Advantages and disadvantages of different types of wood for the production of solid furniture. The hardest wood species: properties of wood, secrets of use

In the fields of construction and manufacturing, traditional consumables are being replaced by technologically advanced plastics in various designs. They are distinguished by high technical and physical qualities, which allows them to confidently replace wood and even metal. However, wood raw materials have many advantages due to low purchasing costs and environmental friendliness. The weak point of this material strength is considered. To increase this indicator, manufacturers use special processing methods to increase rigidity, density and, in general, resistance to mechanical damage. However, hardwoods initially have these properties, often eliminating the need for special heat treatments.

Features of hardwood

Typically, the quality of such rocks is assessed by three indicators - density, Brinnell hardness and cross-cut rigidity. On average, the density of such wood is about 1200-1400 kg/m3. As for the Brinnell hardness, this value can reach 3.5 kgf/mm 2, and the cross-cut rigidity can be 80 MPa. Again, these indicators are typical for trees familiar to Russian conditions, and exotic species can have significantly superior characteristics. What types of wood are classified as hardwood in the temperate zone? Usually oak, beech, ash and some types of hornbeam are distinguished. It is important to consider that, along with positive quality In terms of hardness, such trees also have negative properties. It has already been said that in order to improve its performance qualities, lumber can be subjected to additional processing. Sometimes to get special physical characteristics Solid wood is also subjected to similar operations. And here it appears serious problem, since many rocks, due to their high density, do not tolerate the processes of grinding, impregnation and especially drying. Cracks, chips and other manifestations of structural deformation often form.

Classifications of hardwoods

There are species that grow in the temperate zone and exotic trees. There is also a classification into deciduous and coniferous species. Although most hardwoods are still classified as deciduous, among the needles there are also varieties with increased characteristics of density and rigidity. Regarding breeds temperate zone, then these include maple, boxwood, briar and the aforementioned hornbeam. Coniferous hardwoods are also the most common here. Which of them have the most pronounced hardness indicators? In this case, larch, yew, juniper and lawson deserve attention. There are also hardwoods among the usual fruit trees - forest apple, wood sorrel, pear, rowan and some types of walnut stand out in this category. As for exotic rocks, they demonstrate the highest levels of hardness and density. Here, red and lemon eucalyptus, etc. are of particular interest. Now it is worth taking a closer look at the hardest tree species.

Mahogany

In Russia this breed the most popular, as it can be purchased freely. This is a tropical tree, which is characterized by high hardness, as well as an original cut texture. Freshly sawn wood has a yellowish-red tint, but over time it gives way to darker tones, which gives the material a noble appearance. Accordingly, the consumer appreciates not only the technical, but also the decorative properties of this tree. It should be noted that from the point of view of pronounced decorative qualities, hardwoods also include backwood and boxwood. Moreover, these breeds are used not only as finishing materials, but can also replace individual decorative parts in jewelry products and technical devices. But mahogany is also distinguished by its ease of mechanical processing. The density of this rock is not so high compared to many hard materials of tropical origin, so this raw material is in great demand in furniture factories.

iron tree

If heavy-duty plastics can replace iron due to their strength, then this breed is not only capable of taking the place of a mechanically resistant element in some areas, but at the same time meeting increased requirements in terms of environmental sustainability. The concept of ironwood includes a whole group of species that mainly grow in the countries of the Asian region and in Australia. The classic representative of the group is the Persian parrotia. This type common in relict forests, where local residents have been making handles for knives and axes from it since ancient times. Today, “iron” hardwood is protected by UNESCO. This breed, in particular, has aesthetic value, which causes great interest in it from the market.

Merbau

This is not the hardest, but judging by the combination of other performance qualities, it can be said to be the most practical breed. Previously used in the construction of sea vessels. This is due to the fact that the material is resistant to moisture and also does not dry out. Therefore, merbau can be stored for a long time, then subjected to heat treatment and used in construction. As already noted, trees belonging to hard wood species, such as hornbeam or beech, practically do not tolerate additional processing. But merbau steadfastly endures traditional methods of influence in order to improve individual performance qualities.

White acacia

The hardest rock in Russia, which is valued not only for its strength, but also for its resistance to biological destruction processes. In addition, acacia of this type is highly polished and does not crack during long-term use. If preventive treatment measures are followed, the wood is also not subject to minor mechanical damage. By the way, according to technical specifications this species is superior to hardwoods such as oak and ash.

