Embracing woodworking can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for a beginner. Indeed, there are many species of wood. To help you navigate through this first roadblock, we present you 7 species you should consider for your first projects.
The first thing to know is what the difference between hardwood and softwood is. The names can be self-explanatory but there is more to it. In most cases, beginners will prefer to work with softwood, which are easier to work with and cheaper. Because it is very versatile, softwood will be used for a wider range of applications.
Hardwood, on the other hand, is more difficult to work with, but because of its higher density, will also last longer. Thus, it is the preferred type for applications such as high quality furniture or deckings.
Knowing a lot about the different woods will help you to decide which one to use for your particular project, and what issues to anticipate. More importantly, you will be well informed about the proper maintenance and care of the finished wood product.
We have selected a few species with a short summary for each of them, and external resources for you to investigate them more thoroughly.
Butternut. A coarse textured light in color, butternut wood is commonly used for veneers, church altars and woodenware.Butternut heartwood is medium brown colour. It is straight grained and coarse, but with a soft texture.
White Ash. This is an inexpensive but durable wood that has a light color texture and that bends well. White ash is often used to make sports equipment like canoe paddles, baseball bats, etc. It is also used in tool handles and other items that need strength and durability.
Balsa Wood. This is another popular wood to craft sports equipment because it is considered to be one of the lightest hardwood. Because of this, it has a great buoyancy so it is often used for model building, canoes, rafts and more. Balsa wood’s colour is usually white and because it is extremely soft. Therefore, it is a great wood for woodworking beginners.
Basswood. This is also a versatile but cheap hardwood frequently used for woodcarving. Its light, soft, fine textured and colors manifest from light to dark brown. It is also used for making kitchen utensils, toys and crates. In consequence, it also means Basswood isn’t suitable for more durable projects.
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Birchwood. This wood is also known as paper birch because its bark peels like paper every now and then. It has creamy sapwood and darkens toward the heartwood. Because it is easy to work with hand and machine tools, Birchwood is probably one of the most famous woods with beginner furniture makers because of its cost-efficiency. Beware however, Birchwood is perishable, and will readily rot and decay if exposed to the elements.
Aromatic Cedar. This is unique in its red shade. The aroma is somehow spicy yet pleasing. More commonly known as red cedar, its aroma makes aromatic cedar a famous woodworking material for closets and containers. It has light and dark alternating colors and may also have dark knots, making it an eye candy especially after finishing.
Cherry Black Wood. Unlike its name would suggest, the sapwood is light in color. The heartwood however does vary from light brown to a darker burgundy color. The wood grains look appealing and it is often used in cabinetry.Cherry is known as being one of the best all-around woods for workability with basic tools.
These types of woods are the best for beginners in woodworking DIY projects Of course, the list above is only a sample of the species available on the market, but they definitely are the most popular.. There is more to discover in terms of woodworking so the fun only begins!