Softwoods Explained

Softwood is sourced from all across the world and accounts for about 80% of the production of all timber. The main suppliers are North America, Russia, China and the Scandinavian countries. Softwood is mainly used in the construction industry as a structural timber and often as a finishing timber.

When you look through any DIY store or builders you should notice that the majority of wood on sale will be softwood. That is because it is cheaper to buy and easier to work with. You can easily recognise it as the softwood is a light colour with a fairly loose grain.

It comes from coniferous trees such as pine, spruce, and fir, is recognisable by its needle-like leaves. Its lighter weight and less dense structure, compared to hardwood, make it an ideal choice for projects that demand flexibility and lightweight construction.

Characteristics

• Lightweight: Softwood has a light weight and that makes it easier to transport, handle, and use during woodworking tasks.
• Flexibility: It is less dense than hardwood and that allows for easier bending and shaping, making it suitable for projects that require curved or contoured forms.
• Workability: Ask any woodworker and they will tell you that it is generally easier to saw, drill, and sand, making it a popular choice for beginners and hobbyists.
• Cost-effectiveness: Softwood is often more readily available and less expensive than hardwood, making it a budget-friendly option.

Main Applications

• Construction: Because it is light and easy to work with it is the preferred choice for framing, sheathing, and other structural components in buildings.
• Furniture Making: Regularly used for making furniture frames, along with plywood, and other components where lightweight construction is desired.
• DIY Projects: Softwood's versatility and affordability make it a popular choice for DIY projects, from simple shelves and cabinets to birdhouses and other woodworking jobs.

Hardwoods Explained

Hardwood is also sourced from all across the world and accounts for about 20% of the production of all timber. The main suppliers are China North America, India, Brazil and Canada. Hardwood is used to make furniture, boats, veneers, flooring and also used in the construction industry.

Hardwoods are always a dark colour and they have a tight and more dense looking grain. It will last longer than softwoods but are harder to saw, harder to drill through and much harder to screw into. On average you will find that hardwoods are 3-4 times the price of a similar piece of softwood.

Hardwood, comes from deciduous trees like oak, maple, and birch. They are recognised by their broad leaves that change color in the fall. Its heavier weight and denser structure compared to softwood result in greater strength, durability, and resistance to warping and cracking. Additionally, hardwood is known for its aesthetic appeal, with rich grains and textures that enhance the visual appeal of woodworking projects.

Characteristics

• Strength and Durability: It has a denser structure that makes it significantly stronger and more durable than softwood, making it ideal for projects that require heavy-duty construction and long-lasting performance
• Resistance to Warping and Cracking: It has an inherent stability and resistance to moisture fluctuations make it less prone to warping and cracking, ensuring the longevity of woodworking projects..
• Aesthetic Appeal: It has rich grains and textures, and along with its ability to take stains and finishes, make it the preferred choice for high-end furniture, cabinetry, and flooring, where both functionality and aesthetics are paramount.

Main Applications

• High Quality Furniture Making: Its strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal make it the preferred choice for crafting high-quality furniture, such as dining tables, chairs, and cabinets.
• Flooring: It is very resistant to wear and tear. That along with its elegance and ability to enhance the ambiance of a space, make it a popular choice for flooring in homes, offices, and other establishments.
• Musical Instruments: It has very good acoustic properties. That makes it one of the best materials for crafting various musical instruments, including guitars, violins, and pianos.

Softwoods vs Hardwoods Compared

The obvious answer is that softwoods are soft and hardwoods are hard. As a general rule that is true, however like most general rules, there are a few softwoods that are actually harder than hardwoods.as an example the wood from a Yew tree is harder then many hardwoods. Likewise the Balsa tree is a hardwood tree but softer than many softwoods.

Hardwoods grow much slower than softwoods and simply because of that, the wood is denser or thicker. That makes hardwood stronger and harder to cut or drill through.