The
Characteristics
of Wood
What You
Need to
Know About
Wood
Introduction:
If you live
in a humid
environment
such as
near a body
of water,
or in a
basement
apartment,
you may be
failure
with the
expansion
of wood do
to moisture
if your
cabinets
are made of
pine. This
is due to
the
flexibility
of wood and
its ability
to absorb
moisture.
All wood
types have
a certain
amount of
elasticity
when put
under
stress.
This
depends on
the type of
wood and
its
moisture
content, as
well as the
amount of
stress that
the wood is
subject to.
These
variations
in wood
type is
known as
the
characteristics
of wood and
depending
on the
wood, they
vary
considerably.
The
elasticity
and
leverage of
wood
woodworkers
have known
about for
centuries
which
accounts
for the
making of
wooden
wheels,
elaborate
battle
ships such
as the
Spanish
Galleons
and
countless
architectural
works.
However, it
wasn't
until the
17th
Century
that there
was
scientific
insight
into the
definitive
properties
of the
mystery of
wood. A
physicist
named
Robert
Hooke
developed a
theory
which
subsequently
became
Hooke's
law. In
layman
terms it
states that
the stress
applied to
a wooden
material
translates
to a
proportional
strain on
this
material.
Increase
the stress
and a
certain
amount of
strain will
permanently
deform the
wood.
Because
there are
many
different
types of
wood, each
with
varying
degrees of
moisture
content and
density,
some will
break while
others will
bend.
Green,
moist woods
such as
Pine and
Douglas
fir, which
can hold a
high amount
of
moisture,
have much
more
malleable
properties
than some
hard wood.
Harder,
dryer
woods, such
as Oak and
Ebony, will
break
before they
bend.
That
is why
cabinetmakers
always
choose
harder
woods such
as Maple,
Oak and
Cherry for
cabinets.
This
ensures the
integrity
of their
finished
product,
regardless
of the
environment.
If you are
new to
woodworking
before you
embark on a
new
woodworking
project,
make sure
you know
your woods.
Here is a
quick
reference
list that
will guide
you:
Soft Woods:
Pine,
Douglas
Fir,
Redwood.
Spruce,
Poplar,
Cedar
Medium Soft
Woods:
Beech,
Walnut,
Rosewood,
Ash,
Chestnut
Hard Woods:
Mahogany,
Ebony,
Cherry,
Maple, Oak,
Teak,
Hickory
See
related
articles:
Where Softwood
Lumber Comes From
Wicker Furniture Repair
Wood
Staining with Aniline Dye Stain
Woodshop Dust Collector
Wood Shop Safety Rules
Woodworking Safety Tips for Beginning Woodworkers
Woodworking Shop Tools
