CLASSIFICATION

OF
WOODS

• HARDWOOD
• SOFTWOOD
• HARDWOODS are
deciduous trees that have Characteristics
broad leaves.
• Slower growth rate and
• Hardwoods have more
often higher density complex structure than
• It can be crafted into softwoods
durable, long-lasting
furniture, cabinetry, • Dark in color
flooring and each offers • Heavy in weight
unique markings with
variation in grain pattern,
• More fire resistant than
texture and color. softwood
• Higher cost • Strong in Compression
• Usually found in broad
leaved temperate and and tension
boreal latitudes and they
are mostly evergreen.
APPLICATIONS OR USED OF HARDWOOD
HARDWOOD are employed in a large range of applications including fuel, tools, construction,
furniture making, musical intruments, flooring, and many others.
1. FUEL – firewood was the first fuels used by humans. So, the heat energy released by reactions of
fuels can be converted into mechanical energy via heat engine.
2. TOOLS – these are the planer, handle of hammer, and other tools that could help accomplish our
particular task.
3.CONSTRUCTION - optimal material to resist earthquakes and reduce volume of foundations. It is
capable of insulating heat up to six times more than brick, 15 times more than concrete and
400 times more than steel.
4. FURNITURE MAKING – There is strength and durability to a well made piece of wood furniture ,
especially when made from domestic hardwoods. It is use in making stools, sofas, chairs,
beds, drawers and cabinets.
5. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS – the importance of wood is for soundboards, which serve to transmit and
radiate the vibration of a string , and act as a moderator that provides colour to the tone.
6. FLOORING – particulary good flooring material for large spaces that is because the grains and
patterns found within surface will help to break up the monotony of the room, acting as backdrop,
while also working to infuse interest and design into the space.
HARDWOOD ADVANTAGES HARDWOOD DISADVANTAGES
1. Prone to termite damage
1. Long Lasting
2. More expensive
2. Easy to clean 3. Easily scratched
4. Prone to water damage
2. Available in diverse variety
5. Become noisy overtime
4. Unique in appearance 6. High maintenance
HARDWOOD

Common Name(s): European alder, black Common Name(s): Red alder, western red
alder, common alder alder
Scientific Name: Alnus glutinosa Scientific Name: Alnus rubra
Distribution: Western Europe Distribution: Coastal western North America
Tree Size: 65-80 ft (20-25 m) tall,1-2 ft (.3-.6 Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 2-3
m) trunk diameter ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter
Color/Appearance: European alder tends to Color/Appearance: Red alder tends to be a
be light tan to reddish brown; color darkens light tan to reddish brown; color darkens and
and reddens with age. There is no visible reddens with age. There is no visible
distinction between heartwood and sapwood. distinction between heartwood and sapwood.
Large aggregate rays appear as occasional Large aggregate rays appear as occasional
small streaks on the face grain that can be small streaks on the face grain that can be
mistaken for defects in the wood. mistaken for defects in the wood.
Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight, but Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight, but
can also be wild or irregular depending on the can also be wild or irregular depending on the
growth form of each individual tree. With a growth form of each individual tree. With a
fine, even texture fine, even texture
Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, charcoal Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, charcoal
for gunpowder, clogs, piles/supports, and for gunpowder, clogs, piles/supports, and
turned items. turned items.
HARDWOOD

Common Name(s): Andean alder Common Name(s): Nepalese alder,

Scientific Name: Alnus acuminata utis
Distribution: Found at higher elevations Scientific Name: Alnus nepalensis
Central and South America Distribution: Southeast Asia
Tree Size: 65-82 ft (20-25 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 Tree Size: 60-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3
m) trunk diameter. ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter
Color/Appearance: Andean alder tends to be Color/Appearance: Nepalese alder
light tan to reddish brown; color darkens and tends to be a light tan to reddish brown;
reddens with age. There is no visible distinction color darkens and reddens with age.
between heartwood and sapwood. Large There is no visible distinction between
aggregate rays appear as occasional small heartwood and sapwood. Large
streaks on the face grain that can be mistaken aggregate rays appear as occasional
for defects in the wood. small streaks on the face grain that can
Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, with be mistaken for defects in the wood.
a moderately fine, uniform texture. Grain/Texture: Grain is generally
Common Uses: General construction, furniture, straight, with a moderately fine, uniform
cabinetry, millwork, pallets, match sticks, and texture.
carving. Common Uses: Firewood, interior
HARDWOOD