Lignum vitae

The hardness of this wood is one of the highest in the world. Suffice it to say that the material optimally copes with its tasks when used in the form of bearings, bushings and brackets. In the navy, wood of this species was often used as deck material. But backout lumber is valued for other reasons as well. It is not susceptible to deforming processes under the influence of third parties negative factors. These can be both chemical and physical influences that do not have a destructive effect on the structure. There are other hardwoods that also exhibit resistance to extreme loads. But the unique quality of backout is its balanced combination of large mass and density.

Application of hard wood

Most of this material is used in construction. Wood in one form or another can be used both as a base for structures and as finishing. Certain rocks are also used in the fields of mechanical and instrument making. They are used to make individual functional elements with the expectation of long-term use - and these can be temporary consumables or durable parts of structures. These are the main, but not all, areas in which high-strength wood species are used. Soft, hard, and medium-density rocks can also be used for medical purposes. In this case, hardness is not so important. The fact is that many exotic breeds contain resins that are unique in their qualities. The preparation of medicinal mixtures for internal and external use, in particular, makes it possible to combat joint diseases, respiratory organs etc.

Conclusion

Manufacturers of building materials are well aware of the rule that increasing one technical and operational property almost always entails minimizing other qualities. In part, this law also applies to hard wood species, which, in some respects, are inferior soft species. The processes of biological destruction, physical deformation, and texture distortion are the main disadvantages of soft rocks used in a long-term format. But on the other hand, such wood has the advantage of being susceptible to additional processing. Of course, both categories have their exceptions, but the soft structure, due to its low density, is still more prone to the formation of new properties artificially.

By looking at a growing tree, it is quite easy to determine its species. But what kind of wood lumber is made from is much more difficult to understand.

Wood is natural product, so no material is completely similar to each other and without defects. All types have knots, cracks, and knots. Often they do not affect the quality of the material.

The strength of wood is important for its use in building structures. But basically the choice depends on the taste of the owner of the future home. The thicker the log, the warmer the house will be. To choose the right material, you should pay attention to wood with high class quality.

A few words about various breeds wood:

What is assortment

There are GOST standards for all types of wood that describe the requirements for them. In Russia, GOST 8486-86 has been adopted, and in Europe, wood is divided into 4 grades A, B, C, D. In the construction market, wood of the second grade and class B is more in demand. Class A is mainly intended for the manufacture of furniture.

The assortment depends on the presence of defects:

  • 1st grade has high quality. Recommended for use in construction where high strength, rigidity and presentable appearance are required. appearance;
  • 2nd grade recommended for general construction purposes where appearance is not very important;
  • 3rd grade Suitable for economical construction. It has good strength, but many different defects. Used for fastening rafters, for fixing, blocking - wherever strength and appearance are not important;
  • 4th grade used for the manufacture of containers and various packaging products.

How to determine the type of wood

The quality of lumber depends on the type of wood. To determine the breed, you need to know the main characteristics and differences. Each type of wood has external characteristics that make it easy to distinguish. To do this, consider the cross section of the felled tree.

Each type and species has an individual structure that creates unique physical properties. They determine the suitability of wood for various purposes. The most common means of material identification among carpenters is visual. Many experienced specialists, who know the differences and properties of species, determine the quality “by eye” and understand what kind of wood lumber is made from.

But often it is impossible to accurately identify the species based on these characteristics, since the tree has amazing variability. Due to the multitude natural conditions it changes so much that it is impossible to visually determine the type of lumber with an accuracy of one hundred percent.

Reliable information can only be obtained using special tests. To determine accuracy, take a small sample of wood, since larger sizes are more difficult to conduct tests.

The photo shows the wood species

Valuable

Valuable wood is very popular, despite its high cost. This is a practical and beautiful material with unique properties.

Among the variety of valuable species, the following should be highlighted:

  • Oak. It makes a beautiful and durable material. very pliable and bends well.
  • Its texture is similar to oak, but its wood is of a lighter shade. If dried incorrectly, it may become slightly deformed.
  • also refers to hard rock species. The beech is steamed before use. This is a very clean, odorless material. Therefore, wooden toys made of beech are highly valued. It is suitable for making countertops.

Conifers

Conifers have soft wood except for . They have higher specific rigidity and strength in compression and static bending.

