The softest wood. The hardest wood species: properties of wood, secrets of use
By looking at a growing tree, it is quite easy to determine its species. But what kind of wood lumber is made from is much more difficult to understand.
Wood is a natural product, so no material is completely similar to each other and without defects. All types have knots, cracks, and knots. Often they do not affect the quality of the material.
The strength of wood is important for its use in building structures. But basically the choice depends on the taste of the owner of the future home. The thicker the log, the warmer the house will be. To choose the right material, you should pay attention to wood with a high quality class.
A few words about different types of wood:
What is assortment
There are GOST standards for all types of wood that describe the requirements for them. In Russia, GOST 8486-86 has been adopted, and in Europe, wood is divided into 4 grades A, B, C, D. In the construction market, wood of the second grade and class B is more in demand. Class A is mainly intended for the manufacture of furniture.
The assortment depends on the presence of defects:
- 1st grade has high quality. Recommended for use in construction where high strength, rigidity and presentable appearance are required;
- 2nd grade recommended for general construction purposes where appearance is not very important;
- 3rd grade Suitable for economical construction. It has good strength, but many different defects. Used for fastening rafters, for fixing, blocking - wherever strength and appearance are not important;
- 4th grade used for the manufacture of containers and various packaging products.
How to determine the type of wood
The quality of lumber depends on the type of wood. To determine the breed, you need to know the main characteristics and differences. Each type of wood has external characteristics that make it easy to distinguish. To do this, consider the cross section of the felled tree.
Each type and species has an individual structure that creates unique physical properties. They determine the suitability of wood for various purposes. The most common means of material identification among carpenters is visual. Many experienced specialists, who know the differences and properties of species, determine the quality “by eye” and understand what kind of wood lumber is made from.
But often it is impossible to accurately identify the species based on these characteristics, since the tree has amazing variability. Due to many natural conditions, it changes so much that it is impossible to visually determine the type of lumber with an accuracy of one hundred percent.
Reliable information can only be obtained using special tests. To determine accuracy, take a small sample of wood, since larger sizes are more difficult to conduct tests.
The photo shows the wood species
Valuable
Valuable wood is very popular, despite its high cost. This is a practical and beautiful material with unique properties.
Among the variety of valuable species, the following should be highlighted:
- Oak. It makes a beautiful and durable material. very pliable and bends well.
- Its texture is similar to oak, but its wood is of a lighter shade. If dried incorrectly, it may become slightly deformed.
- also refers to hard rock species. The beech is steamed before use. This is a very clean, odorless material. Therefore, wooden toys made of beech are highly valued. It is suitable for making countertops.
Conifers
Conifers have soft wood except for . They have higher specific rigidity and strength in compression and static bending.
In coniferous wood (,), the cells are mainly of the same type, so the material is more homogeneous in structure. When examined under a microscope, it is clear that old cells are very thick-walled, while those formed this season have thin walls and more resin passages. Therefore, the width of the ring is not so important. The more old rings, the higher the quality.
The formation of rings is greatly influenced by the location where the tree grew. If its growth was moderate, its strength increases. The mechanical properties of coniferous wood are very high, so it is often used as construction and structural wood, after undergoing special processing.
How to determine the quality and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 grade of softwood lumber by GOST 26002-83:
Soft
You can recognize soft rocks by their clearly defined light tones. To improve the properties of soft rocks, they are treated with special means. Such material is invaluable in carpentry. This can be safely included.
Softwood has been used since Roman times to make household and agricultural tools. Traditionally, it was stained in water to enhance its strength. Wood carvers love it very much, as it is a very pliable material. It is not suitable for construction.
Solid
Hardwoods are more valuable. With their help, they create reliable structures that require high strength. High natural characteristics prevent warping. The standard of hardness is oak. Solid wood is not afraid of mechanical loads and does not change its shape under their influence.
But houses are not usually built from oak, since it is very expensive wood. If there are abnormal color changes, it indicates a painful condition. As a result of the disease, the wood loses its strength.
Deciduous
The structure of hardwood is more complex. When considering it, it is customary to divide the material into two classes: ring-porous and diffuse-porous. In some cases, the differences are too small to see without a magnifying glass. The most common are, and.
Deciduous trees have a large core diameter. It is usually much darker than the sapwood. But sometimes, due to growing conditions, there is almost no difference in color, which leads to confusion. Deciduous wood has patterns of varying expressiveness. These could be rings or stripes. Detailed standards for tolerance of defects in deciduous wood are specified in GOST 7897-62.
Exotic woods
The popularity of exotic hardwoods is due to their aesthetic properties. They have a beautiful texture and rich saturated colors. Their strength characteristics and unique properties are of great importance.
Of particular commercial value are:
- Wenge. Grows in Africa in tropical jungles. Furniture, parquet, and veneer for decorative door coverings are made from solid Wenge. They create overlays for guitar necks and knife handles. Wenge-finished floors are surprisingly durable.
- Ebony. Trees with black wood grow in Africa, Indochina and Hindustan. The wood is very heavy. A square meter of Ebony parquet costs approximately 50 thousand US dollars. Wood has unique properties; it absorbs sound waves, which allows it to contribute to reducing noise in buildings.
- Iron tree. Grows in Asian countries. This hard and very durable wood is used to make machine parts. That's why they call it iron. These species include Boxwood, Casuarina, Parrotia persica, Quebracho and others. Quebracho means "break the axe" in Spanish. In our country, an iron tree also grows - Schmidt birch. It has a strength one and a half times greater than cast iron.
It is extremely difficult to buy materials from exotic rocks. Due to their small numbers, they are under state protection.
In construction, thanks to the competent selection of forest products, any building will be of high quality and durability. Therefore, preference should be given only to high-quality wood.
Illustration:
The hardness of wood depends mainly on the type of wood. In this article, we will look at different types of wood and find out which wood is harder than others.
The hardness of timber is its ability to resist the penetration of harder bodies, for example, nails and screws.
The hardness of wood varies in different cutting directions. The following types of hardness are distinguished:
- end This type of hardness is determined by pressing a metal rod, which has a hemispherical end with a diameter of 11.28 mm. The rod is pressed to a radius depth of 5.64 mm gradually over 2 minutes. The size of the print is 1 square centimeter and therefore hardness is measured in kg/cm2
- radial
- tangential
The lateral hardness of coniferous varieties of timber is most often 40% lower than the end hardness, and for deciduous varieties it is approximately 30%. The tangential type of hardness, for example, of oak, beech or elm timber is almost 5-10% higher than the end hardness. Most types of wood have approximately the same tangential and radial hardness.