Common Name(s): Alnus Alder, aliso Common Name(s): Grey alder,

Distribution: Primarily temperate regions speckled alder
Scientific Name: Alnus incana
of the Northern Hemisphere
Distribution: Native to Central Europe;
Identification: The defining characteristic various subspecies are also found in
of Alnus species is its large, very temperate regions of North America and
sporadically occurring aggregate rays. On Asia.
the face grain of the wood, the rays may be Appearance:Grey alder is closely related
mistaken for occasional defects in the to Alnus glutinosa, another alder species
wood. With the exception of oak species native to Europe. However, grey alder
(Quercus genus), alder stands as one of the tends to occur as smaller, more multi-
few temperate species in the northern stemmed trees that are less suited to
commercial harvesting for lumber.
hemisphere that has aggregate rays.
However, if clear, defect-free pieces can
be obtained, the wood from the two
species are very comparable.
 ALDER WOOD PRODUCTS

CHAIR MUSHROOM TRAY FRAME

HARDWOOD
 Ash Wood is strong, durable and
light in color. It is course but the
grain is fairly straight . It used in
ASH Black Ash-US & Canada Oregon Ash-Western North
America

making of tools, furniture and Blue Ash-Midwestern US

frames. Red Ash-Australia
 Ash wood can include staircases,
White Ash- Eastern North
treads, moulding, timber frames
America Pink Ash-Australia
and tools.
 Ash wood is not suited for outdoor
Green Ash- Eastern and
purposes. It is rated as perishable Central North America Mountain Ash-Southeatern
and will not last long if in contact Australia
with the outside ground. Green Ash- Eastern North
 Ash is a commonly used in the America
manufacture of electric guitar.
 The leaves are opposite (rarely in whorls
of three), and mostly pinnately, though Olive Ash-Europe
simple in a few species.
 It is slightly more durable with regard to
Tamo Ash-Northern Asia
decay, but is not particularly rot-
resistant or insect-resistant, hence its
suitability for indoor purposes. Tamo Ash- Southern Asia
 ASH WOOD PRODUCTS
BOWL TRAY UTENSIL HOLDER
HARDWOOD
ACACIA
 Acacia is a strong and
durable wood variety. It is
stronger than hickory and
oak. It also has natural  Appearance: wood fibers are
tannins that make it
straight
resistant to moisture. This  Odor: unpleasant smell for
is one of the main reasons
some varieties
people create acacia wood  pricing : more expensive than
outdoor furniture as well
some common hardwoods
as indoor furniture. This
wood will last for many
years with proper finishing
and maintenance.
 Color: Ranges from yellow
to brown, getting redder
with age
 ACACIA WOOD PRODUCTS

COFFEE MUG SOFA SET BOWL

HARDWOOD
ASPEN  One of the most specialized
uses for Aspen wood is in the
 Aspen is a hardwood building of saunas. The wood
grown in Northeast does not conduct heat and can
America but can tolerate the moisture well with
sometimes be difficult to limited swelling or movement.
find. Due to its general Because it does not conduct
limited availability, it is heat easily, it is also
typically only used for very sometimes used in the
specific projects in which production of matchsticks.
Aspen wood is ideal.  These properties are also what
Aspen is a light colored wood make Aspen desirable for using
which takes painting and stain to build drawer slides in
well. This wood can furniture, since this can help
sometimes appear or feel to reduce sticking. This wood is
have a fuzzy texture. also odorless and taste free,
making it ideal for making
chopsticks and kitchen
utensils.
 ASPENWOOD PRODUCTS

BOWL VASE CHAIR

HARDWOOD
 Balsa is a very lightweight
hardwood that is typically used in
BALSA
hobby and craft types of
projects. Many fine woodworkers  The grain of the wood can easily be
tend to have a negative viewpoint painted or stained to use as a veneer
of balsa wood since it is not very in order to achieve a number of looks
strong, but it often under on the cheap.
appreciated and has many  When assembling projects that use
practical uses. balsa wood, it is often necessary to
 The wood is very buoyant, and use glue, since the wood does not play
too nicely with nails or screws. Very
many people are surprised to
thin pieces of balsa wood can often be
learn that balsa wood is often
cut with nothing more than a good
used in building rafts, life utility or craft knife.
preservers, and other types of
items that are designed to float.
Surfboards are a great example
of beautifully crafted projects
that can be made of Balsa wood.
 BALSA WOOD PRODUCTS

