When buying wood, it would be great that you know the origin of the tree from which the wood was taken (we know this is almost impossible in most cases), otherwise, you’ll have to rely on your salesman’s offer.
Therefore, we consulted several experts everywhere and consulted on the internet to give you a theoretical and practical guide to help you buy the type of wood you need with no risk of being ripped off.
Theoretical recognition of the different types of woods
First of all, we recommend you visit our blog on the basics of wood; we are going to use very technical but fundamental terms so that you can understand what you need to know.
Then, the first thing you need to keep in mind is that there are 3 main types of wood:
- Softwood
- Hardwoods
- Tropical woods
How to identify softwoods
Softwoods, also known as conifers or softwoods, are tree species that store their seeds in specialized structures called cones. These cones are responsible for protecting the ovules and seeds so that they can later be pollinated once the tree has dispersed them.
In fact, the term “softwoods” has no actual correlation with reality, i.e. not all softwoods are necessarily soft in their consistency.
As for their characteristics, we can say that softwoods have certain characteristics:
- They are light-colored, pale and uniform.
- Their grain is not as varied as in hardwoods.
- They have wide availability, which reduces their price.
- Also, although they have somewhat lower strength and hardness when compared to hardwoods or tropical hardwoods, they are not a bad choice.
Another important thing about softwoods is that they usually produce a lot of resin, which is good because it protects them from the attack of some insects, fungi, and even humidity, but at the same time it is bad because that resin can make their workability much more difficult, especially in the finish. That is why it is best to clean the wood with solvents that remove excess resins and oils produced by the wood.
So, if you want a practical and inexpensive piece of furniture or an efficient and economical building material, these woods have to be your first choice.
The best exponents of this category are pines, especially Oregon pine, which shares many of its characteristics with spruce (if you want to learn more, visit our blog about pine wood).
Finally, we are going to show you the most representative softwood species so that you can get familiar with the most important visual qualities.
Spruce
There are more than 50 spruce species around the world. All spruce varieties have similar wood but the most representative is white spruce (Abies alba) native to Europe.
This wood is widely used in carpentry, especially for its availability. In fact, it is sometimes used in structural construction in the form of beams when the budget is short for better woods such as oak as it gives a decent result for a lower cost.
It is a light, white wood with long straight fibers. Besides, it has no particular odor.
Keep in mind that it is similar to pine and can be confused, however, spruce is clearer, and lighter (less dense and heavy).
Oregon Pine
This wood is native to western North America but has become very popular in Europe as it is used in reforestation forests.
Oregon pine is by far the most widely used wood in the world when it comes to construction as it has high availability, good resistance to mechanical forces, and is easy to work with.
Oregon pine is a softwood that produces a moderate amount of resin and is darker than other pine species. It is a lightweight wood.
It can be distinguished from Spruce because its wood is more yellowish and often has more knots and more pronounced grain.
Redwood
The sempervivum variant is native to the state of California in the United States. All species of this wood are high quality, but sempervirens are very expensive because of their stability and durability.
Redwood is wood with reddish tones and regular grain, that is to say, its grain lines are straight.
This wood is widely used in:
- Exterior carpentry (manufacture of doors and window frames).
- Greenhouse supports.
- Garden furniture.
- Plywood boards,
- Interior carpentry (handicrafts).
- Construction of barrels.
However, it is not recommended for structural construction work because it is quite light (not very dense and not very hard).
Cypress
An abundant species in temperate and warm zones, it is very common in central Asia, but not rare in North America and southern Europe.
The wood of this tree is yellowish-white. It is strong and durable and also light and very aromatic.
As a drawback, it has many knots, although this is not a problem for its main use in carpentry and joinery. It is also very versatile and is used in the manufacture of posts and piers because it is very resistant to moisture.
How to identify hardwoods
Hardwoods are tree species with abundant branches and leaves, as well as thick trunks and canopies full of foliage (dense canopy).
Remember that the term “hardwoods” is not necessarily associated with the actual hardness of the wood species, but rather is a generic term used popularly.
These are species with a woody structure, i.e. their wood is dense and has a compact, firewood-like appearance.
Hardwoods produce little resin and rarely have knots, therefore, they have higher quality and price, although their hardness makes them more difficult to cut, plane and screw.
Also, a common characteristic of the leafy species is that their leaves are deciduous, therefore, they fall depending on the season in which they are found. For example, they lose their leaves in autumn.
