Types of Wood - Softwood
Softwood comes from trees that are conifers, they generally have needles and not flat leafs and most grow faster then other wood types.
Softwood generally isn't as strong as hardwood but there are few species that are harder then most hardwoods, the term softwood is down to its micro structure so more a scientific name.
There are plenty of softwood species but we will cover the most common ones.
Cedar
The image is of Spanish Cedar but there are many different types. It has a fine grain and a very knotty-grain which varies around knot.
Although durable its classed as a softwood due to only having 2 cells and its micro structure.
Finishes great with oils and its machinability is good.
Common uses is external cladding, Outdoor furniture, ornamental furniture & weather proofing.
Cypress
Very tight Knots with a close, tight and straight grain, grain colour varies from yellow to red and even chocolate browns.
Hard and Durable, as well as being a natural insect repellent it is resistant from rot and decay.
Finishes great with water based oils and its machinability is good.
Common uses are flooring, Outdoor Furniture as well as windows and exterior molds.
Pine
White pine being the most common as well as red pine, the grain is close and knotty and very pale in colour.
Not the hardest of woods but gives great structural strength.
Takes most finishes well including paint and its machinability is very good but can be fragile near the end gain.
Very common to be used around the home for just about anything, not to well suited for the outside unprotected but it socks in wood protection well so is also very commonly used outside. Pine furniture is also very common and popular.
Redwood
Commonly the name is mistaken for Red Pine but it closely assembles Cypress, It has close straight grain and very few knots, the knots are loose.
A lot of Redwood these days is fast grown and is white (looks like pine) and can be commonly found as PAR in timber merchants.
Its durable and has resistance to rot and fire.
Natural Finishes are better and its machinability is good
A common use is exterior decking.
Spruce - Whitewood
The tree that most paper is made from, this is a very fast gowning tree and its mostly used in the general construction trade. Spruce is an open straight grain wood and has a lot of knots
Not the hardest of woods but gives great structural strength.
Takes most finishes well including paint and its machinability is very good but can be fragile near the end gain.
Commonly found in DIY stores or builders/timber merchants sold as CLS (Canadian Lumber Size) or PAR (Planned All Around), used mainly for modern construction and just about anything wooden around the home and exterior.
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