Hardwoods are majorly used woods in various constructions and projects. They come in different forms with different properties, and all the hardwoods stand a unique feature in themselves.
Hardwoods are basically woods produced by deciduous trees. While they are generally dense, it is not necessarily a common property. Some hardwoods are the hardest, and some are soft but with the richest color.
There are several kinds of hardwoods. But the most popular examples of hardwood are maple, walnut, oak, and cherry. Let us discuss these kinds in detail to know hardwoods better.
Major examples of hardwood
1. Maple wood
Maple woods are widely used hardwood that is very popular in the wood worker’s world. They are smooth-grained wood with a uniform texture. They have, generally, straight grain patterns, but some can form attractive patterns such as wavy, curly, ripples, etc. They are white to reddish-brown in color and have a very pleasing look.
Maple woods are known to be very durable and hard, with a Janka rating of 1450. They also have great workability and are easy to work with hand tools and machines. However, they can get burnt if machined at high speed.
They are extensively used for furniture, hardwood flooring, cabinets, etc.
2. Walnut wood
Walnut woods are hard and dense wood with a Janka rating of 1010. They are tight-grained wood with a smooth and fine texture. Their color ranges from creamy white to dark chocolate hues, which provide a dark and rich look to the wood.
Walnut woods have superior strength and durability. They are also easy to work with high workability because of their regular straight grain patterns. However, irregular textures can be a little stubborn with machines.
They are widely used for furniture, cabinet, veneers, paneling, etc.
3. Oak Wood
Oak wood is amongst the most popular woods used in the furniture industry. They are straight-grained wood with generally uneven texture. But they can have attractive graining patterns that make them unique and popular. They also exhibit a golden color which provides amber tones when aged. They are pleasant-looking wood that has a rustic appearance.
Oak woods are extremely durable woods. That adds to why they are popularly used to build furniture. They are dense with a Janka rating of 1360-1290, and they are also known to have great workability. They can produce well with machines and are good with stains. Oak woods also have high stability that makes them convenient for workers.
They are popularly used for furniture, cabinets, flooring, boats, etc.
4. Cherry Wood
Cherry wood is one of the most expensive furniture-hardwood. They are prized for their smooth and closed grain pattern and fine texture. They have a rich and pleasing color ranging from light pink to reddish-brown hues.
They are moderately dense wood with a Janka rating of 995 and have moderate durability. They are also strong wood and provides good workability with high bending qualities and flexibility.
They are widely used for cabinets, furniture, flooring, etc.
These are the known examples of hardwood. There are many other kinds, such as mahogany, alder, ash, etc. They all have their unique properties and pros and cons. Hardwoods have become an essential material.