In order to create a high-quality product from wood, it is necessary to determine the hardness of the type of wood used. Most often, the Brinell method is used to determine hardness. The meaning of this method is to press a metal ball with a diameter of 10 mm into the surface of the workpiece with a force of 100 kg. The hardness value is determined by the type of deformation and the diameter of the resulting depression.
In addition, experienced craftsmen must take into account changes in hardness that may occur while working with workpieces. For example, the hardness of timber varies depending on the type of cut.
The hardest wood is from the jatoba tree, which grows in the tropical rainforests of South and Central America. The hardness of the wood of this tree is 7 points on the Brinell scale. The timber is quite light in color, with grayish sapwood. In this case, the core is colored red, red-brown or dark orange. The cut of the trunk becomes darker over the course of 6-7 days, after which it acquires a brick-red color. The tree grows up to 40 meters in height. Furniture, parquet, as well as decorative elements for interior decoration are made from timber.
Sucupira takes second place in the hardness ranking. It has a hardness rating of 5.6. This tree grows exclusively in the Amazon rainforest. A mature tree is about 30 meters high. In the center of the trunk there is red-brown “dull” wood. Towards the edges the wood becomes lighter and whitish. When cut, yellow stripes of parenchymal matter are clearly visible. The texture of such timber is quite unique. Due to the large amount of oily substances found in wood, the products are resistant to attack by wood-boring beetles and microorganisms. Floor boards, parquet boards and furniture are made from such wood. Timber is very difficult to saw, but can be sanded and polished well.
The hardness of Amazonian yarra is almost 6 points; it grows in South America. The wood is dark red or plum colored at the heartwood. The sapwood has a light yellowish or brown tint. The timber of this tree becomes darker when exposed to humidity and air access. Amazonian yarra is difficult to process, but it polishes and bends well. Boats and buildings are built from this material, various pieces of furniture and souvenirs are created.
In the tropical rainforests of West Africa, the mutiny tree grows, reaching 60 m in height. Its hardness level is 5 points. Muthenia timber is brown in color, very similar to walnut, olive with a brownish tint. The unique attractiveness of the wood is given by the “rays” of violet color. This wood is used to make floor boards, furniture and interior decoration elements.
European walnut or walnut grows in southern Europe and Asia Minor. The hardness of this wood is also 5 points. Walnut is an expensive wood and is highly valued by lovers of natural materials. The structure of the fibers is smooth and parallel, sometimes wavy curvatures are observed. Wood is used to make expensive furniture, parquet and veneer, as well as souvenirs. Finished products are infested with wood borer beetles.
Merbau timber has a hardness of 4.9 on the Brinell scale. This tree grows in the humid tropics of Papua and New Guinea, as well as in the forests of southeast Asia. The tree grows up to 30 meters. The timber is quite dense; one cubic meter of such material weighs about 800 kg. The core has a light orange or yellow tint. The sapwood is light yellow in color. The wood becomes darker over time, acquiring a bronze or brown tint, with a silvery tint. The wood has an attractive texture due to the presence of straight and sinuous grains. Merbau is not afraid of humidity, it can be used in bathrooms.
Ash has a hardness rating of about 4. It is very common in Europe and Asia, as well as in America. A mature tree reaches over 35 m in height. Timber from young trunks is uniform, light, slightly grayish. And mature trees have a brown, brown core color. Several species of ash are distinguished by their reddish heartwood. The structure of the wood is similar to oak. The growth rings stand out well; they form a striped pattern. These timbers are used to make boards of various sizes, plywood sheets, furniture, and veneer. Several centuries ago, weapons, hunting tools, and catapults were made from ash.
The hardness of oak reaches 3.8 points. There are about 600 species of this tree. Timber does not rot under the influence of moisture. Wood of white, yellowish shades. The growth rings are well defined. The sapwood is lighter in color than the heartwood. An oak tree that has lain for a couple of centuries at the bottom of a reservoir does not rot or decompose. On the contrary, it becomes more durable and hard, acquiring a dark brown tint. Oak is a fairly valuable species. Oak barrels and vehicle parts made from this material are very popular.
Of the coniferous timber, the hardest is larch. Its hardness is 2.6 points on the Brinell scale. The wood has a dark red core. The sapwood is a lighter yellowish-red color. The sapwood is separated from the core by a clear boundary. Buildings made from such wood do not rot for hundreds of years. Larch wood has high viscosity, so it is processed slowly. The action of moisture only increases the hardness of wood. Soaked timber can be compared to stone in hardness.
