fir) : is a popular wood used in country-style furniture. it is easy to work, has a pacticularly attractive grain and a lovely brown-yellow colour. This wood giver off a pleasant aroma when being worked.
Pine (all varieties) : is generally a clean white or creamy yellow colour. It is easy to work, is in plentiful supply and is therefore usually inexpensive. Pine can be obtained in a variety of sizes, but good-quality, solid boards are not easy to come by. When selecting pine for furniture making, watch out for knots as they can be a feature or a problem. Knots in timber are caused by the growth of a branch out of the trunk and if they are ‘dead’ they can fall out of the board(literally), but if they are ‘live’ they can be very attractive feature in the finished product.
