Wood Classification – Hard or Soft?
- on 03.13.09
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The distinction between hard and soft is a very easy one, in every field except woodworking. For instance when you are ordering tacos, the choice of hard or soft is easy. Or when you are purchasing a new mattress or pillow, hard or soft choices are obvious. The same can not be said about wood. It is really impossible to determine if a piece of wood is a hardwood or soft wood simply by appearance, feel or heft. You really need to understand what kind of tree the wood came from.
All trees reproduce by creating seeds. Hardwood trees and softwood trees produce vastly different types of seeds. Those for hardwood are always produced with some sort of cover on the seed, while softwood tree seeds will have no covering. The hardwood seeds which are known as Angiosperms, can be found in things like apples, pears or acorns. While the seeds for softwoods, are released by the tree without any protection for the seed. The scientific name for softwood trees is Gymnosperms.
A more general way to think about the difference is that hardwood trees will lose all of their leaves during cold weather, while the softwood trees will retain there leaves. Trees like the maple or oak are all in the angiosperm or hardwood family, while trees like the pine, or fir trees are part of the softwood or Gymnosperm family.
It is also correct to say that Evergreens are in the softwood grouping while deciduous trees are from the hardwood side. No matter which set of terminology you choose to use, the distinction is really based on the reproduction habits of the tree and nothing else.
So here is a quiz for you. Which of the following woods are hardwoods and which is soft? Pine, Douglas Fir, Maple, Hickory, Chestnut, Apple, Balsa or Walnut. If you choose to put the Maple, Hickory, Chestnut, Apple, Walnut and Balsa in the hardwood category you would have been correct. Balsa trees are deciduous trees, therefore there wood falls into the hardwood classification.
Strange as it seems, that is the real difference. Gee, now I wished I had paid more attention back in junior high school science classes when they tried to teach me these things.
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This is a great article, very helpful for anyone trying to get the most out of it
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have maplewood floors in kitchen. Took tile off to have refinish but worker say they can’t sand the maplewood. Is this true?
Hi Debbie:
The are only two reasons I can think of, that the contractor can not sand your Maplewood floors . The first is that they are a Maple veneer. Veneered floors also known as engineeered floors are basicly thin layers of the maple over a plywood base. These are normally installed over concrete floors. The vineer on these is too thin the ever sand. The second reason maybe any residue left behind from the tile. Glue or mastic from the tile maybe nearly impossble to get off the floor .
But if your floor is real hard wood maple and there is not a lot of residue, I can not see other reason why it can not be sanded. Please let me know how this works out.
hi your site is very helpful, as i am doing a piece of homework about woods it was a big help, just wanted to know how would you explain manufactured boards and what woods would go into the manufactured boards classification. i have already got an explanation but i think you could give me information that could improve it slightly. thanks
I want to know about which is junjle wood trees & why?
Mango tree is comming under jungle wood?
wow it is very great article….
it gives excellent information
Could you explain more about the different between the hardwood and softwood in term of wood anatomy. Do the hardwood and softwood have different wood cell structures ?
A simple answer would be Yes there are cell difference between hard and soft woods. My understanding is that softwoods have simple cell structures composed mostly of longitudinal cells. These are uniform in shape and are used to carry water thought out the tree. Hardwood cells are manily pores or vessels. These serve the same purpose as the longitudinal cells within softwood.
Sorry, I asked in wrong question. Actually my question is that how different between the heartwood and sapwood in term of their cell structures rather than the tyloses.
need compositions of woods
Hello,
I’m looking into purchasing a beautiful, perhaps new, wooden dining table. I’m unsure what kind of wood would be the best choice. So far my research has led me to adler wood. However, I am stunned when I am not offered what kind of wood it is. Most answers I’ve received is that they are good solidwood! Please help.
Paulita:
Most of the furniture stores that I have dealt with do not sell actual Hardwood furniture. What they sell is a a “solidwood frame” that is covered in a veneer. A good test on any piece of furniture is to try simply lifting the piece. Real wood will be much lighter than a piece build with Solidwood, particle board and veneer.
If you are set on a Alderwood table, I would suggest that you consider looking in an unfinished wood store. They often will haveseveral pieces made from Alder. Alder will accept most oil stains so finishing it would not be a be problem.
I hope this was helpful
it was helpful
i am a Cameroonian
the teaching of woodwork