In coniferous wood (,), the cells are mainly of the same type, so the material is more homogeneous in structure. When examined under a microscope, it is clear that old cells are very thick-walled, while those formed this season have thin walls and more resin passages. Therefore, the width of the ring is not so important. The more old rings, the higher the quality.

The formation of rings is greatly influenced by the location where the tree grew. If its growth was moderate, its strength increases. Mechanical properties Coniferous wood is very tall, so it is often used as construction and structural timber, after undergoing special processing.

How to determine the quality and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 grade of softwood lumber by GOST 26002-83:

Soft

You can recognize soft rocks by their clearly defined light tones. To improve the properties of soft rocks, they are treated by special means. Such material is invaluable in carpentry. This can be safely included.

Softwood has been used since Roman times to make household and agricultural tools. Traditionally it was stained in water to enhance its strength. Wood carvers love it very much, as it is a very pliable material. It is not suitable for construction.

Solid

Hardwoods are more valuable. With their help, they create reliable structures that require high strength. High natural characteristics do not allow warping. The standard of hardness is oak. Solid wood is not afraid of mechanical loads and does not change its shape under their influence.

But houses are usually not built from oak, since it is very expensive wood. If there are abnormal changes colors, this denotes a painful condition. As a result of the disease, the wood loses its strength.

Deciduous

The structure of hardwood is more complex. When considering it, it is customary to divide the material into two classes: ring-porous and diffuse-porous. In some cases, the differences are too small to see without a magnifying glass. The most common are, and.

Deciduous trees have a large core diameter. It is usually much darker than the sapwood. But sometimes, due to growing conditions, there is almost no difference in color, which leads to confusion. Deciduous wood has patterns of varying expressiveness. These could be rings or stripes. Detailed standards for tolerance of defects in deciduous wood are specified in GOST 7897-62.

Exotic woods

The popularity of exotic hardwoods is due to their aesthetic properties. They have a beautiful texture and rich saturated colors. Great value have their strength characteristics and unique properties.

Of particular commercial value are:

  • Wenge. Grows in Africa in tropical jungles. Wenge solid wood is used to make furniture, parquet, and veneer for decorative door coverings. They create overlays for guitar necks and knife handles. Wenge-finished floors are surprisingly durable.
  • Ebony. Trees with black wood grow in Africa, Indochina and Hindustan. The wood is very heavy. Square meter Ebony parquet costs approximately 50 thousand US dollars. Wood has unique properties; it absorbs sound waves, which allows it to contribute to reducing noise in buildings.
  • Iron tree. Grows in Asian countries. This hard and very durable wood is used to make machine parts. That's why they call it iron. These species include Boxwood, Casuarina, Parrotia persica, Quebracho and others. Quebracho means "break the axe" in Spanish. In our country, an iron tree also grows - Schmidt birch. It has a strength one and a half times greater than cast iron.

It is extremely difficult to buy materials from exotic rocks. Due to their small numbers, they are under state protection.

In construction, thanks to the competent selection of forest products, any building will be of high quality and durability. Therefore, preference should be given only to high-quality wood.

Various methods are used to determine the hardness of materials (including wood). To determine hardness, tests are most often carried out using the Brinell and Rockwell methods.

According to the Brinnell method, a steel ball is pressed into the material under load, then the depth of indentation is measured. After this, the formulas are used to calculate the hardness in units designated HB.

When studying Rockwell hardness, a steel ball or (for the hardest materials) a diamond cone is also pressed into the material. Hardness, depending on the measurement scale used, is designated as HRA, HRB and HRC.

Based on the measurement results, a list of wood types by hardness was compiled. Below is a list of wood species, from hardest to softest (according to Brinell).

Jatoba

This tropical tree has very durable wood, its hardness is 7HB. Yatoba's homeland - humid tropics South and Central America. The wood is quite light, grayish in the sapwood. The heartwood is red, red-brown or dark orange in color and has yellow, orange and red banding. Cut wood darkens within 6-7 days and becomes brick red. Jatoba is called "Brazilian" or "South American cherry".

The height of a mature tree reaches 40 meters. The wood is used to make furniture, flooring and parquet boards. Jatoba is used to make elements of decorative interior decoration.