GLIDER SURFBOARDS WINE BOX

HARDWOOD
BIRCH  Birch wood has a yellow-white or
reddish-white to light brown
 Birch is a hardwood which is easy to colouring and darkens
find and often one of the more considerably with time. A
affordable hardwood species at coloured heartwood is seldom.
local lumberyards and home Birch wood has a fine to medium-
centers. pore structure, a gentle wavy
 Birch wood is medium-weight and grain and slightly surface shine.
has good strength properties: it is  Birch is widely used for lumber,
elastic and tough but not veneer, plywood and pulpwood.
particularly hard. Shrinkage varies Furniture, cabinets, flooring and
from slight to strong. Except for the other millwork are made from
bark, birch wood is not durable. high-value birch lumber and
Birch wood is light and easy to veneers. The species is a favourite
work. of the wood turning industry for
everything from broom handles
and dowels to toys and crafts.
 BIRCH WOOD PRODUCTS

DOWELS CRAFTS BROOM HOLDER

HARDWOOD
BOXWOO
D
Common Name(s):
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small pores,
Boxwood, Common Box, very numerous, exclusively solitary;
European Box growth rings distinct due to decrease in
Scientific Name: Buxus latewood pore frequency and color
sempervirens change; parenchyma not
Distribution: Europe, visible; narrow rays, normal spacing.
northwest Africa, and Rot Resistance: Heartwood is rated
southwest Asia as durable, though it can become
stained with dark streaks due to fungal
Tree Size: 10-25 ft (3-8 m)
attack. Occasionally susceptible to
tall, 4-6 in (12-20 cm) trunk insect attack.
diameter Common Uses: Boxwood is well-
Color/Appearance: Color suited for carving and turning, and
tends to be a light cream to the tree’s diminutive size restricts it to
yellow, which tends to darken smaller projects. Some common uses
slightly with prolonged for Boxwood include: carvings, chess
exposure to light. Sapwood pieces, musical instruments
(flutes, recorders, woodwinds,
not distinct from heartwood.
etc.), rulers, handles, turned
Grain/Texture: Boxwood objects, and other small specialty
has a fine, even texture with items.
a natural luster. The grain
 BOXWOOD PRODUCTS

2 CHESS PIECES WOOD FLUTE MARQUOIS SCALES

HARDWOOD
CHERRY
 Cherry is a hardwood with a fine,
straight grain that ranges from
reddish-brown to blond.
 Cherry has medium density, with  Readily available. Fine furniture and
cabinet making, moulding and millwork,
good wood bending properties,
kitchen cabinets, paneling, flooring, doors,
medium strength and shock boat interiors, musical instruments,
resistance, but low stiffness, and turnings, and carvings.
can be steam bent with care. Being  Cherry wood is one of the most popular
hard and stable when dry the wood woods to burn in fireplaces due to its
is very easy to stain and finish to an pleasant, non-smoky aroma.
excellent surface. It is highly prized
for furniture and interior joinery.
 CHERRY WOOD PRODUCTS
TURNING (TABLE LAMP)
DRAWER WOOD CROOK
HARDWOOD
Common Name: Dahoma
DAHOMA Workability: Easy to work with both
Scientific Name: Peptadeniastrum
africanum hand and machine tools, though the
Distribution: West, Central, and East wood has a tendency to blunt cutting
Africa edges. Dahoma will also react when put
Tree Size: 100-165 ft (30-50 m) tall, into direct contact with iron in damp
3-6 ft (1-1.8 m) trunk diameter conditions, becoming discolored and
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light stained. Turns, glues, and finishes well.=
yellowish or reddish brown.
Contrasting sapwood may be up to six Common Uses: Heavy construction,
inches (15 cm) wide and is light gray to boatbuilding, docks, flooring, furniture,
pale yellow. Quartersawn surfaces cabinetry, and turned objects.
display a ribbon-stripe figure.
Grain/Texture: Grain is typically
interlocked. With a uniform coarse
texture and moderate natural luster.
Rot Resistance: Rated as moderately
durable, with moderate/mixed
resistance to termites and borers.
HARDWOOD
 Ebony is a dense black/brown
hardwood, coming from several
EBONY
species in the genus Diospyros,  Hardness: Ebony wood is
which also contains the known for its exceptional
persimmons. Unlike most woods, strength and durability,
ebony is dense enough to sink in making it very resistant to
water. It is finely textured and has wear and tear.
a mirror finish when polished,  Because of its colour,
making it valuable as an durability, hardness, and
ornamental wood. ability to take a high polish,
 Color: The heartwood of an ebony ebony is used for
tree is jet-black, with little to no cabinetwork and inlaying,
visible grain. ... piano keys, knife handles,
 Density: Ebony wood is extremely and turned articles.
dense and hard, which makes it  Black chess pieces were made
highly durable. from ebony.
 EBONY WOOD PRODUCTS

