Softwoods are soft and lightweight woods that have majorly grown in popularity in the wood industry. They have unique properties that have attracted many eyes.
Softwoods come from trees like coniferous, and they are widely grown in various regions. There are different kinds of softwoods, and they are amongst the most affordable and cheap woods. It is because they are abundant, and softwood trees have a faster yielding pace.
Some major examples of softwoods are pine, cedar, spruce, and juniper. Let us discuss them in detail to have a better knowledge about them.
Major examples of softwood
1. Pine Wood
Pine wood is amongst the most popular softwoods. They are beautiful-looking wood with unique grain patterns and aesthetic figures on their surface. They have a smooth texture and are light complexion. They have yellowish to reddish-white hues, and with their randomly occurring knots, they give an antique and rustic look.
Pine woods are lightweight woods that provide great workability. They are easily malleable and have great bending qualities. They are also very durable in nature. They are known to be resistant to rot and decay and are extremely shock-resistant. Pine also do not wear easily, making them highly suitable for making furniture.
Pine woods are widely used to make furniture, cabinets, flooring, decking, etc.
2. Cedar Wood
Cedar woods widely grow in the western Himalayan areas and are amongst the popular softwoods. They are also a member of the coniferous tree family. Many species of cedar woods have colors ranging from pinkish-red to dark reddish-brown hues. They usually have a straight grain pattern and a moderately coarse texture. Their even and smooth surface provides a fine finish and can be polished very well.
They have high workability with good bending qualities. They also take stain well and provide a beautiful outlook. They work well with hand tools and small machines making them very convenient for workers. They are also very durable, and hence, they are used for making boats.
They are widely used to make instruments, boats, cedar oil, fencing, etc.
3. Spruce wood
Spruce woods are grown widely in the northern-most hemisphere. It is a light and soft kind of softwood popular like pine. It is an evenly textured wood with usually straight grain patterns and can contain some randomly occurring figures and knots. It has a color ranging from reddish-brown to yellowish-white hues.
They also have great workability. Spruce works well with small machines and hand tools and is easy to drill, cut, and saw. They also do not shrink easily. However, they are naturally not very durable. But they take stains well and can be protected with coats of paint.
Spruce woods are widely used for interior constructions, furniture, etc.
4. Juniper Wood
Juniper is the hardest in the softwood family. They can be as hard as hardwood, but they are softwoods and are denser than any other. They are finely textured wood with straight patterns and with colors ranging from white to reddish-brown hues.
They have higher density and stiffness that gives great strength and stability. Juniper woods are also extremely durable woods and have great resistance.
They are widely used for flooring, decking, furniture, etc.
These are the basic examples of softwood. There are many other softwoods such as fir, larch, etc. All of them have unique properties that make them special and efficient in their own way.