Sucupira

The hardness of wood is 5.6HB. Sucupira grows only in the Amazon rainforest. The height of a mature tree reaches 30 meters. The core of the trunk consists of red-brown "dull" wood. The outer part, the sapwood, is lighter, whitish. In the cut, yellow stripes of parenchymal matter are clearly visible. The texture of sucupira is unique and differs from the structures of other types of wood. It is beautiful, and the oily substances contained in the wood make it resistant to destruction by woodworms and fungi. Sucupira is used to make floor boards, parquet boards and furniture. The wood is difficult to saw, but takes sanding and polishing well.

Turmoil

The hardness of mutenia wood is 5HB.

This tree grows in the humid tropics of West Africa. It grows 60 m in height. Muthenia wood is brown, like walnut, olive with a brownish tint. Special beauty the material is given “rays” purple. The structure of muthenia wood is similar to teak wood.

Mutenia is used for the manufacture of flooring boards, furniture and elements of interior decoration of buildings.

Merbau

The hardness of merbau wood is 4.9HB. Merbau is native to the humid tropics of Papua and New Guinea and the forests of southeast Asia. An adult merbau tree grows up to 30 meters. The wood is dense (the weight of a cubic meter reaches 800 kg), the core is painted light orange or yellow. Merbau sapwood is light yellow. The wood darkens over time, becoming bronze or brown, with a silvery tint. The fibers are straight or crooked and create a beautiful texture. Merbau is resistant to moisture and is suitable for decorating bathrooms. Merbau wood is used to make parquet boards, furniture, and strong, durable buildings.

Canadian maple

There are 200 maples native to Eurasia and North America. Canadian maple wood has a hardness of 4.8HB.

Maple grows up to 20 meters in height. Its wood is white, uniform in structure, with clearly visible growth rings. The section clearly shows heart-shaped rays of light gray color. Maple does not swell with water and bends well when treated with steam.

Most of the maple wood is used to make furniture, parquet boards, gun stocks, plywood, musical instruments, boxes, carved folk crafts, antique wooden dishes. Maple cuts well and polishes easily.

Yarra Australian eucalyptus

The hardness of Australian jarrah according to Brinnell is 4.7-5 HB. The tree grows up to 35-40 m, and up to a height of about 20 m it has no knots at all, which has a positive effect on the quality of the wood. The color of the wood of young trees is varied - from pinkish to rich purple shades. Mature trees have dark red wood. The sawn wood darkens in the air, becoming crimson-red. Products made from this wood are very beautiful, but the finished material is prone to cracking and changing shape when dried. Therefore, lumber is processed after drying. Yarra cuts and polishes well. Wood is used to make veneer, parquet, furniture, musical instruments, and sports equipment. In Australia, bridges, buildings, piers, and telegraph poles are built from it.

Yarra Amazonian

The hardness of the Amazonian yarra is about 6HB, its homeland is South America. Amazonian yarra has a dark reddish or plum colored heartwood. The sapwood of the tree is lighter yellowish or brownish. Amazonian jarra wood darkens from exposure to air and moisture, its texture consists of small fibers, and there is no sharp boundary between the sapwood and the heartwood. Amazonian yarra is difficult to process, but it polishes and bends well. This wood is used as a material for the construction of buildings and boats, furniture and a wide variety of things are made from it.

Rosewood

The hardness of rosewood is 4.4HB, it grows only in the forests of Guatemala and Brazil and produces one of the most expensive types wood The height of an adult tree is 25-28 meters. The wood has the scent of fresh roses and is brightly colored (pink and dark red, banded heartwood and yellow sapwood). Aromatic oil is obtained from rosewood shavings, which is used in the perfume industry and cosmetology.

Rosewood is perfectly dried, sawn, cut and polished perfectly. It is used to make decorative boxes and cigar boxes (humidors), musical instruments, souvenirs and wooden elements of gift weapons, and decorative interior elements.

Ash

The hardness of ash wood is 4HB. This is a very common tree species, it grows throughout Europe and Asia (European ash) and on the American continent (American ash). A mature tree grows to 35 meters or more in height. The wood of young trees is uniform, light, slightly grayish. In mature trees, the color of the core is brown, brown, gray. Some types of ash have heartwood and sapwood of reddish and yellowish shades.

The grain of the wood is straight, and the structure of the wood is large and complex and resembles the structure of oak. The growth rings are clearly visible and create a striped pattern. Wood rays are also developed, especially in the lower part of the trunk.

