| Woodworking: Know Your WoodWood is made of | | | | A white to pale brown colored wood that is part of |
| cellulose fibers, held together with a property called | | | | the poplar family, cottonwood is light and tends to be |
| lignin, and is classified as hardwood or softwood, | | | | soft, which makes it good for carving. It is also used |
| depending on the type of tree from which it comes. | | | | in making furniture, toys and woodenwares. Many |
| In addition, sapwood or new growth wood on a tree | | | | carvers prefer the bark of the cottonwood tree |
| is still alive, while heartwood refers to the part of the | | | | because it can be found in large pieces and has a |
| tree that is no longer functioning. These two stages | | | | soft, workable nature.Cypress $, E-M |
| of wood also have different properties and uses. | | | | Cypress wood has an oily texture, resists rot and |
| Knowing something about the different woods can | | | | decay and is often used in outdoor furniture and |
| help you determine which to use, how to work it, | | | | docks. It is light yellow in color and is inexpensive |
| what problems to watch for, and how to care for | | | | compared to other woods.Elm, white $$, M |
| the finished product.There are hundreds of different | | | | There are many elms, and most tend to be easy to |
| types of trees and wood, with a wide range of | | | | work with and bend well. The white elm is soft |
| colors, density, grain, figure, and other characteristics | | | | yellow in color, and if used by beginners, it is usually in |
| that affect its workability and application to different | | | | a furniture project. This tree is affected by Dutch |
| types of uses. The following is an alphabetical listing | | | | Elm disease, so it is becoming more difficult to find, |
| and description of some of the more popular woods | | | | and thus a bit more expensive.Mahogany $$, E |
| used in woodworking. Types such as ebony and | | | | A reddish colored, dense hardwood that is durable |
| ironwood are not listed here, as they are not typically | | | | and easy to work, Mahogany, (especially that from |
| used in woodworking, at least not by beginners. The | | | | Honduras) is often used when making various grades |
| focus is on woods that work well and are common in | | | | of furniture and cabinets. It is moderately |
| woodworking.The following legend provides a guide | | | | priced.Maple, white $$, M-D |
| for symbols included with each type of wood. | | | | Maple has white sapwood and reddish brown |
| Cost: $ = inexpensive, $$ = moderate, $$$ = | | | | heartwood. The grain can come in different patterns |
| expensive | | | | including wavy and birds eye. It can be difficult to |
| Ease of working: E = easy, M = moderate, D = | | | | work, but is used to make furniture, cabinets, |
| difficultAsh, white $, M | | | | flooring, and small projects such as cutting |
| A strong, inexpensive wood that is lighter in color | | | | boards.Oak $$, E-M |
| and bends well, white ash is often used in sports | | | | In the oak family, white oak is perhaps the easiest |
| equipment such as bats and canoe paddles. It is also | | | | to work and is highly durable. It has a light tan color |
| common in pool cues, tool handles, and other | | | | with a straight grain. It is moderate in price and used |
| products that require durability and strength.Balsa $$, | | | | for furniture, cabinets, and is a favored wood for |
| E | | | | building barrels.Pine: Ponderosa, white, yellow $, E |
| One of the lightest hardwoods, balsa has been used | | | | Although the different kinds of pine have varying |
| for canoes, model building, life rafts and other | | | | specific features, it tends to be a softer, light colored |
| situations where a light, buoyant wood is needed. It | | | | wood that is used in many construction settings. It is |
| is usually white in color and priced moderately. | | | | also a popular wood for woodworkers, especially |
| Because it is exceptionally soft, it can be worked well | | | | beginners, because it is inexpensive, easy to find, |
| with hand tools, but has poor durability.Basswood $, E | | | | relatively easy to work, and holds up well (except for |
| Basswood is an inexpensive and versatile hardwood | | | | white pine). Often selected for birdhouses, flower |
| that is often used for woodcarving. It is soft, light, | | | | boxes, benches and other beginner |
| fine textured and ranges in color from soft white to | | | | projects.Redwood $$$, E |
| brown. Other uses include turning, toys, kitchen | | | | Redwood is known for its ability to hold up well in |
| utensils and crates.Birch $, E | | | | outdoor conditions. It is relatively easy to work and is |
| The birch known as paper birch, is the white tree | | | | used in outdoor furniture, decks, and other |
| growing in the forest with its bark peeling like paper. | | | | applications where durability outdoors is important. |
| Inside the sapwood is creamy and darkens toward | | | | Despite the fact that redwood trees grow quite |
| brown at the heartwood. It is inexpensive to | | | | large and yield high quantities of boards, the price is |
| purchase and consequently is one of the most | | | | on the higher end.Walnut, black $$, E |
| popular woods with beginner furniture makers. It can | | | | A dark, tough wood that works well, black walnut is |
| also be used for cabinets, toys and plywood but is | | | | used in carving, making gunstocks, fine furniture, |
| not durable when left unfinished.Butternut $$, M | | | | cabinets, and other items where strength and |
| A course-textured wood that is light to medium | | | | appearance are both important. It has a chemical in it |
| brown, butternut is moderately priced, and is a | | | | that can cause irritation. Black walnut is moderately |
| common choice for veneers, woodenware, and | | | | priced.Willow $$, E |
| church alters.Cedar, aromatic $, M | | | | There are many different varieties of willow, but in |
| Known for its red coloring and pleasing, somewhat | | | | general they are a soft, light wood with dull brownish |
| spicy smell, aromatic cedar or red cedar is a popular | | | | heartwood and light colored sapwood. Because of its |
| woodworking material for containers and closets. It | | | | softness, it is popular with carvers. It is also used for |
| has alternating lines of dark and light color and may | | | | caskets, Venetian blinds, and a number of other |
| also have dark knots, making it visually appealing as | | | | items.Yellow poplar $, E |
| well. It is relatively inexpensive.Cherry, black $$, E | | | | Yellow poplar is a strong, inexpensive hardwood that |
| Cherry sapwood is light colored, but the heartwood | | | | has a light color and sometimes is streaked with |
| can vary from light brown to a dark red color that | | | | green, which can make it more difficult to finish. It is |
| many find appealing. It has a fine grain and tends to | | | | not a true poplar. Along with pine, it is one of the |
| darken in color as it ages. It is used most often in | | | | most common woods used today. Poplar is used in |
| cabinetry and furniture making and is moderately | | | | basic furniture, shelving, and boxes. It is also |
| priced.Cottonwood $, E | | | | acceptable for carving. |