These woods have a greater variety of colors than softwoods, although they are darker and their grain (design traced by the wood fiber) is more diverse and beautiful.
These are the woods you should choose when you need structural material such as beams or simply when you want a beautiful and high-quality piece of furniture.
Some very representative species of this group are Oak, Chestnut, Beech, and Ash.
Oak
There are several species of Oak distributed in Northern Europe, North America, North Africa and Asia. Let us tell you the general characteristics of all of them.
This wood gives a traditional and classic look to things made with it. In addition, it is a sign of structural solidity due to its hardness and durability. For that reason, you will see that it has many applications such as:
- Structural construction.
- Cooperage.
- Cabinetmaking.
- Interior and exterior carpentry.
It has a very marked and striking yellow-ochre grain. One of the best woods for joinery work as it does not crack or warp; it also stands up well to humidity.
A common characteristic to all the species of Oak is that they are dense and above all very hard and this makes them more difficult to saw mainly because the Oak produces silica that is a compound that deteriorates the saws at the moment of the cutting; also the wood of Oak takes more time to dry.
In the aesthetic aspect, it always looks good in whatever it is used, due to its tonalities and texture, since it is capable of giving an “aged” but the natural appearance and its colors range from white to dark brown.
Chestnut
It is native to Asia, although it is so widespread in Europe that it can be considered native to the old continent, where it was introduced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Chestnut also exists in America and Asia.
This wood has a pale brown color and the growth rings are very marked.
Chestnut has been used in carpentry and especially in joinery for centuries, although it is also a good source of firewood. This wood is considered to be of very good quality because of its high strength, flexibility, durability, but above all because it becomes more beautiful as it ages.
The most important variant from a timber point of view is European, which stands out for the spiral cracks that almost always run through its bark.
Beech
Beech is a species from Central Europe but it can be found almost everywhere on the planet because it has been used to repopulate territories.
Beechwood is hard, heavy, very resistant to mechanical forces, and elastic. Therefore, it is of very good quality, in addition, it is a good choice in economic terms because it is a very abundant species and of sustainable cultivation. Keep in mind that the most important for commercial uses is the European species.
It is mainly used in:
- Manufacture of interior floorboards.
- Lathing.
- Wood bending due to its wide flexibility.
- Interior furniture.
- Interior carpentry.
- Veneers and plywood boards.
- Manufacture of tool handles.
In general, this wood has light tones, quite homogeneous (its color is maintained throughout the surface), but with time it acquires reddish shades, but be careful, as Beech is often subjected to a steaming process that gives it a reddish-orange color. Wood that has undergone this process is called steamed beech and some try to sell it as if it were older, finer beech.
Ash
The European ash, also known as northern ash, common ash or broadleaf ash (Fraxinus excelsior) belongs to the botanical family of the Oleaceae.
This wood is suitable for many jobs due to its high elasticity, hardness, and flexibility. It also makes good fuel as firewood and excellent charcoal.
Although there are several species of ash, the most important timber species are the European ash and the American ash, which are quite common in the United States. However, the wood of the European ash is denser and more resistant and is therefore considered to be of higher quality.
The most common uses for this wood are:
Elaboration of furniture with a rustic aspect (very desirable in antique shops).
Interior joinery.
Carpentry of hollows and interior cladding (Doors, platforms, friezes, and moldings).
Decorative veneers.
How to identify tropical woods
Tropical woods are tree species characterized by strong trunks with high height and diameter. This is because the vast majority are found in jungle areas of Asia, Africa and Central and South America, where they have to compete for sunlight and therefore must tower above the surrounding vegetation.
These tropical woods are noble woods because they are hard, resistant to pest attack, dense and easy to work. They are also probably the most beautiful and exotic in the color of all the species.
In addition to the above, they are very resistant to humidity due to the oils they produce, which also have commercial value as they are used to treat other woods.
However, these oils make their workability more difficult, since it is more complicated to saw them, plane them and, above all, to glue them.
The main application of tropical woods is in exterior carpentry and joinery, because, as mentioned above, they are very resistant to humidity.
Some of the best exponents of this group of woods are Teak, Balso, Rosewood and Cedar.
Teak
This wood is native to India, Burma, Thailand and all of Southeast Asia. However, it was introduced in America several centuries ago by the Spanish conquistadors. This is why the tree adapted very well there.
Today there are plantations of the tree in Central and South America, Asia and Africa.
As for its properties, we can tell you that Teak is a semi-heavy and semi-hardwood of very good quality and easy care.