The scope of application of this type of wood is large; boards of various sizes, plywood, furniture, including bent furniture, and veneer are made from it. In the Middle Ages and in ancient times, weapons, hunting equipment, siege weapons and catapults were made from ash.

The hardness of oak is 3.8HB. There are 600 known species of this tree. Oak wood is resistant to atmospheric air and does not rot when exposed to water.

The color of the wood is white, yellowish, brownish in various shades, with well-defined annual rings. The sapwood of some oak species is much whiter than the heartwood.

Oak, which has lain for several centuries at the bottom of a reservoir, does not rot or decompose, but becomes a durable, very hard material of a dark brown or almost black color.

The wood structure has high decorative properties, is easy to cut and polish. Oak is a valuable type of wood; a wide variety of things are made from it: furniture, parquet boards, wooden parts of carriages and other vehicles, barrels.

Bog oak is a valuable material for artistic carving, production of carved panels, stairs, railings, furniture, doors and trim, interior elements, wooden sculpture. This material is still used in shipbuilding (stairs, railings, flooring, finishing).

The hardness of beech is 3.8 HB, this species is common in central and western Europe, the height of a mature tree reaches 35 meters. Beech fiber is smooth and straight, without strands or defects. Beech wood has a yellowish or pinkish color; its structure is a homogeneous, dense material. Mature trees over 80-85 years old have a red heartwood. This unevenness disappears after steaming the wood, this procedure gives the beech a uniform brown, slightly reddish color.

Steamed beech bends well; furniture in the style of Viennese chairs, bent parts for armchairs and other furniture are made from it.

Beech has proven itself well as building material, it is a raw material for the production of cellulose. It is also used to make boards, veneer, plywood, furniture, shavings, and viscose. In total, there are about 200 types of uses for this tree.

Rowan

The hardness of rowan is 3HB. This tree is widespread; there are 48 species of rowan.

Rowan wood is used to a limited extent; it shrinks significantly when dried and is highly fire resistant.

Rowan sapwood, depending on the type, is white with a red tint or light yellowish. The rowan kernel is dark, brown or reddish brown.

This tree is not cut down industrial scale. It is harvested to a limited extent for the manufacture of furniture, souvenirs, and wooden tool handles.

Apple

Apple wood is soft or medium hard. The apple tree has a brownish-red heartwood and white, reddish sapwood. The annual rings are usually well defined, the wood fibers are straight and wavy. The disadvantage of apple tree wood is that woodworms can settle in it and render furniture and other products unusable. The dense structure of the apple tree allows you to make very fine and elegant carvings.

Pear

Pear wood is dense and viscous, hard and heavy in weight. When dried, the material loses a lot of weight due to shrinkage. The color of the wood is even, brown, with a pink tint. The pattern of the annual layers is almost invisible on the cut. After drying, pear wood is suitable for making furniture, small items, boxes and souvenirs. When dried, the material does not lose its shape, which makes it possible to make musical instruments from it. Several decades ago, pears were used to make drawing boards, drawing supplies, and instrument parts.

Nut

European walnut ( walnut) grows in southern Europe and Asia Minor. The hardness of wood is 5HB. Walnut produces expensive wood, highly valued by lovers of natural materials. Walnut wood has an even, parallel fiber structure; in some areas the fibers create wavy curvatures. Trees living in the northern parts of the range have lighter wood, while southern varieties of wood are darker and more expensive.

The core wood is dark brown or gray. The sapwood is light gray, brownish, of various shades. Walnut wood is a high-quality raw material for the production of furniture, parquet and veneer, sculptures, and souvenirs. Finished walnut products can be spoiled by the wood boring beetle.

American walnut has the same properties as walnut, but the hardness of its wood is less and equal to 4HB.

Cherry (cherry)

The hardness of cherry wood is 3.5 HB. Both European and American cherry are used in woodworking. The tree grows to a height of 25 meters. Cherry wood is used to produce veneer and furniture in limited quantities, tool handles, souvenirs, and toys. Cherry products should be used indoors, as precipitation contribute to rotting and destruction of wood. Wood-boring beetles can also damage wood.

The cherry kernel material is dark, brown, sometimes with red tints. The sapwood is light yellowish. The annual rings are clearly visible in the cut. The structure of the wood is finely and finely banded. American cherry has darker sapwood than European cherry.

