If you are like me and enjoy working with your hands. And building great new wood projects. The first step in woodworking is picking the project that you want to build. The second but really the most important step is choosing the wood to use. But which one? There are so many out there. Here is a little guide that will help you decide. Between the different types of wood, you can choose for your project.
Types Of Wood – How To Choose the Right Wood For Your DIY Project.
There are two main things to consider when deciding between the types of wood. First is to determine what type of grain do you want on your project? Second is do you want a Soft or Hardwood? It is very important to get the right combination of hard or soft wood. And open or closed wood grain. For instance, you would not use a soft wood like pine for a Butchers Block. But this goes without saying.
There are two major types of grains to consider.
They are closed or open grain woods. Woods like oak have an open grain. meaning it has large open pores that give it a very distinct look. These open grains are visible from a distant. I like these open grained woods for projects like furniture.
While woods like cherry or maple are closed grained woods. Their grain is not very visible and does not take well to a smooth finish. I prefer these woods on knick-knack type of projects.
If you plan on not staining or painting your project. Keep in mind color change when selecting your wood for your project. This is very important especially if you are trying to match existing woods. Because different types of wood can change colors. Especially when it is in direct sunlight.
Cherry, Oak, popular, and Maple are some common woods that will darken with exposure to sunlight. Cherry will do this rather quickly. So, you will need to be careful when storing it as well. You don’t want to stack these types of wood with any exposure to sunlight. Uneven sunlight hitting it can create dark streaks in the wood. But if you plan it right this can give these woods very nice character.
Here are some of the popular Soft Woods.
Knotty Alder: In recent years this has just started gaining popularity. This has been considered a “Trash” wood in the past. But this is an inexpensive wood that is well suited for projects like cabinets and furniture.
Popular: This is easy to work with wood that can take a very smooth finish when sanded. But you won’t want to use it on projects that see a lot of action. Because of its undesirable color. This wood is great for painted wood projects.
Pine: A great wood for any project you want the grain very visible. This is an expensive wood thou. If seeing the grain is not that important to you. I suggest going with a cheaper alternative such as Popular.
Soft Maple: The most expensive of the softwoods. So I would suggest making sure you take your time while building this wood. because mistakes can be very costly. Since it can withstand some bumps and dings. it is ideal for projects like painted furniture.
Here are some of the popular Hard Woods.
Maple: A smooth sanding closed grain wood. It can withstand a lot of abuse but will yellow with direct sunlight. With it being a hardwood this can make it a hard wood to work with.
Oak: A very structurally stable and strong wood. Making it a good wood for furniture. Oak tends to darken with sunlight exposure. I love staining this wood versus painting it.
Cherry: This wood is really borderline of being considered a hardwood versus a softwood. But is used a lot due to the red color of the wood. An easy to work with wood that sands very smooth. So I would not use it for anything you intend to paint. And do not forget this wood darkens very quickly with sunlight exposure.
Walnut: Another good looking dark wood which has an open grain. This is a very expensive wood. But well worth the price if you want to build a piece of furniture. One you want to stand out. If the price is a factor for you there is a cheaper way to go. Use a less expensive wood and stain it to look like walnut.
Hickory: This is a very hard wood and is not the most expensive one. It has a great smell but be sure to cut it fast. otherwise, you stand the chance of burning it with the saw. It also has a great contrast between the wood. The Heartwood which is the dark center of the tree. And the Sapwood which is the lighter colored outer wood.
So, before you start your project be sure to consider your wood carefully. The right or wrong wood could make the difference between. A project you are really proud of. And one that might want to make you stop doing DIY projects altogether. I hope you find this helpful and
want you to try your own DIY projects.
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