What Wood Is That? Wood Identification

Hardwood or Softwood? Hardwood When you look at the end grain of a board you can see small holes called “pores” that softwoods don’t have. The wood strands are usually shorter than those of softwoods (about 1/32”) Trees have broad leaves Trees were named “hardwood” because the first loggers in New England logged sugar maple trees which were extremely strong and hard. Not all hardwoods have hard wood!

Softwood Softwood Softwood trees have needles instead of broad leaves. Resins or “sap” are usually visible before the lumber has dried sufficiently. Softwoods don’t have pores in the end grain like hardwoods do. The wood fibers in softwoods are longer than hardwoods (about 1/8”) The term “softwood” also came about in New England because loggers used this term to describe the light wood of the white pine.

Sawing Techniques Plain or Flat Sawn Quarter Sawn More economical Provides the widest boards with the least amount of waste. Doesn't require as much time and effort as quarter sawn lumber does. Quarter Sawn Quarter sawn lumber is expensive. Less economical. Used for fine furniture.

Quarter Sawn Flat Sawn

Types of Wood Most Common to Our Area Hardwoods: Red Oak White Oak Maple Black Walnut Cherry Poplar Softwoods: Eastern Red Cedar Southern Pine

Red Oak Hardwood species The heartwood is reddish unlike white oak. When the wood is freshly cut it has a bad odor. Often used in cabinetmaking. Isn’t as easy to work with as white oak.

White Oak Hardwood species The heartwood of the white oak doesn’t have the reddish tint like the red oak. Doesn’t have an unpleasant odor like red oak when it is freshly cut. Dominates in the furniture industry.

Maple Red Maples and Silver Maples are grown in much of the eastern U.S. have softer wood than the sugar maples of the northern United States. They are used in the furniture industry for because of the ability to bend the wood easily. Close grained wood

Black Walnut Hardwood Species Grows in the central and eastern United States. The sapwood is a light yellow color and the heartwood is a deep chocolate brown color. Has an odor and even a distinctive taste. Grain can be strait, wavy, and curly.

Southern Pine Softwood species The heartwood has a yellowish color. Used mostly for framing and dimensional lumber. Lumber is usually knotty. Board grain is fairly strait. Warps easily.

Eastern Red Cedar Softwood species The heartwood is a bright red color and the sapwood is almost white The wood has a very strong recognizable smell. Used to line closets and chests because the smell repels insects. Resists decay

Cherry Hardwood species One of the largest supplies of the timber is in the Appalachian Mountains. Cherry lumber is usually a dark reddish-brown color. Has a distinct odor.

Poplar Hardwood species Wood is a light color and has a soft texture to it making it easy to work with. Lumber resists warping Lumber is used a lot in plywood, exterior trim and as a veneer core.