Birch

The hardness of European birch wood is 3HB, Karelian (Scandinavian) birch wood is 3.5HB. Birch wood is durable, uniform, white or yellowish in color. European birch has whiter wood than Karelian birch.

American birch is distinguished by the distribution of strands, in contrast to the wood of European species.

Birch is elastic and lends itself well to any tools for turning and carving. The structure of the wood is very delicate and beautiful; the pattern of Karelian birch after staining is especially contrasting and original.

Birch wood is widely used in a wide variety of industries. It is good for making light-colored furniture and musical instruments, handles, souvenirs and toys. Birch is used to make spindles, reels and bobbins for winding threads in textile production.

The hardness of elm wood is 3HB. There are 35 species of this tree. The elm grows up to 40 meters in height. The sapwood of the elm is light brown, the heartwood of the tree is much darker. It is well developed in mature trees. The annual rings are visible on the cut and the core is well separated from the sapwood.

Elm takes polishing and processing with any tool well. This is a strong, well-bending wood; it produces high-quality arches and rims, furniture, plywood, and interior items. vehicles. Elm is a favorite tree of urban landscapers.

Chestnut (horse)

Chestnut wood is light, almost white, with a slightly wavy structure. It is soft, homogeneous and viscous. Chestnut is resistant to fungi and wood-boring beetles. This material makes beautiful parquet boards and furniture. Chestnut wood takes polishing and any processing well.

Hard conifers - larch and juniper

Larch

The hardness of larch wood is 2.6HB. The tree trunk has a dark reddish core. Larch sapwood is lighter, yellowish-red. The sapwood is separated from the core by a clear boundary; the annual rings on a cut tree are clearly visible.

Larch perfectly resists rotting processes. Houses built from this wood last hundreds of years; the lumber shrinks slightly.

Larch wood is viscous, and its processing is a labor-intensive and slow process. Exposure to water significantly increases the hardness of deciduous wood and its resistance to destruction processes (soaked wood is “hard as stone”). Dams, pillars and bridges made from this material last for decades. Houses are built from larch, boards, furniture, and outdoor sculptures are made.

Juniper– hard rock coniferous tree, including 70 species. Juniper is characterized by a peculiar coniferous smell of wood, which persists in finished product for years. The core of the tree has a dark brown, brown color. The sapwood of the wood is light, greenish-yellow or light yellow. This is a dense, strong rock that accepts any processing and polishing well, and does not chip when cutting (manually and on a lathe) and sawing. Juniper wood is used to a limited extent for making small items, toys and souvenirs.

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In this article I will talk about wood and its types.

As we all know, it is impossible to make a craft without wood. Nowadays, there are a lot of types of wood that are different in quality, hardness, softness, color, properties, etc.

Wood may react to climatic conditions. For example, if you store plywood in a warm, unventilated area, the plywood will deteriorate over time.

Wood consists of elongated thin cells, like straws, which conduct water with dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves, where they form in the light organic matter necessary for tree growth. The wood of each species has cells that are characteristically located only in that species.

Wood can be soft or hard.

Softwood

This is wood that is made up of evergreen coniferous trees. It is usually softer and less expensive than hardwood because conifers grow faster. Softwood is common in furniture production and is a raw material for paper production. Veneers are made from soft wood, then plywood, and we, in turn, cut crafts from plywood.

Hardwood

These are the so-called broad-leaved tree species. She is expensive because... Hard wood is denser than soft wood, products made from it are strong and durable. That is why such wood is valued in carpentry.

V Soviet era wood was divided into two groups: “Coniferous” and “Deciduous”.
Conifers- considered a soft breed.
Deciduous- belonged to hard rocks.

Types of wood:

1. Pine

(soft breed)

There are many varieties of pine, widely used in construction and for the manufacture of certain types of furniture.

2. Mahogany

(hard rock)

The species, native to Honduras and Africa, is widely used in furniture production, usually in the form of veneers.

3. Elm

(hard rock)

A good general purpose material used in shipbuilding, as a structural material and for turning.

4. Cedar

(soft breed)

Lightweight and durable wood Cedar wood turns gray over time. Used for making stairs and window frames.

5. Douglas fir, or otherwise False Suga

(soft breed)

Very tall trees, the wood of which is used as a structural material in furniture and plywood production.