Breed name |
Density, kg/m 3 |
Hardness (Brinell coefficient) |
Color |
Properties |
Acacia |
sapwood is light brown, heartwood is red-brown with black veins |
There are many types of acacia, which are used in the production of parquet, furniture, household items, musical instruments (guitars), gun stocks |
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Amaranth |
purple, violet-red (solid) |
grows in Central and South America; amaranth is valued for its rich purple (violet) color; supplies to the Russian market are extremely limited |
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Afromosia |
yellowish-brown (brown-golden), with dark veins |
beautiful, decorative breed; afrormosia is often used as insert elements for mosaic floors |
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Balau (Bangkirai) |
from light brown to dark brown with a reddish tint |
grows in Southeast Asia; the pattern is barely visible; wood is practically not subject to rotting; used as decking boards, bathroom floors, garden furniture |
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Bamboo |
golden-straw, alternating with darker transverse stripes at the locations of the stem nodes |
woody bamboo stem has all the properties of high-quality hardwood |
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Karelian birch |
light yellowish with darker wavy tints |
Karelian birch is a completely unique tree with a pattern reminiscent of marble; many wavy tints of light yellow shades with dark stripes, in a word, it is a must see; parquet and furniture made of Karelian birch look amazing, but the material is very rare and expensive |
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Black birch |
delicate color palette: dark rays like river beds cut into the yellow gold texture |
parquet made from this type of wood will be “catchy”, which must be taken into account when choosing an interior; The solid wood of this wood does not have high density and hardness, therefore it should not be used in rooms with very high loads |
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Bilinga |
golden yellow to orange red |
Bilinga grows in equatorial Africa; wood is extremely resistant to moisture, rot, and pests due to the high content of tannins and natural oils; Bilinga furniture and parquet are highly valued for their golden color and pleasant wood texture |
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Bubinga |
red-brown |
Bubinga is a rare African tree with an uneven fibrous texture; the beauty of wood appears after coating; supplies to our market are very rare |
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light, with a reddish tint |
due to the homogeneous structure of the wood, the beech floor visually looks calm, warm, even soft, although beech is a hard, durable wood; beech can be processed well with cutting tools and can be sanded well |
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Wenge |
large, even-grained, very decorative breed; heavy, resistant to pressure, bending; the pores of wenge wood contain many mineral and oily substances that make processing difficult, for example, varnishing |
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Cherry |
pink-brown, sometimes pink-gray |
even-grained wood with a relatively uniform texture; very decorative, has a beautiful warm shade, but darkens over time; cherry is significantly softer than oak and lends itself well to all types of processing |
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gray-brown to dark brown with red streaks |
elm is widespread in North America and Europe; the growth rings of the wood are clearly pronounced, due to which the elm is considered one of the most beautiful European species; Furniture, household items, and paper are made from elm |
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Goncalo (tiger tree) |
very unusual, extremely decorative wood with sharp transitions from light to dark tones (like the stripes of a tiger, which is why it is called tiger wood) |
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Hornbeam |
shiny, pearly white (or the color of melting snow), with thin sandy threads |
hornbeam is a relative of birch; it has twisted fibers (curls), which interferes with its processing; growth rings are poorly expressed; wood is heavy, sticky |
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Hickory (hickory, pecan) |
brown, with harmoniously alternating light and dark areas |
strong, resilient wood; tolerates large temperature changes; in the old days it was used for the production of wheels |
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Pear |
has a pinkish tint |
the texture of the wood is thin, the pores and pattern of annual rings are poorly expressed; strong tendency to warp, so drying must be done fairly slowly |
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Daru |
golden beige or golden pink |
Daru wood has a pleasant, persistent odor, especially when cut |
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Doussia (dussia) |
red-brown or yellowish-brown |
very decorative breed; Doussia contains a significant amount of oily substances, which must be taken into account when choosing varnishes; sands and polishes well; resistant to external influences |
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light brown to yellowish brown with a beautiful cut texture |
wood is widely used to make parquet and plank floors; strong, durable, weather-resistant wood; dries relatively slowly, with accelerated drying it is prone to cracking; Over time, the oak darkens a little, which gives a touch of noble antiquity to something that has been in use for a long time |
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Zebrano |
pronounced double color: against the general background from gray-brown to yellow-brown, frequent dark brown stripes located in the longitudinal direction stand out clearly |
the breed is decorative; sands and polishes well; the covering of this species is bright, sunny, energetic, and got its name due to its stripes, just like a zebra's :) deliveries to Russia are made in extremely limited quantities, since the tree is on the verge of extinction |
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Iroko (to brute) |
yellowish brown |
the breed is resistant to microclimate changes and various pests; Iroko is often used as a substitute for teak, as it is extremely resistant to moisture |
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Chestnut |
sapwood - light, heartwood - dark brown |
chestnut is distributed throughout Europe; the texture of the wood is reminiscent of oak, with clear thin growth rings; however, in terms of physical and mechanical properties, chestnut is significantly inferior to oak |
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Kekatong |
pink-brown, with lilac-red streaks; the pattern resembles a walnut |
a rare type of wood that has high hardness and stability; is not afraid of moisture, therefore it is often used as decking and terrace boards |
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Kempas |
bright, golden-reddish to dark orange |
uniform, dense wood, quite heavy, hard; low resistance to deformation when exposed to moisture |
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Keranji |
golden orange to red |
kerangi grows on the coast of the Indian Ocean; the texture of the wood is wavy-striped, quite brightly expressed, the surface is shiny, thanks to which very beautiful parquet and furniture are made from kerangi |
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Maple |
white, sometimes with a slightly yellowish tint; turns yellow over time |
maple is an exquisite material for interior decoration, creating an emphatically contrasting light background for dark furniture; maple is prone to cracking, so it requires careful adherence to the drying regime |
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Cocobolo |
sapwood - light, heartwood - orange-red to red-brown |
an exotic wood species that grows along the Pacific coast; has a unique texture - many wavy black lines on a burgundy or dark red background; used for making furniture, parquet, musical instruments (drum, guitar), figurines, billiard cues, etc. |
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Coconut palm |
from orange-red to dark brown - the older the tree, the darker |
coconut wood is all dotted with small dark veins, which gives it an original appearance (it looks like it is covered with wool); important feature - the darker the coconut wood, the higher its quality |
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Kulim |
red-brown to dark purple |
grows in the forests of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia; the texture of kulim wood is moderately smooth with smooth transitions from light to darker tones; good for carpentry |
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Kumara |
golden brown with dark, slightly wavy longitudinal veins |
finely porous, very dense wood; resistance to external influences - high; Due to its beautiful appearance, it can be used to cover garden paths, pool areas, gazebos, etc. |
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Kumier (Kumie) |
golden red to red brown |
Kumier grows in Southeast Asia, its properties are similar to kempas, and has a pronounced texture; used, as a rule, in the form of inlays in artistic parquet |
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Lapacho (ipe) |
olive-gray, in places with alternating light and dark areas; gets darker over time |
heavy, durable wood, contains oily substances; lapacho is easy to dry, but has significant susceptibility to warping |
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Merbau |
brown, from light to dark brown, interspersed with yellow streaks in places |
