Softwood vs Hardwood - Wood Essentials
There are two types of wood referred to as softwood and hardwood. These titles are a bit confusing, in fact, the term soft vs hard doesn’t refer to hardness at all. There are certain types of softwood that are harder than hardwood, after all, balsa wood is a hardwood and it’s the softest wood commercially available.
So what’s the difference? Leaves.
Hardwood comes from deciduous trees. These are trees which grow leaves in the spring and drop them in the fall. Softwood comes from needle trees, pine, fir, spruce, etc.
So why are the two woods referred to as soft and hard? It’s because generally, needle trees produce softer woods. See, these types of trees are very different from their leafy brethren.
Anatomy
Softwood grows faster, hence it’s use in construction. New forests can be planted and harvested quickly to support demand. More importantly, softwood and hardwood do not treat water the same way.
Softwood transports its water through medullary rays and tracheids, which are viens running through the tree and transfer water through the xylem. Technical, I know. Think of a softwood tree as a sponge, it absorbs water and passes it along
Hardwood, while still having medullary rays, passes it’s water through pores. Think of hardwood as a bunch of straws squeezed together. Those straws suck water up the tree from the roots.
Interesting fact, softwood trees are more ancient and share similar structures to ferns. Hardwood trees have developed and are more complex. Since they grow leaves and branch out, just look at a leafy tree and a needle tree and notice the difference. Softwood grows straight up with branches coming out from the center, hardwood trees are bushy, with large limbs and branches twisting and turning. Because of this, hardwood trees have to support more dynamic forces as they sway in the wind, hence them being harder.
Application
Both types of wood can be used for the same thing. Technically you could frame a house entirely with of oak. You wouldn’t, but you could. Oak is expensive and harder to work. It won’t accept nails and screws as well and it’s strength is really unnecessary when it is going to be used as a 2x4.
Softwoods can be used anywhere you would use a hardwood, but they are softer and less durable. A cedar floor will damage quickly compared to maple. For your projects, here’s what to consider when deciding whether to use soft or hard wood.
Softwoods
Great for anything construction or structural. Certain softwoods have insect and rot resistance properties, making them excellent choices for outdoor projects. Softwood is also generally lighter, making it perfect for furniture you need to move around to use, such as a small step stool.
The problem with softwoods is the ability to work. They work so easily that it’s also easy to damage them. A dropped tool or even excessive sanding pressure can make for a world of hurt to fix. They also do not take stain well, so saving a buck by buying softwood, thinking you can stain it to look like walnut is not a recipe for success.
Here’s a list of furniture and DIY projects I would use softwood for.
Fencing (cedar over pine for longevity)
Outdoor furniture (cedar, cypress, and redwood are rot resistant and light for easy patio mobility)
Furniture with a rustic flair (pine dressers look great in cabins)
Hidden structural components in hardwood furniture
Painted projects
Drawer boxes
Projects I would avoid using softwoods on include.
Flooring
Furniture that will take abuse such as dining and coffee tables
Chairs
Hardwoods
Hardwood is generally heavier due to its higher density. Dense and tough, it is perfect for stationary items or furniture that needs to be very strong, such as chairs. Hardwood also has more interesting coloring and grain, so use them to highlight the best parts of the wood in your work.
Just know, there is a great range of hardwoods. Some are very, very hard such as ebony and others are soft. Some are expensive and some are affordable. I suggest you do your research and try to use locally sourced lumber where possible. Transporting lumber is expensive.
Lucky for you, your city planted trees long ago and those trees have matured and are in need of removal. Everyone hates to see an old tree, beautiful tree taken down, but those old trees eventually pose a hazard. Trees have a lifespan and as they age they begin to weaken and will eventually fall, so the city maintains the trees and removes them before they reach an age where they may harm people or property. Not all of these trees enter the landfill. Many of them are milled and turned into lumber to live a new life as furniture.
If you are having trouble finding locally sourced lumber, check out my article on How to Find Woodworking Resources in your area.
But where to use hardwoods? Here are my top projects where I would opt for hardwood over softwood.
Fine furniture
Chairs
Cutting boards (but only certain types, check out this article on How to Build an End Grain Cutting Board to learn which woods are best and what to avoid)
Bowls and turned items
Small items, catch all trays, coasters (anything that will take abuse, hardwood will hold up)
Projects to avoid hardwood
Outdoor projects. Granted some types of hardwoods excel outdoors, those are mainly imported from rainforests, are very expensive, and are not always sustainably sourced.
Painted projects (there are exceptions, poplar is a popular paintable hardwood. But I don’t see the point in painting rift sawn white oak)
Construction projects. Stick with softwoods for things like planter boxes, sheds, arbors, fences, decks, etc.
An Essential Skill
We just scratched the surface here, there is so much more to consider when you dive down the woodworking rabbit hole. The good news is, using the wrong wood for your project is not going to ruin it. It will likely be fine, but as you progress your skills you will recognize which woods perform better for certain tasks.
After all, there is a reason ash is used for baseball bats, it has incredible shock resistance and won’t crack easily after repeated blows. Give a major leaguer a pine bat and it will explode after a swing or two, but so would a quaking aspen bat.
A great resource is the Wood Database which contains virtually very wood with it’s properties and typical uses as well as many other fun facts to expand your wood knowledge.