Frequently Asked Questions

Moisture can play a big role in wood selection, fabrication & the lifespan use of a piece. We consider moisture throughout many stages during a project. Planning, preparation, acclimatization, gluing, dimensions, Janka ratings and surface treatment can all play key roles with a built piece of furniture.

This is highly subjective like many of the other “wood FAQ’s” on our site. Because wood selection can be highly specific to each individual client’s needs, I’ve always enjoyed the process and art of woodworking with many species.

Personally I enjoy oak, walnut and cedar for a variety of my own projects.

Of course! There are always a variety of questions associated with making wood recommendations but that’s what we do!

What species of wood is best?

Best is relative when it comes to selecting a species of wood.

What’s the purpose of the piece you’re planning to build? Lot’s wear and tear or decorative only?

Is overall cost/budget a factor? Indoor or outdoor project?

Is coloring important? Are grain patterns important?

The term “best” is always subjective to what your needs, goals and wants are with a project build.

Wood hardness is commonly measured with the Janka Wood Rating. Check out the info list below (sourced via Wikipedia).

The Janka hardness test was created by Austrian-born American researcher Gabriel Janka (1864–1932). This system measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28-millimeter-diameter (7⁄16 in) steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. (The diameter was chosen to produce a circle with an area of 100 square millimeters, or one square centimeter).

