Custom Furniture: Choosing the Right Wood for Your Needs-Which Wood Species is Best for You?
Handmade furniture made from good quality wood is an investment for life and will last many years to come. When it comes to choosing the right wood for your handmade furniture, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. The most important factor is the hardness of the wood. The harder the wood, the more durable it will be. But hardness is not the only thing you need to consider. You also need to take into account the grain of the wood and the color.
In this article, we will use the janka hardness scale to determine the wood resistance. We will rank some of the most popular woods used in handmade furniture according to their hardness. We will also give you a brief overview of each type of wood so that you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
What is the Janka Scale?
The Janka Scale is a measure of the hardness of wood. It is a test invented by Gabriel Janka in 1905. The test measures the amount of force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball into the wood to half its diameter. The higher the number on the scale, the harder the wood. The highest number on the scale is 4,410.
Ash
Ash is a beautiful wood that is often used in furniture making. You can find Ash trees growing in the United States and Canada. It has a light color and a subtle grain pattern. It is also one of the harder woods on the Janka scale, with a hardness rating of 1360. This makes it a great choice for furniture that needs to be resistant to wear and tear. It also has a beautiful grain that makes it a popular choice for furniture-makers. Some of the most common items that are made with Ash wood include dining tables, chairs, coffee tables and bedroom furniture.
Alder
Alder is a light-colored wood, similar to Ash, but softer with a Janka score of 690. This makes it good for furniture that will see less use. Alder is not as durable as harder woods like Ash. Its distinct grain pattern and light coloring are also popular among furniture makers. Alder wood is also known for its natural knots. These knots can add character to the wood and make each piece unique.
Walnut
Walnut is a hardwood that ranks high on the Janka hardness scale (1010 Janka). It is one of the darkest woods available, with a rich chocolate brown color. Walnut has a straight grain with occasional swirls and knots. Some of the most common items that are made with Walnut wood include dining tables, chairs, coffee tables, and bedroom furniture. Walnut is also a popular choice for making musical instruments, such as guitars and violins.
Oak
Oak trees are found in many parts of the world, and they produce a hardwood that is often used for furniture. Oak wood is strong and resilient, making it a good choice for items that need to withstand heavy use. Oak is known for its beautiful grain pattern and light golden brown color with a straight grain. Some of the most common items that are made with Oak wood include dining tables, chairs, coffee tables, and bedroom furniture. It ranks high on the Janka hardness scale, with a rating of 1290. This makes it a durable choice for furniture that will see a lot of use. It is one of the strongest and most durable woods available.
Pecan
Pecan wood is a type of hardwood that shares many of the same characteristics as Oak, including strength and durability. It ranks high on the Janka hardness scale, with a rating of 1360. This makes it a durable choice for furniture that will see a lot of use. It is one of the hardest woods available, which makes it a popular choice for making furniture because it is so hard and durable. Pecan is known for its beautiful grain pattern and light brown color with a straight grain.
One interesting fact about Pecan wood is that it is often used to make gunstocks. Gunstocks are the part of a gun that the user holds while shooting. They need to be strong and durable in order to withstand the recoil from the gun and because of this, Pecan wood is perfect for this job.
Maple
Maple trees are found in North America and Asia. Maple ranks high on the Janka hardness scale, with a rating of 1450. This makes it a durable choice for furniture that will see a lot of use.
Maple wood is most used for flooring. Maple flooring is very popular because it is strong and durable, and it also has a beautiful grain pattern. Maple flooring can be stained in a variety of different colors, which gives homeowners lots of options when choosing the right flooring for their home. You will also see Maple used to make kitchen cabinets because it is so durable and can withstand wear and tear.
Cypress
Cypress trees grow in the swamps of the southeastern United States. This wood species is ideal for outdoor furniture because it is resistant to rot and decay. Cypress is a softwood that ranks low on the Janka hardness scale but it shares many characteristics with hardwoods like ash or oak. You will see yellowish brown color with small knots throughout.
When choosing wood for your handmade furniture, there are many factors to consider beyond just hardness such as grain pattern and density. If you are looking for strength and durability; woods like ash, oak or maple would be your best bet. If you are looking for something lighter in weight, Alder would be better suited. Here at Rustic 9, we want you to feel good about your custom order. If you are unsure of what type of wood you want to use for your handmade furniture, you can always order a sample box of wood that includes multiple kinds of wood samples for you to review and actually see in person. This will give you the opportunity to see the different types of woods that we offer. Thank you for reading and we hope this guide was helpful in choosing the right wood for your next project!
Key Takeaway: When choosing wood for handmade furniture, consider not just the hardness of the wood but also its grain pattern, color and density. Harder woods like Ash, Oak or Maple are great options for strength and durability.