CABINET KNIFEHANDLE PIANO KEYS

HARDWOOD

 Elm wood is strong and

ELM
durable with a tight-
twisted grain, and is
resistant to water. It has  Elm wood on the other hand might
been used in decorative well be around for the next ice age
turning, and to make boats if it's cared for correctly. It's a
and boat parts, furniture, timber species gifted with
wheel hubs, wooden water superpowers of durability and can
pipes, floorboards and tough it out in the great outdoors
as cladding, garden furniture or
coffins.
exterior joinery.
 Elm is a beautiful wood
with heartwood colors that
range from light to
medium reddish-brown
and a paler sapwood that
is off-white in color.
 ELM WOOD PRODUCTS

COFFIN WHEEL HUB WATER PIPE

HARDWOOD
FREIJO
Common Name(s): Freijo, jenny Grain/Texture: Grain is straight to
wood shallowly interlocked. Texture is
Scientific Name: Cordia goeldiana uniform but can be rather coarse due
Distribution: Brazil to the very large pores. Good natural
Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) luster.
tall, 1.3-1.5 ft (.4-.6 m) trunk Rot Resistance: Rated as durable,
diameter though not recommended for direct
Color/Appearance: Heartwood ground contact. Generally good
color ranges from light yellowish to resistance to most borers, though only
medium brown, sometimes with moderately so against termites.
darker streaks. Lighter portions of Workability: Easy to work with hand
heartwood aren’t always clearly or machine tools. Glues, stains, and
demarcated from sapwood. finishes well. Good dimensional
Quartersawn surfaces can exhibit a stability and steam bending qualities.
moderate amount of ray fleck Common Uses: Veneer, furniture,
given the width of the rays. cabinetry, boatbuilding, and millwork.
HARDWOOD
GMELINA
Common Name(s): Beechwood
Distribution: Pakistan south to Sri
Lanka and east to Myanmar, Grain/Texture: The grain is straight to
Thailand, Vietnam and southern interlocked, texture coarse. Growth rings
China, Philippines. distinct in regions with a marked dry season,
Tree Size: it can reach a height of 3 not distinct in other regions. The wood is
m in one year and 20 m in 5 years, somewhat oily to the touch. Gmelina is a
and a height of 30 m and a bole lightweight hardwood.
diameter of 50 cm in 20 years It is used for pulp, particle board, plywood,
Color/Appearance:The heartwood is matches, carpentry and packing. It is also
white or yellowish-white, while the used for construction at boards, carving and
sapwood is white, sometimes musical instruments. The leaves and fruits at
greenish; there are no clear Gmelina are used as a fodder, and also used
boundaries between the heartwood for rearing silkworms.
and sapwood.
 GMELINA WOOD PRODUCTS

COOKING UTENSILS BASEBALL BAT CHISEL HANDLE

HARDWOOD
 It is considered an extremely
HICKORY
durable wood, thought to be
able to withstand nearly
anything.  Hickory served many craft uses
 It is the second hardest ranging from blowgun darts, arrow
hardwood species in North shafts, handles for tools, firewood,
America. barrel hoops, corn beaters, and
 Medium-sized tree, up to 24 inner bark for chair bottoms and
m or 80 feet tall, with a 60cm finishing baskets. Its tough inner
or 2 foot trunk diameter. bark and root bark was used for
 slow-growing. lacing and cordage. It makes an
 twigs are stout and tough yet excellent wood for bowmaking.
flexible.
 wood is strong, heavy, tough,
and elastic.
 wood is often attacked by
insects and decays on contact
with moisture.
 HICKORY WOOD PRODUCTS

