Nature is amazing in its diversity and beauty. Through the links below, we provide information not only about the workability of various types of lumber, but also a bit about the natural tree that produces that lumber - what part of the world does the tree usually grow in, how tall does the tree grow, what color is the lumber, etc.
The page also provides the "Janka " number of the wood. The Janka hardness test (created by Austrian-born American researcher Gabriel Janka) is a standardized method for measuring the resistance of wood to denting and wear. It determines the force required to embed a small steel ball (7⁄16 inch in diameter) halfway into a sample of wood. Woods with a higher rating are harder than those with a lower rating.
For example, Balsa wood (which is a very, very soft hardwood) has a Janka rating of 22 to around 67. Poplar, which our club often uses to make toy cars, has a rating of 540 and is considered to be relatively soft and fairly easy to cut (though obviously not as easy to cut as balsa). Walnut is considered to be a moderately hard wood (not really all that hard but definitely not "soft" either) and has a rating of 1220. Purpleheart has a rating of 2520 and is considered to be a very, very hard wood and difficult to cut, as is Epe, which has a Janka hardness rating of 3,680.
The page also provides the "Janka " number of the wood. The Janka hardness test (created by Austrian-born American researcher Gabriel Janka) is a standardized method for measuring the resistance of wood to denting and wear. It determines the force required to embed a small steel ball (7⁄16 inch in diameter) halfway into a sample of wood. Woods with a higher rating are harder than those with a lower rating.
For example, Balsa wood (which is a very, very soft hardwood) has a Janka rating of 22 to around 67. Poplar, which our club often uses to make toy cars, has a rating of 540 and is considered to be relatively soft and fairly easy to cut (though obviously not as easy to cut as balsa). Walnut is considered to be a moderately hard wood (not really all that hard but definitely not "soft" either) and has a rating of 1220. Purpleheart has a rating of 2520 and is considered to be a very, very hard wood and difficult to cut, as is Epe, which has a Janka hardness rating of 3,680.
Click on the name of a wood species below to get more information and see pictures of the tree and the lumber it produces.
If you want information on many other wood species, check out The Wood Database (https://www.wood-database.com/). It has details on over 500 types of wood from all around the world.
If you want information on many other wood species, check out The Wood Database (https://www.wood-database.com/). It has details on over 500 types of wood from all around the world.
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