very hard wood, resistant to moisture, does not dry out much; merbau is used, for example, for constructing decks and finishing rooms on ships and yachts; in parquet floors, merbau goes well with oak |
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Turmoil |
pale coffee to olive brown with bright lilac rays |
Mutinia seems to be specially created to become parquet or furniture: shiny, spectacular |
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Olive |
yellow-white, sometimes with a reddish tint, with characteristic irregular dark rays |
fine texture; a very decorative, dense rock that is not very susceptible to drying out; olive sands well and gives a beautiful smooth surface |
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Alder |
low |
golden pink |
wood deforms little when dried, making parquet made from it stable to changes in humidity; alder is not too hard, has a fine structure |
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Nut |
brown-gray, with darker flecks |
The breed is very decorative and has long been widely used for interior decoration and furniture making; the nut is relatively hard, but quite easy to process; walnut is resistant to deformation and cracking during drying |
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African padauk |
bright coral red |
Paduk has aesthetic value |
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Rosewood |
dark brown, with a purple or lilac tint, as well as individual inclusions of pink, yellow and even greenish |
Rosewood wood contains a lot of oily substances; It is believed that rosewood has a special positive energy; Drying rosewood involves significant difficulties, because when this process accelerates, intense cracking occurs |
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Panga-Panga |
golden brown to very dark brown with black streaks |
large, even-grained wood, very decorative; heavy, resistant to pressure, bending; the pores of wood contain many mineral and oily substances that make processing difficult, for example, varnishing |
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Pinkado |
reddish brown with dark brown to violet brown streaks |
the wood is fine-fiber, intertwined, dense, as a result of which it is quite resistant to deformation; Pinkado does not prick and does not delaminate during processing |
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Sapele |
red-brown, with a beautiful golden sheen |
very decorative wood; sapele lends itself well to grinding and polishing |
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Sucupira |
chocolate-raspberry, mottled with ocher yellow veins |
wood is difficult to process, but easily sanded and polished |
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Tauari (Brazilian oak) |
light straw with a yellow tint |
wood is resistant, durable; Tauari is used to make parquet, decorative furniture parts, and musical instruments; The smooth pattern of solid tauari boards is ideal for finishing floors in bedrooms |
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Tiger tree (gonkalo) |
brown, dark brown irregular stripes, oblong spots on an overall beige or yellowish-orange background |
Tigerwood wood is very decorative and impressive |
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golden brown with dark flecks or areas |
teak texture is well defined, the grain direction is smooth or slightly wavy; has a high content of oily substances, therefore it practically does not rot and can be preserved under favorable conditions for hundreds of years; teak lends itself well to all types of mechanical processing; teak is very resistant to loads and external influences, therefore it has long been used in shipbuilding |
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dark brown with darker veins |
very dense and heavy wood, wear resistance is extremely high, which is why the wood is difficult to sand; but, at the same time, carpentry processing is not such a difficult process; usually used as inlay in artistic parquet |
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Eben |
glossy black with lighter dark gray longitudinal veins |
wood is very decorative and impressive, especially when well polished |
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Yarra |
all shades of red, mainly from strawberry to dark red |
the wood is very hard, durable, resistant to all types of pests; Yarra is difficult to process, but can be ground and polished well; when drying quickly, the wood warps, twisting in the direction of the fibers, so the drying process of the material must be strictly monitored |
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Ash |
light, slightly yellowish, with a well-defined characteristic texture pattern on the cut |
Ash is harder than oak, but it is also very elastic, which is why it is often used for sports facilities; ash lends itself well to mechanical processing; wood is prone to cracking, so drying should be done slowly and thoroughly |
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Jatoba (kurbaril) |
orange-brown to purple and dark brown |
the wood is heavy, durable, hard, and at the same time relatively elastic; Jatoba is difficult to process, but can be ground and polished to an almost mirror-like shine; when sanding, in some cases the color of the wood pores may appear from almost white to yellowish lemon; drying should be carried out slowly enough to avoid cracking |
In the fields of construction and manufacturing, traditional consumables are being replaced by technologically advanced plastics in various designs. They are distinguished by high technical and physical qualities, which allows them to confidently replace wood and even metal. However, wood raw materials have many advantages due to low purchasing costs and environmental friendliness. The weak point of this material is considered to be strength. To increase this indicator, manufacturers use special processing methods to increase rigidity, density and, in general, resistance to mechanical damage. However, hardwoods initially have these properties, often eliminating the need for special heat treatments.
Features of hardwood
Typically, the quality of such rocks is assessed by three indicators - density, Brinnell hardness and cross-cut rigidity. On average, the density of such wood is about 1200-1400 kg/m3. As for the Brinnell hardness, this value can reach 3.5 kgf/mm 2, and the cross-cut rigidity can be 80 MPa. Again, these indicators are typical for trees familiar to Russian conditions, and exotic species can have significantly superior characteristics. What types of wood are classified as hardwood in the temperate zone? Usually oak, beech, ash and some types of hornbeam are distinguished. It is important to consider that along with the positive quality of hardness, such trees also have negative properties. It has already been said that in order to improve its performance qualities, lumber can be subjected to additional processing. Sometimes hard wood is subjected to similar operations to obtain special physical characteristics. And here a serious problem arises, since many rocks, due to their high density, do not tolerate the processes of grinding, impregnation, and especially drying. Cracks, chips and other manifestations of structural deformation often form.
Classifications of hardwoods
There are species that grow in the temperate zone and exotic trees. There is also a classification into deciduous and coniferous species. Although most hardwoods are still classified as deciduous, among the needles there are also varieties with increased characteristics of density and rigidity. As for the temperate zone species, these include maple, boxwood, briar and the aforementioned hornbeam. Coniferous hardwoods are also the most common here. Which of them have the most pronounced hardness indicators? In this case, larch, yew, juniper and lawson deserve attention. There are also hardwoods among the usual fruit trees - forest apple, wood sorrel, pear, rowan and some types of walnut stand out in this category. As for exotic rocks, they demonstrate the highest levels of hardness and density. Here, red and lemon eucalyptus, etc. are of particular interest. Now it is worth considering in more detail the hardest tree species.
Red tree
In Russia, this breed is the most popular, as it can be purchased freely. This is a tropical tree, which is characterized by high hardness, as well as an original cut texture. Freshly sawn wood has a yellowish-red tint, but over time it gives way to darker tones, which gives the material a noble appearance. Accordingly, the consumer appreciates not only the technical, but also the decorative properties of this tree. It should be noted that from the point of view of pronounced decorative qualities, hardwoods also include backwood and boxwood. Moreover, these rocks are used not only as finishing materials, but can also replace individual decorative parts in jewelry and technical devices. But mahogany is also distinguished by its ease of mechanical processing. The density of this rock is not so high compared to many hard materials of tropical origin, so this raw material is in great demand in furniture factories.
iron tree
If heavy-duty plastics can replace iron due to their strength, then this breed is not only capable of taking the place of a mechanically resistant element in some areas, but at the same time meeting increased requirements in terms of environmental sustainability. The concept of ironwood includes a whole group of species that mainly grow in the countries of the Asian region and in Australia. The classic representative of the group is the Persian parrotia. This species is common in relict forests, where local residents have been making handles for knives and axes from it since ancient times. Today, “iron” hardwood is protected by UNESCO. This breed, in particular, has aesthetic value, which causes great interest in it from the market.