BOARD PLUGS DARTS

HARDWOOD
HORNBEA
M
USES AND BENEFITS
Hornbeams are small to medium- Hornbeams yield a very hard timber,
sized trees, Carpinus betulus giving rise to the name "ironwood".Dried
reaching a height of 32 m. It is a heartwood billets are nearly white and
EUROPEAN AMERICAN
deciduous tree, alternate, and are suitable for decorative use. For
simple with a serrated margin, and general carpentry, hornbeam is rarely
typically vary from 3 to 10 cm in used, partly due to the difficulty of
length. working it.
It is dense and hard, tough and The wood is used to construct carving
elastic. It is more resistant to boards, tool handles, handplane soles,
breakage than oak. A disadvantage coach wheels, piano actions, shoe lasts,
is the considerable shrinkage, and and other products where a very tough,
it has a tendency to crack and hard wood is required.
warp. Its natural durability is The wood can also be used as gear pegs
generally low, though better when in simple machines, including traditional
used under water. windmills. It is sometimes coppiced to
provide hardwood poles. It is also used in
parquet flooring and for making chess
pieces.
 HORNBEAM WOOD PRODUCTS

PIANO SPOON WINDMILL

HARDWOOD
IROKO
USES AND BENEFITS
Iroko is a large hardwood tree from
the west coast of tropical Africa that The timber is used for a variety of
can live up to 500 years. This is the external and internal purposes
common name for the genus Milicia. including boat-building, domestic
Color/Appearance:Heartwood is flooring, furniture and outdoor gates.
usually a yellow to golden or medium From the late 1990s, it was used as
brown, with color tending to darken part of the txalaparta, a Basque
over time. Pale yellow sapwood is musical instrument constructed of
clearly demarcated from the wooden boards, due to its lively
heartwood. sound. Iroko is one of the traditional
Grain/ Texture:Iroko has a medium to djembe woods. Iroko wood was the
coarse texture, with open pores and wood chosen for the pews in the Our
an interlocked grain. Lady of Peace Basilica.
 IROKO WOOD PRODUCTS

TXALAPARTA JEMBE DRUM PEW OR LONG BENCH SEAT

HARDWOOD
• Common Name: Jarrah
• Scientific Name: Eucalyptus
JARRAH
Marginata USES AND BENEFITS
• Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-
5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Common uses for flooring, hot tubs,
• Color/Appearance: Heartwood color heavy construction, veneer, cabinetry,
ranges from a light red or brown to a outdoor furniture, and turned objects.
darker brick red; tends to darken with Eucalyptus marginata have been used
exposure to light. Thin sapwood is a for traditional purposes as well. Some
pale yellow to pink. parts of the jarrah tree were used as a
• Grain/Texture: Grain tends to be remedy for some illnesses and
interlocked or wavy with a medium to diseases. Fever, colds, headaches, skin
coarse texture. Some boards can diseases and snakes bites were
contain gum pockets or streaks as a traditionally cured through the use of
naturally-occurring defect. Jarrah can jarrah leaves and bark.
also exhibit a curly figure.
• Rot Resistance: Jarrah is rated as very
durable regarding decay resistance,
and it is also quite resistant to insect
attack.
 JARRAH WOOD PRODUCTS

BURL TURNED WINE RACK WOOD BOX

SOFTWOOD
Characteristics
• Wood from gymnosperm
trees such as conifers.
Characteristics
• Cheap comparative to Softwoods are generally most used by
the construction industry and are also
hardwood
• Faster rate of growth used to produce paper pulp, and card
• Lower density products. In many of these
• Softer than hardwood applications, there is a constant need
• Light in color for density and thickness monitoring
• Light in weight and gamma-ray sensors have shown
• Poor resistant good performance in this case.
• Strength in tension but Certain species of softwood are more
resistant to insect attack from
weak in shear
woodworm, as certain insects prefer
damp hardwood.
SOFTWOOD
BALDCYPRESS Grain/Texture: Straight grain and
Common Name(s): Bald medium to coarse texture. Raw,
cypress, swamp cypress, sinker unfinished wood surfaces have a
cypress, pecky cypress, and greasy feel.
tidewater red cypress Rot Resistance: Old-growth bald
Scientific Name: Taxodium cypress is rated as being durable to
distichum very durable in regards to decay
Distribution: Southeastern resistance, while wood from
United States younger trees is only rated as
Tree Size: 80-120 ft (24-37 moderately durable.
m) tall, Workability: Sharp cutters and
3-5 ft (1-1.5 light passes are recommended
m) trunk diameter when working with bald cypress to
Color/Appearance: Color tends avoid tearout.
to be a light, yellowish brown. Common Uses: Exterior
Sapwood is nearly white. Some construction, exterior furniture,
pieces can have scattered dark docks, boatbuilding, interior trim,
pockets and voids where the and veneer.
wood has been attacked by fungi
BALDCYPRESS WOOD PRODUCTS

