Wood feels friendly, smells fresh, and works well under a saw or chisel. Yet every board has its own story. Grain runs this way or that, fibers swell with rain, and colors shift as seasons roll by. When you match the story of the wood to the story of the project, tables stay level, doors close tight, and shelves carry weight for years. This guide walks through the most trusted types of wood for home and shop carpentry. You will see how each tree’s hardness, texture, and movement shape the final build. By the end, you will know which boards suit fine joinery, which save money, and which fight off rot outdoors—so your next project starts on solid ground.
Softwood or Hardwood Basics
While the terms sound like strength ratings, they really refer to the tree’s seed type. Hardwoods come from broad-leaf trees such as oak or maple; softwoods grow on evergreens like pine and cedar. Key differences:
- Density: Hardwoods usually score 1,200 lb-f or more on the Janka scale; softwoods often sit below 900 lb-f.
- Growth rings: Faster-growing softwoods show wider rings, making them easier to nail but prone to dents.
- Cost and supply: Softwoods reach mills quickly and cost less. Hardwoods take decades to mature, so prices rise with scarcity.
Pick hardwood for chair legs, flooring, or any joint that must hold firm. Reach for softwood when framing, trim work, or building large panels where weight matters more than brute toughness.
Oak: Strong and Reliable
Oak earns its keep in furniture, flooring, and beams because it balances power with workable grain. White oak rates around 1,360 lb-f on the Janka chart; red oak is close at 1,290 lb-f. Both split less than softer cousins if you pre-drill. Oak’s rays—thin lines that run across growth rings—add striking flecks once stained.
- Best uses: Table tops, stair treads, rail posts.
- Finish tips: Accepts oil, wax, or water-based sealers without blotching.
- Shop notes: High tannin levels can darken near iron; use stainless screws or coat fasteners.
Because the pores are open, oak also steams well, letting you bend thin strips into curved chair backs without cracking.
Maple for Smooth Finishes
Maple comes in two main forms: hard (sugar) and soft (silver or red). Hard maple stands at 1,450 lb-f, making it popular for kitchen tops and bowling lanes. Soft maple hovers near 950 lb-f and planes with less effort. The closed grain gives maple a glass-like surface that takes paint or a clear coat cleanly.
- Best uses: Cutting boards, drawer sides, painted cabinet doors.
- Figure choices: Seek birdseye or curly stock for eye-catching guitar bodies.
- Machining note: Sharp bits are a must; dull edges can burnish and leave scorch marks.
Because maple shrinks more across the grain than along it, remember to leave space in wide panels for seasonal movement.
Cherry Adds Warm Color
Fresh cherry boards look light pink but deepen to rich russet within months of sunlight. At about 995 lb-f, cherry cuts like butter yet resists everyday knocks. Its fine grain helps hide end-grain joints, a bonus for dovetail drawers.
- Best uses: Shaker-style furniture, jewelry boxes, mantel frames.
- Finish guide: A single coat of shellac highlights the figure; extra stain often muddies the color.
- Workshop tip: Stickers between stacked boards let air age the surfaces evenly and prevent blotchy patches.
Small gum pockets—dark streaks from natural resin—are common, so place them on hidden faces if you want a uniform look.
Walnut for Statement Pieces
Walnut’s deep cocoa heartwood and pale sapwood create a striking contrast. Its Janka score of 1,010 lb-f fits chair arms and rifle stocks that need both comfort and durability. Walnut behaves kindly under router bits, leaving crisp profiles that only need light sanding.
- Best uses: Live-edge slabs, book-matched cabinet doors, turned bowls.
- Color care: A clear oil keeps the chocolate tone; a UV-blocking finish slows future fading.
- Gluing hint: Because walnuts are moderately oily, wipe joints with alcohol before spreading glue.
Though pricier than domestic maple or oak, a single walnut accent can turn a plain project into a showpiece.
Pine Keeps Costs Down
Eastern white pine rates a gentle 380 lb-f, so hand tools glide through knots and clear sections alike. Builders prize it for interior trim, shelves, and rustic tables.
- Best uses: Framing, beadboard paneling, farmhouse décor.
- Finishing facts: Soft earlywood absorbs stain faster than dense latewood. To even tone, brush on a thinned sealer first.
- Budget bonus: Wide boards cost far less per foot than hardwood slabs, making pine perfect for prototypes.
Remember that pine dents with a fingernail. A coat of hard wax oil hardens the surface without hiding grain, giving lighter furniture enough defense against bumps.
Cedar Resists Rot Naturally
Western red cedar carries oils that push back insects and fungus, all while weighing half as much as oak. Its 350 lb-f hardness sounds low, but cedar lasts outdoors where tougher woods decay.
- Best uses: Deck railings, garden benches, boat trim.
- Weather wisdom: Leave cedar unfinished for a silver patina or seal it to hold the rosy-brown hue.
- Work tip: The wood’s aroma can irritate the lungs; wear a dust mask when sanding.
Cedar’s low density also provides high thermal resistance, so hot tub skirts and sauna slats stay comfortable to the touch, even under steam.
Specialty Exotics to Consider
Sometimes, a project needs color or stability beyond domestic lumber. Three popular exotics meet that need:
- Teak (1,070 lb-f): High silica content shrugs off salt water, ideal for marine trim.
- Ipe (3,510 lb-f): Nearly fire-resistant and popular for decking that outlasts most screws holding it down.
- Bubinga (1,980 lb-f): Reddish-purple tones and interlocked grain give tables an upscale look.
Exotic boards can dull blades fast; carbide cutters pay for themselves here. Check legality, too—look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) labels to ensure the source follows fair harvest rules.
Moisture, Grades, and Safety
Even the best wood misbehaves if stored poorly. Keep these checkpoints handy:
- Moisture content: Aim for 6–8 % indoors and 10–12 % for covered patios. Use a pin meter before assembly.
- Lumber grades: Select or FAS (Firsts and Seconds) mean wide boards with few knots; construction grade costs less but needs more sorting.
- Safety first: Fine dust from any species can harm the lungs. Hook tools to a collector and wear a respirator rated N95 or higher.
Plan for movement by leaving 1/8 in per foot across the grain in large panels. For floors, nail‐down patterns that allow slight expansion keep boards tight without buckling.
Build with Confidence
Choosing wood is half art, half science. By pairing oak’s muscle, maple’s silky face, cherry’s mellow glow, and cedar’s weather-proof spirit with solid shop habits—dry storage, sharp edges, safe dust control—you set up every tenon, dowel, and hidden screw to do its job. Softwoods stretch the budget where strength is less vital, while exotics offer color or endurance when the project demands more. Now that you know how each kind behaves from forest to finish, you can stroll the lumber aisle with clear eyes, stack boards that suit the task, and turn raw planks into pieces that stand sturdy for years to come.