Merbau
This is not the hardest, but judging by the combination of other performance qualities, it can be said to be the most practical breed. Previously used in the construction of sea vessels. This is due to the fact that the material is resistant to moisture and also does not dry out. Therefore, merbau can be stored for a long time, after which it can be subjected to heat treatments and used in construction. As already noted, trees belonging to hard wood species, such as hornbeam or beech, practically do not tolerate additional processing. But merbau steadfastly endures traditional methods of influence in order to improve individual performance qualities.
White acacia
The hardest rock in Russia, which is valued not only for its strength, but also for its resistance to biological destruction processes. In addition, acacia of this type is highly polished and does not crack during long-term use. If preventive treatment measures are followed, the wood is also not subject to minor mechanical damage. By the way, in terms of technical characteristics, this type is superior to such hard wood species as oak and ash.
Lignum vitae
The hardness of this wood is one of the highest in the world. Suffice it to say that the material optimally copes with its tasks when used in the form of bearings, bushings and brackets. In the navy, wood of this species was often used as deck material. But backout lumber is valued for other reasons as well. It is not susceptible to deformation processes under the influence of third-party negative factors. These can be both chemical and physical influences that do not have a destructive effect on the structure. There are other hardwoods that also exhibit resistance to extreme loads. But the unique quality of backout is its balanced combination of large mass and density.
Application of hard wood
Most of this material is used in construction. Wood in one form or another can be used both as a base for structures and as finishing. Certain rocks are also used in the fields of mechanical and instrument making. They are used to make individual functional elements with the expectation of long-term use - and these can be temporary consumables or durable parts of structures. These are the main, but not all, areas in which high-strength wood species are used. Soft, hard, and medium-density rocks can also be used for medical purposes. In this case, hardness is not so important. The fact is that many exotic breeds contain resins that are unique in their qualities. The preparation of medicinal mixtures for internal and external use, in particular, makes it possible to combat diseases of the joints, respiratory organs, etc.
Conclusion
Manufacturers of building materials are well aware of the rule that increasing one technical and operational property almost always entails minimizing other qualities. In part, this law also applies to hard wood, which in some respects is inferior to soft wood. The processes of biological destruction, physical deformation, and texture distortion are the main disadvantages of soft rocks used in a long-term format. But on the other hand, such wood has the advantage of being susceptible to additional processing. Of course, both categories have their exceptions, but the soft structure, due to its low density, is still more prone to the formation of new properties artificially.
Various methods are used to determine the hardness of materials (including wood). To determine hardness, tests are most often carried out using the Brinell and Rockwell methods.
According to the Brinnell method, a steel ball is pressed into the material under load, then the depth of indentation is measured. After this, the formulas are used to calculate the hardness in units designated HB.
When studying Rockwell hardness, a steel ball or (for the hardest materials) a diamond cone is also pressed into the material. Hardness, depending on the measurement scale used, is designated as HRA, HRB and HRC.
Based on the measurement results, a list of wood types by hardness was compiled. Below is a list of wood species, from hardest to softest (according to Brinell).
Jatoba
This tropical tree has very durable wood, its hardness is 7HB. Jatoba is native to the humid tropics of South and Central America. The wood is quite light, grayish in the sapwood. The heartwood is red, red-brown or dark orange in color and has yellow, orange and red banding. Cut wood darkens within 6-7 days and becomes brick red. Jatoba is called "Brazilian" or "South American cherry".
The height of a mature tree reaches 40 meters. The wood is used to make furniture, flooring and parquet boards. Jatoba is used to make elements of decorative interior decoration.
Sucupira
The hardness of the wood is 5.6HB. Sucupira grows only in the Amazon rainforest. The height of a mature tree reaches 30 meters. The core of the trunk consists of red-brown "dull" wood. The outer part, the sapwood, is lighter, whitish. In the cut, yellow stripes of parenchymal matter are clearly visible. The texture of sucupira is unique and differs from the structures of other types of wood. It is beautiful, and the oily substances contained in the wood make it resistant to destruction by wood-boring beetles and fungi. Sucupira is used to make floor boards, parquet boards and furniture. The wood is difficult to saw, but takes sanding and polishing well.
Turmoil
The hardness of mutenia wood is 5HB.
This tree grows in the humid tropics of West Africa. It grows 60 m in height. Muthenia wood is brown, like walnut, olive with a brownish tint. The violet “rays” give the material a special beauty. The structure of muthenia wood is similar to teak wood.
Mutenia is used for the manufacture of flooring boards, furniture and elements of interior decoration of buildings.
Merbau
The hardness of merbau wood is 4.9HB. Merbau is native to the humid tropics of Papua and New Guinea and the forests of southeast Asia. An adult merbau tree grows up to 30 meters. The wood is dense (the weight of a cubic meter reaches 800 kg), the core is painted light orange or yellow. Merbau sapwood is light yellow. The wood darkens over time, becoming bronze or brown, with a silvery tint. The fibers are straight or crooked and create a beautiful texture. Merbau is resistant to moisture and is suitable for decorating bathrooms. Merbau wood is used to make parquet boards, furniture, and strong, durable buildings.
Canadian maple
There are 200 maples native to Eurasia and North America. Canadian maple wood has a hardness of 4.8HB.
Maple grows up to 20 meters in height. Its wood is white, uniform in structure, with clearly visible growth rings. The section clearly shows heart-shaped rays of light gray color. Maple does not swell with water and bends well when treated with steam.
Most of the maple wood is used to make furniture, parquet boards, gun stocks, plywood, musical instruments, jewelry boxes, handicraft carvings, and antique wooden dishes. Maple cuts well and polishes easily.