6. Beech

(hard rock)

The wonderful fine-grained beech wood is suitable for furniture, woodturning and toy making, but not for outdoor products.

7. Oak

(hard rock)

Very strong and durable oak wood is necessary for construction work and in the manufacture of furniture.

8. Chinara

(hard rock)

Light wood. Used in the manufacture of furniture and small parts, such as turning products.

9. Teak

(hard rock)

Heavy and durable teak wood is used in carpentry, furniture production and shipbuilding.

10. Birch

(hard rock)

Moderately hard birch wood is widely used in carpentry and furniture production.

11. Bog oak

(hard rock)

Bog European oak, having brown, is highly valued as a facing material for furniture.

12. Ebony

(hard rock)

It has extremely hard and expensive wood. Used in the manufacture of keys for musical instruments, chess pieces, etc.

13. Larch

(soft breed)

Moderately soft larch wood is used both in furniture production and for the manufacture of piles, posts, sleepers, and floors.

14. Black walnut

(hard rock)

An excellent material for making furniture and turning products.

15. Ash

(hard rock)

Very hard and durable ash wood is used to make tool handles and sports equipment. Excellent material for turning work.

16. Afromosia

(hard rock)

Grows in West Africa. Used in the manufacture of furniture. Sometimes it stains under mahogany.

17. Silver maple

(hard rock)

Part of the maple wood with marks from underdeveloped branches is used in the form of veneer.

18. American linden

(hard rock)

Lightweight hardwood. Used to make cases, toys, and some types of furniture.

19. Entandrophragm

(hard rock)

Grows in Africa. It is used to make decorative furniture, usually in the form of veneer.

20. Ebony

(hard rock)

An exotic tree native to Africa. Used for the manufacture of decorative furniture.

The main parameters by which industrial wood is selected for furniture production: strength, resistance to deformation, wear resistance. All these three qualities are combined into one indicator - wood density, that is, the ratio of the mass of the tree to its volume.

Types of wood depending on density:

A) Soft (up to 540 kg/m3) – spruce, pine, aspen, linden, fir, poplar, chestnut, alder, cedar;

B) Hard (550-740kg/m3) – larch, birch, oak, elm, beech, plane tree, walnut, maple, apple, ash;

B) Very hard (from 750 kg/m 3) – iron birch, rowan, white acacia, hornbeam, dogwood, boxwood, pistachio tree.

Let's consider the breeds most in demand in furniture production:

1. Pine

Wood color– brown, beige-yellow, white with light pink streaks. The best material for making furniture is considered to be pine trees growing on a hill with sandy soils or on dry hills. In such wood, the annual layers will be pronounced and narrow, close to each other. Pine grown in an area with high humidity will have a loose structure, and blanks from it will have to be dried for a long time before being put into production. Pine wood is soft, easily scratched and damaged.

Pros:

  • flexibility in processing. Pine is easily planed along the grain, but difficult to plan in the transverse direction. When cutting, the opposite is true—a log cuts across easily, but poorly along lengths.
  • easy to glue;
  • depending on the color and structure of the wood, pine is used both for making furniture with subsequent varnishing, and for frames, and various designs with hardwood veneer veneer;
  • like all conifers, it has a pleasant smell and releases phytocindes, which are considered medicinal.

2. Spruce

Spruce wood is softer than pine. In addition, the trunk contains large number knots that make it difficult to process wood for the manufacture of furniture panels. Compared to pine, spruce absorbs moisture better and begins to rot faster. Due to its inexpressive texture and low strength, spruce is most often used for mosaic finishing or in structures that do not experience significant loads during operation.
Pros:

  • spruce wood is practically not subject to warping;
  • sticks well.

Along with spruce, Siberian fir is also used - these two trees have similar indicators.

3. Larch

The wood of this coniferous tree is valued for its unusual reddish-brown hue and high performance. From disadvantages of larch– a large amount of resins, which quickly damages tools and causes difficulties in processing. If improperly dried, internal cracks form on larch wood.

Pros:

  • high moisture resistance;
  • excellent strength indicators (the best among conifers);
  • little subject to warping;
  • used for making carved parts.

4. Cedar

Yellowish-white cedar wood is not very strong and dense, so it cannot withstand heavy loads.

Pros:

  • resistance to rot and wormhole;
  • suitable for carving;
  • has a specific woody aroma.

