Types of Wood

The ability to identify the different types of wood used in furniture construction is very important in wood finishing. This knowledge should include not only the ability to recognize a particular wood, but also an understanding of how it reacts to different types of finishes. This requires a more sophisticated knowledge than simple recognition.

For example, the worker must be able to distinguish between an open-grained and a close-grained wood, because the former requires a filler in order to create a smooth surface for finishing. He should have some knowledge of grain and texture, as these characteristics of the wood are important considerations in veneering, inlaying, and other aspects of wood finishing. As you can see, wood finishing requires a certain basic knowledge of the various types of wood used in furniture construction. It is the purpose of this chapter to identify some of these woods and their characteristics.

HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD

Hardwood and softwood are the two most common terms of reference and the two which probably produce the most confusion. The term hardwood does not necessarily mean that the surface of the wood is hard. Although it is true that many hardwoods do have surfaces that are hard (hickory, for example), it is equally true that there are hardwoods with soft wood surfaces (butternut, yellow poplar, etc.). Hardwood (as does softwood) refers to the type of tree. A hardwood is a deciduous tree. These are the relatively broadleaved trees that shed their leaves during certain sea sons of the year. Examples of deciduous trees are the maple, oak, and chestnut. A softwood, on the other hand, is a coniferous tree. These are the needle-bearing or cone-bearing trees of which Douglas fir, white fir, redwood, and ponderosa pines are examples.