• • Australian Buloke 5,060 lbf (22,500 N)
  • Schinopsis brasiliensis, Quebracho, Barauna, Chamacoco 4,800 lbf (21,000 N)
  • Schinopsis balansae, Quebracho Colorado, Red Quebracho 4,570 lbf (20,300 N)
  • Lignum vitae, Guayacan, Pockholz 4,500 lbf (20,000 N)
  • Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, Curupay, Angico Preto, Brazilian Tiger Mahogany 3,840 lbf (17,100 N)
  • Snakewood, Letterhout, Brosimum guianense 3,800 lbf (17,000 N)
  • Brazilian Olivewood 3,700 lbf (16,000 N)
  • Brazilian Ebony 3,700 lbf (16,000 N)
  • Ipê, Brazilian Walnut, Handroanthus lapacho 3,684 lbf (16,390 N)
  • African Pearwood, Moabi 3,680 lbf (16,400 N)
  • Grey Ironbark 3,664 lbf (16,300 N)
  • Bolivian Cherry 3,650 lbf (16,200 N)
  • Lapacho 3,640 lbf (16,200 N)
  • Sucupira, Brazilian Chestnut, Tiete Chestnut 3,417 lbf (15,200 N)
  • Kingwood 3,340 lbf (14,900 N)
  • Dipteryx, Cumaru, Brazilian Teak 3,330 lbf (14,800 N)
  • Ironwood 3,260 lbf (14,500 N)
  • Ebony 3,220 lbf (14,300 N)
  • Massaranduba, Brazilian Redwood, Paraju 3,190 lbf (14,200 N)
  • Yvyraro 3,040 lbf (13,500 N)
  • Strand Woven Bamboo 3,000 lbf (13,000 N)
  • Cocobolo 2,960 lbf (13,200 N)
  • Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens) 2,900 lbf (13,000 N)
  • Boxwood 2,840 lbf (12,600 N)
  • Olive[10] 2,710 lbf (12,100 N)
  • Red Mahogany, Turpentine 2,697 lbf (12,000 N)
  • Live Oak 2,680 lbf (11,900 N)
  • Southern Chestnut 2,670 lbf (11,900 N)
  • Spotted Gum 2,473 lbf (11,000 N)
  • Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba 2,350 lbf (10,500 N)
  • Mesquite 2,345 lbf (10,430 N)
  • Golden Teak 2,330 lbf (10,400 N)
  • Guatambú, Kyrandy, Balfourodendron riedelianum 2,240 lbf (10,000 N)
  • Santos Mahogany, Bocote, Cabreuva, Honduran Rosewood 2,200 lbf (9,800 N)
  • Pradoo 2,170 lbf (9,700 N)
  • Brazilian Koa 2,160 lbf (9,600 N)
  • Brushbox 2,135 lbf (9,500 N)
  • Osage Orange 2,040 lbf (9,100 N)
  • Karri 2,030 lbf (9,000 N)
  • Sydney Blue Gum 2,023 lbf (9,000 N)
  • Palmyra Palm 2,020 lbf (9,000 N)
  • Bubinga 1,980 lbf (8,800 N)
  • Cameron 1,940 lbf (8,600 N)
  • Tallowwood 1,933 lbf (8,600 N)
  • Merbau 1,925 lbf (8,560 N)
  • Amendoim 1,912 lbf (8,500 N)
  • Jarrah 1,910 lbf (8,500 N)
  • Coconut Palm 1,900 lbf (8,500 N)
  • Purpleheart 1,860 lbf (8,300 N)
  • Goncalo Alves, Tigerwood 1,850 lbf (8,200 N)
  • Hickory, Pecan, Satinwood 1,820 lbf (8,100 N)
  • Afzelia, Doussie, Australian Wormy Chestnut 1,810 lbf (8,100 N)
  • Castello boxwood 1,810 lbf (8,100 N)
  • Bangkirai 1,798 lbf (8,000 N)
  • Rosewood 1,780 lbf (7,900 N)
  • Apple 1,730 lbf (7,700 N)
  • African Padauk 1,725 lbf (7,670 N)
  • Blackwood 1,720 lbf (7,700 N)
  • Merbau 1,712 lbf (7,620 N)
  • Kempas 1,710 lbf (7,600 N)
  • Black Locust 1,700 lbf (7,600 N)
  • Highland Beech 1,686 lbf (7,500 N)
  • Red Mulberry 1,680 lbf (7,500 N)
  • Wenge, Red Pine, Hornbeam 1,630 lbf (7,300 N)
  • Tualang 1,624 lbf (7,220 N)
  • Zebrawood 1,575 lbf (7,010 N)
  • True Pine, Timborana 1,570 lbf (7,000 N)
  • Peroba 1,557 lbf (6,930 N)
  • European Yew 1,520 lbf (6,800 N)
  • Sapele, Sapelli, Kupa’y 1,510 lbf (6,700 N)
  • Curupixa 1,490 lbf (6,600 N)
  • Sweet Birch 1,470 lbf (6,500 N)
  • Hard maple, Sugar Maple 1,450 lbf (6,400 N)
  • Caribbean Walnut 1,390 lbf (6,200 N)
  • Kentucky coffeetree 1,390 lbf (6,200 N)
  • Natural Bamboo (represents one species) 1,380 lbf (6,100 N)
  • Australian Cypress 1,375 lbf (6,120 N)
  • White Oak 1,360 lbf (6,000 N)
  • Tasmanian oak 1,350 lbf (6,000 N)
  • Ribbon Gum 1,349 lbf (6,000 N)
  • Ash (White) 1,320 lbf (5,900 N)
  • American Beech 1,300 lbf (5,800 N)
  • Red Oak (Northern) 1,290 lbf (5,700 N)
  • Caribbean Heart Pine 1,280 lbf (5,700 N)
  • Keruing 1,270 lbf (5,600 N)
  • Yellow Birch, Iroko 1,260 lbf (5,600 N)
  • Movingui 1,230 lbf (5,500 N)
  • Heart pine 1,225 lbf (5,450 N)
  • Carapa guianensis, Brazilian Mesquite 1,220 lbf (5,400 N)
  • Larch 1,200 lbf (5,300 N)
  • Carbonized Bamboo (represents one species) 1,180 lbf (5,200 N)
  • Teak 1,155 lbf (5,140 N)
  • Brazilian Eucalyptus, Rose Gum 1,125 lbf (5,000 N)
  • English Oak 1,120 lbf (5,000 N)
  • Makore 1,100 lbf (4,900 N)
  • Siberian Larch 1,100 lbf (4,900 N)
  • Peruvian Walnut 1,080 lbf (4,800 N)
  • Boreal 1,023 lbf (4,550 N)
  • Black Walnut, North American Walnut 1,010 lbf (4,500 N)
  • Cherry 995 lbf (4,430 N)
  • Black Cherry, Imbuia 950 lbf (4,200 N)
  • Red Maple 950 lbf (4,200 N)
  • Boire 940 lbf (4,200 N)
  • Paper Birch 910 lbf (4,000 N)
  • Eastern Red Cedar, Monkeypod 900 lbf (4,000 N)
  • Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf) 870 lbf (3,900 N)
  • Lacewood, Leopardwood 840 lbf (3,700 N)
  • African Mahogany 830 lbf (3,700 N)
  • Mahogany, Honduran Mahogany 800 lbf (3,600 N)
  • Parana 780 lbf (3,500 N)
  • Sycamore 770 lbf (3,400 N)
  • Box Elder 720 lbf (3,200 N)
  • Shedua 710 lbf (3,200 N)
  • Radiata Pine 710 lbf (3,200 N)
  • Silver Maple 700 lbf (3,100 N)
  • Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly and Shortleaf) 690 lbf (3,100 N)
  • Douglas Fir 660 lbf (2,900 N)
  • Western Juniper 626 lbf (2,780 N)
  • Alder (Red) 590 lbf (2,600 N)
  • Larch 590 lbf (2,600 N)
  • Chestnut 540 lbf (2,400 N)
  • Yellow Poplar, Poplar 540 lbf (2,400 N)
  • Hemlock 500 lbf (2,200 N)
  • Western White Pine 420 lbf (1,900 N)
  • Basswood 410 lbf (1,800 N)
  • Eastern White Pine 380 lbf (1,700 N)
  • Western Red Cedar 350 lbf (1,600 N)
  • Cuipo 75 lbf (330 N)
  • Balsa 70 lbf (310 N)
  • Balsa, softest wood ever measured: single unusual example 22 lbf (98 N)