BALDCYPRESS WOODEN BOAT BALDCYPRESS WOODEN BOWL

SOFTWOOD
Rot Resistance: Regarded as excellent
Common Name(s): Aromatic Red in resistance to both decay and insect
Cedar, Eastern Redcedar attack, Aromatic Red Cedar is frequently
Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana used for fence posts used in direct
Distribution: Eastern North America ground contact with no pre-treating of
Tree Size: 100-115 ft (30-35 m) tall, 3-4 Eatern/Aromatic Red the wood.
ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter Cedar (Juniperus Workability: Overall, Aromatic Red
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to virginiana) Cedar is easy to work, notwithstanding
be a reddish or violet-brown. Sapwood is any knots or irregularities present in the
a pale yellow color, and can appear wood. It reportedly has a high silica
throughout the heartwood as streaks content, which can dull cutters. Aromatic
and stripes. Red Cedar glues and finishes well,
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to though in many applications, the wood is
be a reddish or violet-brown. Sapwood is left unfinished to preserve its aromatic
a pale yellow color, and can appear properties.
throughout the heartwood as streaks Common Uses: Fence posts, closet and
and stripes. chest linings, carvings, outdoor furniture,
Endgrain: Resin canals absent; birdhouses, pencils, bows, and small
earlywood to latewood transition wooden specialty items.
gradual, grain moderately uneven to
moderately even; tracheid diameter
small to very small; zonate parenchyma
EASTERN REDCEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
BIRDHOUSE SIDE TABLE
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Western red cedar,
giant arborvitae
Scientific Name: Thuja plicata
Distribution: Pacific Northwest United Workability: Easy to work with both
States/Canada Western Red Cedar
hand or machine tools, though it dents
Tree Size: 165-200 ft (50-60 m) tall, (Thuja plicata)
and scratches very easily due to its
7-13 ft (2-4 m) trunk softness, and can sand unevenly due to
diameter the difference in density between the
Color/Appearance: Heartwood reddish earlywood and latewood zones. Glues
to pinkish brown, often with random and finishes well. Iron-based fasteners
streaks and bands of darker red/brown can stain and discolor the wood,
areas. Narrow sapwood is pale yellowish especially in the presence of moisture.
white, and isn’t always sharply Common Uses: Shingles, exterior siding
demarcated from the heartwood. and lumber, boatbuilding, boxes, crates,
Grain/Texture: Straight grain with a and musical instruments.
coarse texture and moderate natural
luster.
Rot Resistance: Western red cedar has
been rated as durable to very durable in
regard to decay resistance, though it has
a mixed resistance to insect attack.
WESTERN REDCEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
CRATE GUITAR

Z
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Northern white
cedar, eastern arborvitae Northern White Cedar
Scientific Name: Thuja occidentalis (Thuja occidentalis Workability: Good overall working
Distribution: Northeastern North characteristics, and works easily with
America both hand and machine tools. However,
Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) tall, the wood is both soft and weak, giving it
1.3-2 ft (.4-.6 m) trunk poor screw-holding capabilities. It also
diameter tends to sand unevenly due to the
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light difference in density between the
reddish brown. Relatively narrow earlywood and latewood zones. Glues
sapwood is nearly white and isn’t always and finishes well. Holds paint well.
sharply or clearly demarcated from the Common Uses: Fences, posts, shingles,
heartwood. Numerous small pin knots piles, canoes, outdoor furniture, railroad
are not uncommon in some pieces— ties, and paper (pulpwood).
especially in wood harvested from
smaller ornamental trees.
Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight;
fine, even texture with moderate natural
luster.
Rot Resistance: Rated as durable to
very durable regarding decay resistance;
 NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
OUTDOOR FURNITURE PEELED RAIL POST
SOFTWOOD