It is especially resistant to termite and fungus attacks, it also does very well when exposed to the weather; its oils are so potent that they are even used as an antiseptic in some regions.
Teak wood is very beautiful; it has an intense yellow to almost orange color; it is oily to the touch and has a particular smell due to its oil.
It is mainly used in:
- Luxury joinery.
- Shipbuilding, i.e. in the manufacture of boats and construction of docks.
- Wood veneers.
- Exterior and interior carpentry, is mainly used to make floors and window frames.
- Facade covering.
Balso
Balso wood is native to the jungles of Central and South America, but due to its qualities, its market demand has increased so it is becoming more and more common to see extensive industrial plantations of it.
This is a fast-growing species that can be felled after 4 years. Ecuador is the current leading exporter.
Regarding its aesthetics, Balso wood is white with some reddish tones, very shiny and soft to the touch.
In addition, its wood is very light and flexible, which is why it is used in:
- The automotive industry, in the construction of boards and light accessories.
- Manufacture of toys.
- Aeromodeling.
- Surfboards and light boats.
- Manufacture of musical instruments.
Rosewood or purple rosewood
Rosewood is considered one of the most beautiful woods on the planet thanks to its distinctive violet color.
But first of all, you need to know that rosewood is not a tree but rather a family of trees, most of them located in South America, Africa and Asia. Perhaps the most popular species is the Brazilian species also known as Jacaranda (Dalbergia nigra).
This wood is greatly coveted because of its shades ranging from dark brown to violet. Another important thing to keep in mind is that its wood is quite heavy.
However, it is an endangered species so its trade is prohibited. The point is that a piece of furniture made of this wood can be worth lots of money, especially because many specimens are true antiques decades or centuries old. In addition, as if that were not enough, it has the natural smell of roses.
Unfortunately, as always, others flout the laws and continue to cut down the trees, and when they are ready to market the wood, they discard the sapwood (which is not very good in terms of timber) and use only the heartwood.
The heartwood is typically reddish-brown to purplish-brown in color; it also has a very nice grain.
Finally, Rosewood is used in luxury applications such as:
- Cabinetmaking and/or fine furniture.
- Musical instruments.
- Wood veneers.
- Turned wood.
- Carvings and crafts.
- Sculptures.
- Billiard tables.
- Parquets (designs that are given to the wooden floors).
Cedar
There are several species of Cedar and each one has its peculiarities. In the timber field, the American cedar (Cedrela Odorata) is the most important. This species is native to southern North America, Central America, and northern South America.
It is one of the noblest woods, possessing reddish tones, although it is light brown and shiny. It is also light and easy to work with.
Bear in mind its distinctive fragrance by which you can identify it. But unfortunately, it is in Appendix III of the CITES Convention so its trade is controlled due to overexploitation, which means that it may be in danger of extinction because of excessive demand and indiscriminate logging.
This has only caused their prices to skyrocket and consequently so does their demand.
Be careful, you may be offered species that are called cedar but are not strictly so. This is the case of Canadian Cedar, which is actually related to the Tuya tree and Cedar.
Finally, the main use given to cedar is in:
- Luxury joinery
- Manufacture of musical instruments (with this wood the neck of some electric guitars is made).
As a curious fact, the cedar is the national tree of Lebanon and its figure is depicted on the national flag.
Comparison between types of wood
Here is a comparative chart of the most relevant characteristics of the different types of wood.
| Type of Wood | Softwoods | Hardwoods | Tropical |
| How to identify | The leaves of the trees are needle-shaped. The crowns have little foliage. | Trees with abundant branches and leaves, as well as thick trunks and canopies full of foliage. | Trees are characterized by strong trunks with high height and diameter. |
| Color of the Wood and grain | Clear, pale, uniform, simple veining | Dark, with a very diverse pattern (veining) | They are the most varied. There are colors such as red, violet, black, yellow, etc. |
| Hardness of the wood (Monnin Scale) | Soft to hard | From very soft to hard | Semi-hard to very hard |
| Flagship woods | All species of Pine and Spruce | Oak, Ash, Beech | Teak, Cedar |
| Oil production | Moderate to high | They produce tannins which are the equivalent of oils. | High |
| Resin production | High | Low | High |
| Availability | Good | Intermediate and some species are scarce | Scarce (several species are in danger of extinction) |
| Ease of handling | Easy to handle | Easy, although they are harder and that complicates their workability. | Intermediate, due to its hardness and the presence of oils and resins. |
| Cost | Affordable | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Durability (Resistance) | Good to very good | Excellent | Excellent |
That’s it, this is the theoretical introduction you need to become familiar with wood. Now we are going to give you some practical advice so you can identify in a relatively easy way the presentations of the most popular woods when you go to a carpentry workshop or a sawmill.