Yarra Australian eucalyptus
The hardness of Australian jarrah according to Brinnell is 4.7-5 HB. The tree grows up to 35-40 m, and up to a height of about 20 m it has no knots at all, which has a positive effect on the quality of the wood. The color of the wood of young trees is varied - from pinkish to rich purple shades. Mature trees have dark red wood. The sawn wood darkens in the air, becoming crimson-red. Products made from this wood are very beautiful, but the finished material is prone to cracking and changing shape when dried. Therefore, lumber is processed after drying. Yarra cuts and polishes well. Wood is used to make veneer, parquet, furniture, musical instruments, and sports equipment. In Australia, bridges, buildings, piers, and telegraph poles are built from it.
Yarra Amazonian
The hardness of Amazonian yarra is about 6HB, its homeland is South America. Amazonian yarra has a dark reddish or plum colored heartwood. The sapwood of the tree is lighter yellowish or brownish. Amazonian jarra wood darkens from exposure to air and moisture, its texture consists of small fibers, and there is no sharp boundary between the sapwood and the heartwood. Amazonian yarra is difficult to process, but it polishes and bends well. This wood is used as a material for the construction of buildings and boats, furniture and a wide variety of things are made from it.
Pink tree
The hardness of rosewood is 4.4HB, it grows only in the forests of Guatemala and Brazil and produces one of the most expensive types of wood. The height of an adult tree is 25-28 meters. The wood has the scent of fresh roses and is brightly colored (pink and dark red, banded heartwood and yellow sapwood). Aromatic oil is obtained from rosewood shavings, which is used in the perfume industry and cosmetology.
Rosewood is perfectly dried, sawn, cut and polished perfectly. It is used to make decorative boxes and cigar boxes (humidors), musical instruments, souvenirs and wooden elements of gift weapons, and decorative interior elements.
Ash
The hardness of ash wood is 4HB. This is a very common tree species, it grows throughout Europe and Asia (European ash) and on the American continent (American ash). A mature tree grows to 35 meters or more in height. The wood of young trees is uniform, light, slightly grayish. In mature trees, the color of the core is brown, brown, gray. Some types of ash have heartwood and sapwood of reddish and yellowish shades.
The grain of the wood is straight, and the structure of the wood is large and complex and resembles the structure of oak. The growth rings are clearly visible and create a striped pattern. Wood rays are also developed, especially in the lower part of the trunk.
The scope of application of this type of wood is large; boards of various sizes, plywood, furniture, including bent furniture, and veneer are made from it. In the Middle Ages and in ancient times, weapons, hunting equipment, siege weapons and catapults were made from ash.
The hardness of oak is 3.8HB. There are 600 known species of this tree. Oak wood is resistant to atmospheric air and does not rot when exposed to water.
The color of the wood is white, yellowish, brownish in various shades, with well-defined annual rings. The sapwood of some oak species is much whiter than the heartwood.
Oak, which has lain for several centuries at the bottom of a reservoir, does not rot or decompose, but becomes a durable, very hard material of a dark brown or almost black color.
The wood structure has high decorative properties, is easy to cut and polish. Oak is a valuable type of wood; a wide variety of things are made from it: furniture, parquet boards, wooden parts of carriages and other vehicles, barrels.
Bog oak is a valuable material for artistic carving, making carved panels, stairs, railings, furniture, doors and trim, interior elements, and wooden sculpture. This material is still used in shipbuilding (stairs, railings, flooring, finishing).
The hardness of beech is 3.8 HB, this species is widespread in the central and western parts of Europe, the height of a mature tree reaches 35 meters. Beech fiber is smooth and straight, without strands or defects. Beech wood has a yellowish or pinkish color; its structure is a homogeneous, dense material. Mature trees over 80-85 years old have a red heartwood. This unevenness disappears after steaming the wood, this procedure gives the beech a uniform brown, slightly reddish color.
Steamed beech bends well; furniture in the style of Viennese chairs, bent parts for armchairs and other furniture are made from it.
Beech has proven itself well as a building material; it is a raw material for the production of cellulose. It is also used to make boards, veneer, plywood, furniture, shavings, and viscose. In total, there are about 200 types of uses for this tree.
Rowan
The hardness of rowan is 3HB. This tree is widespread; there are 48 species of rowan.
Rowan wood is used to a limited extent; it shrinks significantly when dried and is highly fire resistant.
Rowan sapwood, depending on the type, is white with a red tint or light yellowish. The rowan kernel is dark, brown or reddish brown.
This tree is not cut down on an industrial scale. It is harvested to a limited extent for the manufacture of furniture, souvenirs, and wooden tool handles.
Apple tree
Apple wood is soft or medium hard. The apple tree has a brownish-red heartwood and white, reddish sapwood. The annual rings are usually well defined, the wood fibers are straight and wavy. The disadvantage of apple tree wood is that woodworms can settle in it and render furniture and other products unusable. The dense structure of the apple tree allows you to make very fine and elegant carvings.
Pear
Pear wood is dense and viscous, hard and heavy in weight. When dried, the material loses a lot of weight due to shrinkage. The color of the wood is even, brown, with a pink tint. The pattern of the annual layers is almost invisible on the cut. After drying, pear wood is suitable for making furniture, small items, boxes and souvenirs. When dried, the material does not lose its shape, which makes it possible to make musical instruments from it. Several decades ago, pears were used to make drawing boards, drawing supplies, and instrument parts.
Nut
European walnut (walnut) grows in southern Europe and Asia Minor. The hardness of wood is 5HB. Walnut produces expensive wood, highly valued by lovers of natural materials. Walnut wood has an even, parallel fiber structure; in some areas the fibers create wavy curvatures. Trees living in the northern parts of the range have lighter wood, while southern varieties of wood are darker and more expensive.
The core wood is dark brown or gray. The sapwood is light gray, brownish, of various shades. Walnut wood is a high-quality raw material for the production of furniture, parquet and veneer, sculptures, and souvenirs. Finished walnut products can be spoiled by the wood boring beetle.
American walnut has the same properties as walnut, but the hardness of its wood is less and equal to 4HB.
Cherry (cherry)
The hardness of cherry wood is 3.5 HB. Both European and American cherry are used in woodworking. The tree grows to a height of 25 meters. Cherry wood is used to produce veneer and furniture in limited quantities, tool handles, souvenirs, and toys. Cherry products should be used indoors, as precipitation contributes to the rotting and destruction of wood. Wood-boring beetles can also damage wood.
The cherry kernel material is dark, brown, sometimes with red tints. The sapwood is light yellowish. The annual rings are clearly visible in the cut. The structure of the wood is finely and finely banded. American cherry has darker sapwood than European cherry.
