FEATURE
Woodworking
Selecting the right type of
wood for every project
he wood that you select for a
woodworking project often
determines the aesthetic.
Lumber is either softwood or
hardwood: softwood lumber is
used in construction and
woodworking. Softwoods such as pine,
fir, and cedar are plentiful, and coniferous
trees grow fast.
Hardwood, or deciduous trees, grow slowly.
Common hardwoods are walnut, mahogany, maple,
birch, cherry, and oak, and are preferred in furniture
making due to their durability.Trees have bundles of fibres and vessels running
along the trunk. Wood grain is formed by this bundle.
Oak, maple, and birch trees have straight grain. As a
tree grows, new fibre and vessels are added to form
rings that determine the age of a tree. Some trees
grow faster than others.
The outer, live layer is the sapwood. The sapwood
eventually turns into heartwood and a new sapwood
layer is created. Behind the sapwood is the
heartwood. No longer conducting sap, it provides
strength and support for a tree.
Logs are cut in several ways. The simplest way to
cut up a log is known as plain sawing. Plain-sawnT