The wood species guide helps you compare hardwoods and softwoods by Janka hardness, grain type, workability, and typical uses. Choosing the right species is the single most important decision before any woodworking project — it affects joinery, finishing, tool selection, and how the piece ages.
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How to Choose the Right Wood Species
Selecting the right wood species for your project comes down to four factors: hardness, workability, appearance, and cost. This wood species guide helps you evaluate all four in one place.
Understanding Janka Hardness
The Janka scale measures force needed to embed a steel ball into the wood. For flooring and tabletops, aim for 1,000+ lbf. For wall cabinets and painted pieces, softer species like poplar (540 lbf) are fine and easier to machine. Hardwoods above 2,000 lbf (such as hickory and Ipe) require carbide tooling and can split easily during joinery.
Workability and Finish
Open-grain species like red oak and ash require grain filler before applying a clear coat, but take stain evenly. Closed-grain species like hard maple and birch sand glass-smooth but can blotch under oil-based stains — use a pre-conditioner first. Cherry and walnut develop rich color from UV exposure and need minimal finish for beauty.
Cost and Availability
Domestic species (oak, maple, cherry, walnut) are widely available at lumber yards and big-box stores. Exotics (teak, padauk, purpleheart) are available through specialty dealers and typically cost 3–5× more. For large projects, domestic species offer the best value without sacrificing quality.
FAQ
Is this wood species guide free?
Yes, completely free. Browse all wood species with no signup required.
What is the Janka hardness scale?
The Janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 0.444-inch steel ball halfway into a wood sample. Results are in pound-force (lbf) or kilonewtons (kN). Higher numbers mean harder wood — Brazilian Walnut at 3,684 lbf is one of the hardest; Eastern White Pine at 380 lbf is soft.
What is the best wood for furniture?
For dining tables and chairs, use hard maple, white oak, or walnut (1000–1450 lbf Janka). They resist dents and take finish well. For bedroom furniture, cherry or soft maple works beautifully. Avoid very hard exotics like Ipe for furniture — they're difficult to work and hard to glue.
What wood is best for outdoor projects?
Teak, white oak, cedar, and redwood are top choices for outdoor use due to natural oil content and rot resistance. Teak is premium but expensive. Western red cedar is affordable and widely available. Always check local regulations on exotic wood sourcing.
What is the difference between open and closed grain?
Open-grain woods (oak, ash, walnut) have large pores visible to the naked eye and require grain filler for a glass-smooth finish. Closed-grain woods (maple, cherry, birch) have tight, uniform pores that sand smooth without filler. For painted projects, closed-grain woods give a cleaner result.