Common Name(s): Atlantic White

Cedar, Southern White Cedar
Scientific Name: Chamaecyparis
thyoides
Distribution: Coastal plain regions of Atlantic White Cedar
eastern United States (Chamaecyparis thyoides)
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 1-2
ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a Workability: Easy to work with both
light reddish brown. Narrow sapwood is hand and machine tools. Holds paint
pale yellow-brown to almost white and well. Stains, glues, and finishes well.
is clearly demarcated from the Common Uses: Boatbuilding, carving,
heartwood. siding, shingles, and construction
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a lumber.
fine uniform texture.
Endgrain: Resin canals absent;
earlywood to latewood transition
gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid
diameter small-medium; zonate
parenchyma.
ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
ROOFING SHINGLES MOLDINGS
SOFTWOOD

Common Name(s): Incense Cedar,

California White Cedar
Scientific Name: Calocedrus decurrens
(syn. Libocedrus decurrens)
Rot Resistance: Despite the
Distribution: Western North America Incense Cedar (Caldocedrus
decurrens ) commonness of pockets of fungal decay
(primarily California)
(sometimes referred to as “pecky
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-5
cedar”), dried wood is rated as durable
ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter.
to very durable in regards to decay
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light
resistance, and the wood is sometimes
to medium reddish brown. Sapwood is
used for fence posts on account of its
differentiated from heartwood and is
good weathering characteristics.
light tan to off-white. It’s not uncommon
Workability: Easy to work with both
for boards to contain pockets of partially
hand and machine tools. Holds paint
decayed wood (peck) due to fungal
very well. Stains, glues, and finishes
attack.
well. Excellent dimensional stability.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a
Common Uses: Pencils, Venetian blinds,
medium to fine uniform texture.
fence posts, construction lumber,
Endgrain: Resin canals absent;
sheathing, siding, chests, and various
earlywood to latewood transition
exterior furniture applications.
gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid
 INCENSE CEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
INCENSE CEDAR HOPE CHESTS INCENSE CEDAR PENCILS
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Port Orford Endgrain: Resin canals absent;
Cedar, Lawson’s Cypress earlywood to latewood transition
Scientific Name: Chamaecyparis gradual, color contrast medium;
lawsoniana tracheid diameter medium-large;
Distribution: Pacific northwest zonate parenchyma.
PORT OXFORD CEDAR
United States Rot Resistance: Reported to be
( CHAMAECYPARIS
Tree Size: 150-200 ft (45-60 m) durable to very durable regarding
LAWSONIANA)
tall, 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) trunk decay resistance, and
diameter also resistant to most insect
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is attacks. (Also reported to have
a light yellowish brown. Sapwood good resistance to acid corrosion—
is pale yellow-brown to almost Port Orford Cedar was used for
white and isn’t clearly storage battery separators during
distinguished from the heartwood. and prior to World War II.)
Color tends to darken with age Workability: Easy to work with
upon exposure to light, (though both hand and machine tools.
when left exposed outdoors it Holds paint well. Stains, glues, and
weathers to a uniform gray). finishes well.
Grain/Texture: Port Orford Cedar Common Uses: Arrow shafts,
is sometimes used for making musical instruments (soundboards
arrow shafts, and the grain is on guitars), boatbuilding, boxes
“straight as an arrow,” with a and chests, decking, and various
PORT OXFORD CEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
VENETIAN BLINDS BATTERY STORAGE
SOFTWOOD Grain/Texture: Grain is usually
straight, though sometimes wavy,
Common Name(s): Alaskan with a uniform medium to fine
Yellow Cedar, Nootka Cypress texture.
Scientific Name: Cupressus Endgrain: Resin canals absent;
nootkatensis* ALASKAN YELLOW CEDAR earlywood to latewood transition
*This species has undergone (CUPRESSUS NOOTKATENSIS) gradual, color contrast medium;
many reclassifications, see tracheid diameter small to
note in comments medium.
Distribution: Northwest coast of Rot Resistance: Reported to be
North America durable to very durable regarding
Tree Size: 100-120 ft (30-37 m) decay resistance, and
tall, 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) trunk also resistant to most insect
diameter attacks.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is Workability: Easy to work with
a light yellow. Sapwood is a similar both hand and machine tools,
whitish/pale yellow and isn’t though pieces with wavy grain
distinct from the heartwood. Color may produce tearout during
tends to darken with age upon planing. Holds paint well. Stains,
exposure to light, (though when glues, and finishes well.
left exposed outdoors it weathers Common
to a uniform gray). Uses: Carving, boatbuilding,
siding, flooring, decking, outdoor
ALASKAN YELLOW CEDAR WOOD
PRODUCTS
BOAT DRONE FLUTE
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Douglas fir
Scientific Name: Pseudotsuga
menziesii
Distribution: Western North Rot Resistance: Douglas-Fir
America heartwood is rated to be
Tree Size: 200-250 ft (60-75 moderately durable in regard to
m) tall, decay, but is susceptible to insect
5-6 ft (1.5-2 m) trunk attack.
diameter Workability: Typically machines
Color/Appearance: Can vary in well, but has a moderate blunting
color based upon age and location effect on cutters. Accepts stains,
of tree. Usually a light brown color glues, and finishes well.
with a hint of red and/or yellow, Common Uses: Veneer, plywood,
with darker growth rings. In and structural/construction
quartersawn pieces, the grain is lumber.
typically straight and plain. In
flatsawn pieces, (typically seen in
rotary-sliced veneers), the wood
can exhibit wild grain patterns.
Grain/Texture: Grain is generally
straight, or slightly wavy. Medium
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Balsam fir
Scientific Name: Abies balsamea
Distribution: Northeastern North
America Workability: Generally easy to
Tree Size: 40-65 ft (12-20 m) tall, work with both hand
1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk and machine tools. Glues, stains,
diameter and finishes well.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is Common Uses: Construction
usually white to reddish brown, lumber, paper (pulpwood),
with pale sapwood that isn’t plywood, and other utility wood
clearly distinguished from the purposes..
heartwood. Color tends to darken
with age.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight,
with a uniform medium-coarse
texture.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-
durable to perishable regarding
decay resistance, with little
resistance to insect attacks.
 BALSAM FIR WOOD PRODUCTS

