Softwood or Hardwood?
Generally speaking soft woods also tend to be less expensive. Now this doesn’t mean that they’re all cheap because some of the more exotic softwood species can be costly as well. Even so, if you’re looking for a cheap wood, perhaps some of the cheapest stock you’ll find is construction grade Douglas fir. It’s the wood they build houses out of.
Hardwoods are also heavier for the most part. In fact some of them can be surprisingly heavy so if you’re planning a project where weight might be an issue, keep that in mind.
If you can’t actually pick up a piece of what you are considering to check the weight then make a point of asking about it before you order.
Soft woods also tend to be easier to repair than hardwoods in general terms. For instance dents are far easier to steam out a piece of softwood. Simply place a damp cloth over the dent and then use a regular clothing iron to press down on the dent to raise it up and out. It’s also easier to sand scratches out of softwood.
On the other hand if you prefer a natural unfinished surface, you may want to go with a hardwood for a few reasons. First of all because the hardwood is hard, more compact and dense, it can be sanded and polished to a very fine finish.
Also hardwoods tend to not absorb body oils and become discoloured like soft wood can on things the door handles and the arms of chairs.
Hardwoods are also stronger than soft woods in general. This is why you’ll find things like tool handles and baseball bats are always made out of hardwood. Now there are some soft woods there are less soft than others, also older aged softwood tend to get harder, as well as areas around knots.
Size of the stock is also another difference worth noting. For instance if you have a large project in mind that requires bigger pieces of wood, you’ll have fewer problem finding the dimensions you need.
Particularly if you’re looking for very large pieces of wood, in a softwood. You see, soft woods grow much faster, so it just takes less time to grow a larger tree.
Hardwoods are also stronger than soft woods in general. This is why you’ll find things like tool handles and baseball bats are always made out of hardwood. Now there are some soft woods there are less soft than others, also older aged softwood tend to get harder, as well as areas around knots.
Size of the stock is also another difference worth noting. For instance if you have a large project in mind that requires bigger pieces of wood, you’ll have fewer problem finding the dimensions you need.
Particularly if you’re looking for very large pieces of wood, in a softwood. You see, soft woods grow much faster, so it just takes less time to grow a larger tree.