The 3 Kinds Of Wood Used In Wood Furniture

The most popular furniture out there has been constructed using real wood.

Building real wood furniture has been an industry for hundreds of years, and our prehistoric ancestors probably used wood as they got tired of either squatting or sitting on the dirt floor.

There are three types of woods that can be used in the construction of wood furniture, hardwoods, softwoods, and composites. We will discuss all three in detail below.

Hardwoods
While these woods are called hardwoods, it would be a mistake to think they were denser or harder than other woods. One example of this is balsa wood, which is classified as a hardwood but is probably the lightest and least dense wood around. Lumber gets its classifications from how a tree reproduces. Softwoods tend to be green all year round while hardwoods tend to give us colorful autumn leaves before loosing its foliage for the winter.

The highest quality, and most expensive, woods are hardwoods. They have a vast range of natural colors, from very light to very dark, and can all be stained for additional color variation. Harwood furniture can be found in the best homes, and is more resistant to warping and bending than other woods. The five most common hardwoods for furniture production are oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and mahogany.

Softwoods
While softwoods will require more care than hardwoods, they are also less expensive. They tend to be less durable and easily scratch and dent. Softwoods are often less attractive than hardwoods, as they have less grain as will not stain as well.

The most common softwood used in furniture construction is pine. Pine is also popular in construction, so the best looking pieces are often reserved for furniture building. Construction grade pine often contains lots of splits and knots, as will not accept paint well. This type of pine is most often used for the construction of packing crates or shelves.

The softwood lumber that is used for the construction of furniture is often called “appearance” lumber. This lumber has usually been custom milled to reflect a particular pattern or at least surfaced on all four sides.

Composite Woods
Composite woods are made rather than grown, and are the least expensive wood available. There are four main types of composite board used in the manufacture of furniture.

Plywood: Thin layers of wood are pressed together with a layer of glue in between each sheet. Some benefits of plywood are its strength and its ability to resist warping, shrinking, and swelling. Plywood is usually used along with other woods to give support, although some furniture is made completely from plywood.

Particle Board: This is made by combining small wood chips and sawdust with a glue or resin, and then shaping and pressure treating it. Particle board is often covered with either a veneer or laminate when it is used for furniture production. The laminate or veneer helps to keep the particle board from splitting. Particle board is very vulnerable to temperature and humidity changes, both of which could cause shrinking and swelling and a separation of the laminate.

Hardboard: This is constructed very much the same way as particle board. The difference is that much more pressure is applied, giving you a stronger material.

MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard: Wood particles and resin are combined and compressed. While it is not as strong, it can be cut like plywood. It is, however, stronger than particle board or hardboard. MDF is often covered with a plastic resin called melamine. MDF has rough edges that need to be covered with some other material.

Furniture can be called “real wood” furniture, even if it is created using composite wood. There is a vast range of prices, with hardwoods being the most expensive and composites costing the least. Hardwood furniture is almost always a good investment if you can afford it, as it will be with your family for years. .

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