Birch
The hardness of European birch wood is 3HB, Karelian (Scandinavian) birch wood is 3.5HB. Birch wood is durable, uniform, white or yellowish in color. European birch has whiter wood than Karelian birch.
American birch is distinguished by the distribution of strands, in contrast to the wood of European species.
Birch is elastic and lends itself well to any tools for turning and carving. The structure of the wood is very delicate and beautiful; the pattern of Karelian birch after staining is especially contrasting and original.
Birch wood is widely used in a wide variety of industries. It is good for making light-colored furniture and musical instruments, handles, souvenirs and toys. Birch is used to make spindles, reels and bobbins for winding threads in textile production.
The hardness of elm wood is 3HB. There are 35 species of this tree. The elm grows up to 40 meters in height. The sapwood of the elm is light brown, the heartwood of the tree is much darker. It is well developed in mature trees. The annual rings are visible on the cut and the core is well separated from the sapwood.
Elm takes polishing and processing well with any tool. This is a strong, well-bending wood; it is used to make high-quality arches and rims, furniture, plywood, and vehicle interior items. Elm is a favorite tree of urban landscapers.
Chestnut (horse)
Chestnut wood is light, almost white, with a slightly wavy structure. It is soft, homogeneous and viscous. Chestnut is resistant to fungi and wood-boring beetles. This material makes beautiful parquet boards and furniture. Chestnut wood takes polishing and any treatment well.
Hard conifers - larch and juniper
Larch
The hardness of larch wood is 2.6HB. The tree trunk has a dark reddish core. Larch sapwood is lighter, yellowish-red. The sapwood is separated from the core by a clear boundary; the annual rings on a cut tree are clearly visible.
Larch perfectly resists rotting processes. Houses built from this wood last hundreds of years; the lumber shrinks slightly.
Larch wood is viscous, and its processing is a labor-intensive and slow process. Exposure to water significantly increases the hardness of deciduous wood and its resistance to destruction processes (soaked wood is “hard as stone”). Dams, pillars and bridges made from this material last for decades. Houses are built from larch, boards, furniture, and outdoor sculptures are made.
Juniper– a hard coniferous tree, including 70 species. Juniper is characterized by a peculiar coniferous smell of wood, which remains in the finished product for years. The core of the tree has a dark brown, brown color. The sapwood of the wood is light, greenish-yellow or light yellow. This is a dense, strong rock that accepts any processing and polishing well, and does not chip when cutting (by hand or on a lathe) and sawing. Juniper wood is used to a limited extent for making small objects, toys and souvenirs.
Wood is widely used by humans in various sectors of economic activity. The properties of wood of a particular species determine the possibility of its use in a particular production. The final appearance of the product, its quality and durability depend on the correct choice of material.
Wood: properties of hardwood
Deciduous wood is characterized by an expressive structure and an almost complete absence of odor. It is felt mainly immediately after cutting, as well as during processing. Most often, wood is used as a finishing and decorative material. There are ring-vascular (oak, ash, elm, etc.) and diffuse-vascular hardwoods (birch, beech, walnut, aspen, linden, etc.). They have different patterns of arrangement of vessels in the annual layer. Let's take a closer look at the properties and structure of wood of some hardwoods.
Oak
Oak wood has an expressive structure and beautiful color. The breed is sound. It has clearly visible annual layers, narrow sapwood, significantly different in color from the core, which can be light brown or dark brown.
Oak wood is characterized by high strength and bending ability. Due to the presence of tannins (in large quantities), it has the greatest resistance to decay compared to all hardwoods.
The properties of oak wood contribute to easy processing of the material, good paintability and polishing. Quite widely used for carving, interior decoration and furniture making. Thanks to the large vessels, the material is characterized by good bendability without destruction of the fibers. The mechanical properties of wood make it possible to use oak for the production of bent furniture.
A valuable material for finishing is one that, as a result of prolonged exposure to water, acquires very high strength and, in most cases, an almost black color.
Beech
The breed is non-nuclear. The wood has a beautiful texture, white with a yellowish-red tint. The annual layers are clearly visible. Beech wood is similar in some physical and mechanical properties to oak wood. It is durable, dense, hard, easy to bend, cut, and treated with varnishes and paints. However, when dried, it tends to warp and is also unstable to rot, which is why it is practically not used for making furniture.
Beech wood is more in demand in the manufacture of musical instruments, during some finishing work, in carving, etc.
Ash
It has a dark brown core and light yellow wide sapwood with a beautiful grain pattern. Wood is characterized by high strength and toughness. It has a good ability to bend when steamed, is slightly prone to cracking, and practically does not warp when drying. Resistant to rotting.
In terms of value, ash wood is equal to. It is used for finishing furniture and musical instruments. Valuable crafts are made from ash growths (burls).
Birch
The most widely used in industry is the warty birch. The species is coreless, has white wood with a yellowish or reddish tint. Characterized by good strength and toughness. Hardness and density are average.
The material is convenient to work with. It cuts and drills well, and is also easy to polish, glue and paint. However, despite all the positive properties of birch wood, there are also some disadvantages. It is practically unstable to rotting, dries out greatly, and warps. But this does not affect the demand for this material for finishing work, since the properties of birch wood make it possible to imitate various valuable species. The material is also used for the production of a number of other products (veneer pads, skis, etc.).
Karelian birch wood has a very unusual texture. Broken heart-shaped rays, wavy annual layers and dormant buds in the form of dark stripes combine to produce a beautiful mottled surface. The material is used for the manufacture of artistic products and veneering furniture.
Elm
It has a dark brown heartwood and yellowish-white sapwood. The material is durable, hard, dense, viscous. During the drying process it does not crack or warp. However, due to the too dense structure, permeated with small pores, the processing process (in particular polishing) of this material becomes significantly more complicated.
Used in carpentry work. When steamed, it lends itself well to bending, which is why it is used for the manufacture of curved parts. Burls on elm are especially valuable for turning crafts.
Walnut
Wood has a rich tonal range, as well as a variety of textures. Color varies from light brownish-gray to almost black. When freshly cut, the wood is light in color and gradually darkens over time. It is characterized by strength, moderate hardness, and high resistance to rotting. Keeps its shape, does not warp, and is easy to process. It is well polished, cut, glued and impregnated.