5. Yew

Red-brown with light and dark veins, yew wood has high strength, but also a large number of knots.
Pros:

  • not subject to wormhole,
  • easy to plan and sand,
  • insensitive to atmospheric changes.

6. Oak

On a radial section of an oak trunk, large pith rays and light sapwood are clearly visible. Oak is the most widely used hardwood in the manufacture of solid wood furniture, due to its excellent combination of strength and beautiful texture. If oak lies in water for a long time (several decades), its wood acquires a rare dark purple color with a green tint. Oak wood is difficult to polish and requires equipment with highly hardened cutters.

Pros:

  • despite the high viscosity of wood, it is processed quite well;
  • bends easily;
  • resistant to rotting;
  • lends itself well to artificial aging techniques.

7. Ash

Wood for many qualities looks like oak, but lighter and does not have pronounced medullary rays. Ash must be subjected to antiseptic treatment, since in humid conditions the wood is quickly damaged by wormholes. Poorly polished.

Pros:

  • bends well after steaming;
  • cracks little when dried;
  • When bleached, it acquires an unusual shade of gray hair.

8. Beech

Beech wood strength is not inferior to oak, but is highly hygroscopic, so it is not recommended for the manufacture of furniture that will be used in high humidity(bath, kitchen). Poorly polished.

Pros:

  • high decorative qualities: beautiful texture both in radial and tangential cuts,
  • quick to dry, does not crack;
  • easy to process: pricks, saws, cuts, bends;
  • It is perfectly bleached and painted using special solutions - it practically does not change the beautiful natural shade when varnishing.

9. Hornbeam

It has hard, dense wood of a grayish-white color. It is often called white beech, but hornbeam has a less pronounced texture and often has a cross-ply structure, which makes the tree difficult to split.

Pros:

  • after proper drying, the hornbeam becomes harder than oak;
  • not subject to warping;
  • lends itself well to etching and finishing.

10. Common birch

Birch wood, despite its high density, is not resistant to rotting, therefore it is used primarily for the manufacture of plywood, peeled veneer, and chipboard. It takes a long time and does not dry well, is susceptible to wormholes, cracks badly, and warps.

Pros:

  • uniform structure and beautiful color of wood;
  • bends well;
  • in the production of solid wood furniture it is used as an imitation of valuable species (it is well colored when etched).

Karelian birch is distinguished separately, which has higher performance indicators, is known for its unusual texture and pink wood It is expensive, so it is used mainly for veneering solid wood furniture.

11. Maple

Despite the fact that it is dense Maple wood rarely cracks, He not resistant to dampness. Bird's eye and sugar maple are the most prized maples because of their characteristic beautiful structure.

Pros:

  • easy to prick, well processed: cut, polished;
  • has a homogeneous structure without pronounced fibers;
  • when painted, it successfully imitates valuable species;
  • Maple wood does not have a pronounced core, so it is easily painted, varnished, and stained.

12. Alder

Soft breed, without a pronounced structure. Alder wood quickly darkens in air, so it is used mainly in painted form (black or mahogany). Feature of alder: susceptible to wormhole in dry places, but resistant to rot in wet conditions.

Pros:

  • dries quickly,
  • easy to carpenter,
  • polishes well
  • warps slightly.

13. White acacia

The hardest hardwood, therefore, has high friction resistance and is elastic. In dry form it is difficult to process, so it is used mainly for facing soft rocks.

Pros:

  • perfectly polished;
  • When exposed to air, the wood darkens, causing the texture to acquire a bright yellow-brown color and expressive texture.

14. Walnut

How older tree, the more valuable and darker its wood. The most expensive variety is American black walnut.

Pros:

  • a wide variety of shades;
  • dense but malleable wood;
  • easy to paint, thanks to the high content of tannins (from ebony tint to even white color).

15. Linden

It is used in production for the production of figured turned elements. It contains little tannins, so it practically does not stain, but it can be stained very well (with the correct concentration of the solution, linden wood can be given the appearance of more valuable wood species). Needs antiseptic impregnation, as it is highly susceptible to wormholes.

Pros:

  • resists moisture well,
  • wood is durable and plastic,
  • has a beautiful white and creamy hue.

As you can see, each wood has its own advantages and disadvantages, based on which you can choose a certain type for making furniture from solid wood.