Identify the wood you want to buy in 5 practical steps
First of all, when buying wood, we always recommend that you first get good advice and, if possible, go to an expert (if you are not one) who will recommend the best wood and know how to distinguish a noble wood from a common one.
Keep in mind that this is a complex process and your ability to distinguish wood is not acquired overnight. Also, it is necessary to buy your wood only in recognized places to have a certain guarantee at the moment of acquiring the material.
Finally, if you cannot go to an expert, don’t worry, here are some tips to make the purchase process easy and less risky for your pocket.
1. Look at the color of the wood
Often when we go to a carpentry workshop or a sawmill, we find that the wood is stacked in corners where it gets dirty and that complicates the identification of wood by its natural color.
In addition, it is very likely that the wood is not planed and therefore you cannot see the real color of the wood over the edge, which is the edge or the side where you can see the internal structure of the board (a commercial presentation of the wood that you will commonly find).
So, in these cases it would be very good to bring some kind of tool that you can use to scrape the edges on a piece of wood; it might be a wood planer, which is relatively inexpensive, or something simpler like a pocketknife.
Just ask for authorization to scrape the wood first (we don’t want you to be thrown out of the shop). Obviously, you must know the original color of the wood you are looking for.
2. Moisten the wood
We also recommend that you bring something to moisten the wood with. That way you will be able to reveal the true grain of the piece of wood you have in your hands. Remember that wood is often stored in corners where it gets full of dust and sawdust.
So what is grain?
Graining is how the grain is distributed, which are the lines or patterns along the wood that mark the direction in which its fibers grow. Not all grain follows the same pattern, and two boards of the same species can have a totally different appearance because of their grain; add to that the fact that each tree has its own grain pattern.
Yes, that sounds complicated but don’t worry, it is not that hard: something as simple as taking a picture of the wood you are looking for can guide you to compare the wood you are being shown and the one you want.
For example, if you are looking for Cherry wood, you’ll see that the grain -or lines- are thin and uniform and the wood is reddish. So, if you see brown wood with curved lines (grain) and they tell you that it is cherry, look at your photo and leave the site. You can’t get ripped off.
3. Weigh the wood
This process is quite subjective and requires a lot of experience. However, if you have a rough idea of how heavy a wood is, you can then intuit that it is very dense. Remember that in wood, weight is linked to density, at least in the vast majority of cases.
Therefore, in general, we can say that the denser a wood is, the heavier it will be.
However, keep in mind that wood is not of better or worse quality just because it is denser. It only means that the wood is more suitable for certain jobs.
4. Assess the hardness of the wood
Almost every time, the denser the wood is, the harder it will be. So when touching it remember that, if for example, they are offering you wood such as Beech that is quite dense and hard, it should not feel soft to the touch. If so, it is most likely that it is not Beech but something else.
Be resourceful, use the tip of a pen or a pin as a “gauge” of hardness, since woods such as pine are soft and you can easily make marks on them. On the other hand, harder woods such as Oak (which is similar to Beech) will be harder to penetrate because they are much harder and offer greater resistance.
5. Recognize the smell of wood
It takes many years of experience to recognize a wood by its smell alone. But don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world.
Just keep in mind that some woods are in fact famous for their scents, such as sandalwood or cedar, because they have a very pleasant aroma. Therefore, if you find a piece of Cedar and it doesn’t smell like anything in particular or even it doesn’t smell good, it is most likely that it is not Cedar, even if it looks like it.
From the above, we’d like to tell you that you should always correlate these 5 steps, especially if you don’t know well the wood you want to buy, since by themselves they can give you incomplete information.
As an example, we could say that, although the wood looks like Cedar and has a similar weight it may not smell like Cedar or, on the contrary, it may smell like Cedar, but has a different weight or consistency.
So, Cedar is Softwood so you should be able to stick your “meter” into its wood and see the mark on its surface easily. You could also use a durometer, but it is not cheap and it is better to learn by feeling the wood yourself.
Finally, remember that the 5 steps to identify the type of wood you want to buy are inseparable, read, research, and ask questions before you buy and always buy only from reliable places.