INCENSE
FRAMING LUMBER IN CONSTRUCTION
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Grand fir
Scientific Name: Abies grandis
Distribution: Northwestern
United States and southern British Workability: Generally easy to
Columbia work with both hand
Tree Size: 100-200 ft (30-60 m) and machine tools, though some
tall, drying defects may be present or
3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter occur while drying the wood.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is Glues, stains, and finishes well.
usually white to reddish brown, Common Uses: Construction
with pale sapwood that isn’t lumber, paper (pulpwood),
clearly distinguished from the plywood, and other utility wood
heartwood. purposes.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight,
with a uniform medium-coarse
texture.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-
durable to perishable regarding
decay resistance, with little
resistance to insect attacks.
GRAND FIR WOOD PRODUCT
CHRISTMAS TREE
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Noble fir
Scientific Name: Abies procera
Distribution: Pacific Northwest
region of the United States Workability: Generally easy to
Tree Size: 100-180 ft (30-55 m) work with both hand
tall, and machine tools, though some
3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) drying defects may be present or
trunkdiameter occur while drying the wood.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is Glues, stains, and finishes well.
usually white to reddish brown, Common Uses: Construction
with pale sapwood that isn’t lumber, paper (pulpwood),
clearly distinguished from the plywood, and other utility wood
heartwood. purposes.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight,
with a uniform medium-coarse
texture.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-
durable to perishable regarding
decay resistance, with little
resistance to insect attacks.
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): Pacific silver
fir
Scientific Name: Abies amabilis
Distribution: Pacific Northwest Workability: Generally easy to
region of North America work with both hand
Tree Size: 100-200 ft (30-60 m) and machine tools, though some
tall, drying defects may be present or
2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk occur while drying the wood.
diameter Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is Common Uses: Construction
usually white to reddish brown, lumber, paper (pulpwood),
with pale sapwood that isn’t plywood, and other utility wood
clearly distinguished from the purposes.
heartwood.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight,
with a uniform, medium-coarse
texture.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-
durable to perishable regarding
decay resistance, with little
resistance to insect attacks.
SOFTWOOD
Common Name(s): White fir
Scientific Name: Abies concolor
Distribution: Mountainous
regions of western United States Workability: Generally easy to
Tree Size: 120-180 ft (37-55 m) work with both hand
tall, and machine tools, though some
4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) trunk drying defects may be present or
diameter occur while drying the wood.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is Glues, stains, and finishes well..
usually white to reddish brown, Common Uses: Construction
with pale sapwood that isn’t lumber, paper (pulpwood),
clearly distinguished from the plywood, and other utility wood
heartwood. purposes.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight,
with a uniform medium-coarse
texture.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-
durable to perishable regarding
decay resistance, with little
resistance to insect attacks.
Thank you!