Wood furniture is made from different types of wood.
Wood comes from deciduous or coniferous trees. Deciduous trees are broad-leaved types of trees that produce hardwood. Coniferous trees (pine, fir, spruce) have cones and they produce softwood. Different kinds of furniture use different types of wood, and what to use depends on the style of furniture being built. Does this Spark an idea?
Hardwood and Softwood
Hardwood is used for items that need to be sturdy and hold large amounts of weight. Cherry, maple, oak, and mahogany are examples of hardwood. Softwood is used when the finish on furniture needs to be smooth, nice and attractive. When furniture is molded or sculpted, softwood usually plays a part in the structure. Pine, hemlock, fir, redwood, spruce and cedar are examples of softwood.
Mahogany Wood
Mahogany is known for its reddish brown color and is a hardwood. Builders use this wood because it is resistant to shrinking, swelling or warping from moisture. Wood furniture made from mahogany is not cheap because of its high quality.
Oak Wood
Oak wood is a hardwood commonly used for many furniture pieces. The attractiveness of oak wood is that it is bends well when soaked and then sets to a hard state. Oak wood is also used because of its resistance of moisture.
Maple Wood
Maple wood has an attractive wood grain pattern and is a hardwood. Builders may use maple wood for wood furniture that needs to appear attractive and still be sturdy. Maple wood reacts well to sawing machinery, making it useful for flooring.
Cherry Wood
Cherry is a hardwood that gets its dark reddish color for exposure to sunlight. This type of wood ages well and is common used in the building of cabinets, solid handles, and boat trimming.
Pine Wood
Pine wood is a softwood and is a light color. This type of wood bends very well and is used to shape wood furniture pieces. Pine trees grow fast, so pine wood is readily available and can be made into virtually any shape. It is also one of the cheapest types of wood to buy.
Cedar Wood
Cedar is commonly used for chest making and is a softwood. Cedar is easy to work with, resists rotting and has a smooth, consistent texture.
Redwood
Because of its resistance to decay, redwood is commonly used for outside wood furniture. Homes being built usually have redwood as part of their siding, interior finishing or panels.
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