It is mainly used for finishing premises, furniture, and for the manufacture of carved products.
Aspen
When stored in a felled form, aspen wood acquires a white color with a slightly noticeable greenish tint. The cordate rays and annual layers are practically invisible. A distinctive feature of aspen wood is the almost complete absence of knots. It is highly resistant to moisture, does not warp, and practically does not crack. Aspen is easy to work with. It is soft, pliable, cuts well, pricks, easily polishes, and glues reliably. The disadvantage of aspen is its rapid drying.
The properties and structure of wood determine its use for the production of plywood, matches, dishes, toys and other small items.
Alder
The natural color of alder wood varies from white to pale brown. After the log house, as a result of interaction with air, it changes to red-brown in a short time.
Wood is not particularly durable and can warp when dried, but it has a number of positive technological properties, as it is characterized by lightness, moderate hygroscopicity and softness. Can be cut, polished, glued and painted without problems. It has no odor and does not absorb foreign odors. It is highly resistant to rotting, which is why it is often used to equip wells and storerooms. In addition, it is used for carving and finishing work. The physical properties of alder wood make it possible to imitate certain wood species (for example, mahogany and ebony).
Linden
The wood is white, with a slight pinkish tint. Tree rings are practically invisible. It is characterized by a homogeneous structure and strength. Such properties of linden wood as lightness, softness and viscosity make it possible to easily process the material in all directions, both manually and by hand. It is well painted, glued, and holds its shape. The wood is resistant to rotting and does not crack or warp during drying.
Due to its strong structure and low deformation, linden is used for making large parts of carved furniture. Drawing boards, pencils, dishes, etc. are also made from this material.
Pear
The wood is reddish-white or pinkish-brown in color. The younger the tree, the lighter the color. The texture is uniform in density, the medullary rays and growth rings are faintly visible. The material is hard, dense, heavy, characterized by high compressive strength. The mechanical properties of pear wood are superior to oak and ash. During the drying process, it practically does not warp or crack. It cuts quite well in all directions. Easy to polish and paint.
It is often used as a material for decorating furniture, for carvings, and mosaic works. The physical properties of pear wood make it possible to make ebony imitations from it.
Apple tree
The wood is pink in color with bright red veins, hard, heavy, rather viscous, and has a uniform structure. Characterized by high strength and wear resistance. Apple tree wood is prone to severe drying out and warping, so it is better to use it in dried form. The material can be sanded, polished and painted well. When impregnated with drying oil or linseed oil, it acquires a dark brown color. Mainly used for making carvings and carpentry.
Basic properties of coniferous wood
Coniferous wood is characterized by a specific resinous odor, a more clearly defined macrostructure and greater biostability compared to deciduous wood. These properties of wood of various coniferous species contribute to their widespread use in construction and the production of various consumer goods. Conifers include pine, spruce, larch, yew, fir, cedar and juniper.
Pine
The color of pine sapwood can range from pale yellow to reddish-yellow, and the heartwood can range from pink to brownish-red. It is characterized by a rather pronounced striped texture. The medullary rays are not visible. Tree rings are clearly visible in all sections.
The wood is strong, soft, light, and very sharp. Due to the large amount of resin, it is characterized by increased resistance to decay. After drying, it practically does not warp. It is easy to process, saws and cuts well, and glues relatively well.
The high technological properties of pine wood and its wide distribution make it the most commonly used of all coniferous species. The material is used in construction (both civil and industrial), in furniture, carpentry and parquet production. In addition, musical instruments, plywood, barrels, etc. are made from pine.
Spruce
Spruce wood is characterized by softness, lightness, and good sharpness. A distinctive feature is the extremely uniform distribution of fibers. The physical and mechanical properties of spruce wood are inferior to pine in a number of indicators. It has less strength and also a resin content, which makes it less resistant to precipitation and other atmospheric influences. Due to its less pliable structure and large number of knots, spruce wood is more difficult to process.
The material is used mainly in the production of furniture. Stringed instruments (in particular, violins) are also made from spruce, since no other tree is capable of producing such resonance.
Larch
It has narrow light sapwood and a reddish-brown heartwood. Hard, elastic, resinous, extremely rot-resistant wood. The properties of larch wood, both physical and mechanical, are quite high. Distinctive features of the material are strength and durability. It is also characterized by high density, which increases significantly with drying (to such an extent that a nail cannot be driven into it).
Due to its high physical and mechanical properties, larch is widely used. It is an indispensable material for construction work. Parquet made from larch wood is highly durable and has a very long service life. Its beautiful texture and high resistance to warping make it a valuable material in furniture production.
Siberian cedar
The wood is pinkish in color with a beautiful grain pattern. Tree rings are clearly visible in all sections. It is light and soft. In terms of technological properties, cedar is inferior to pine, but superior to spruce. The material can be easily processed, but is not very resistant to rotting.
Cedar wood has resonant properties, which is why musical instruments (guitars, harps, grand pianos) are made from it. In addition, it is used for the manufacture of furniture, in the production of pencils, etc.
Fir
The structure of fir wood is close to pine. It is quite durable and dense, easy to process. But it contains few resinous substances, which is why it is characterized by low resistance to decay and requires additional processing.
Fir wood is often used in the construction of houses for the production of window and door blocks and flooring. This material is also widely used for carving work.
Yew
It has narrow yellowish-white sapwood and a brownish-red heartwood. The annual layers are characterized by a sinuous shape and are clearly visible in all sections. Yew is included in the list of species called “mahogany”. Hard, heavy, dense wood. The properties of wood are mostly positive. It is highly resistant to rotting. Good for processing, polishing and painting. It is considered one of the best materials used in finishing, turning and carpentry. Burls are very valuable, often formed on yew trunks and used mainly as a finishing material.
Juniper
The wood of the shrub is characterized by sapwood of a pinkish-white color and a yellowish-brown heartwood. It has wavy annual layers that are clearly visible on all sections. The heart-shaped rays are not visible.
The wood is strong and heavy. It is resistant to rotting, almost does not lose volume during the drying process and practically does not swell when interacting with moisture. The more dried the material, the more beautiful the cut. It lends itself well to processing, polishing and painting.
The use of the material is somewhat limited due to the small size of the bush trunks. Most often, juniper wood is used for carving, making decorative items, small crafts, toys, turning products, etc.