1. PRACTICAL WOODWORK TIMBER RECOGNITION

2. WHITE PINE • SOFTWOOD • Inexpensive • Soft • Weak • Lightweight • Low water resistance • Easy to work and shape • Used in the construction industry

3. RED PINE • SOFTWOOD • Inexpensive • Soft • Weak • light-weight • low water resistance • easy to work and shape • Used for furniture.

4. CEDAR • SOFTWOOD • Medium-weight • low shock resistance and stiffness • generally low strength properties. • Water-resistant heartwood • Works fairly well, although knots and in-grown bark can be troublesome. • Used for furniture and veneers.

5. LARCH • SOFTWOOD • Moderately heavy and hard with moderate stiffness • Good crushing strength • Water resistance • Works fairly easily, but knots may blunt cutting edges. • Used for construction and flooring.

6. ASH • HARDWOOD • Moderately heavy • hard, strong, and tough • poor water resistance • Steam-bends very well • Machines fairly well • Used for furniture and tool handles.

7. OAK • HARDWOOD • Heavy, hard and strong with outstanding wear-resistance • Steam-bends very well • Difficult to work by hand • Used for furniture, veneers, barrels.

8. BEECH • HARDWOOD • Hard and heavy • high bending and crushing strength • good water resistance. • Machines well but can be difficult to work by hand. • Used for tool handles, worktops and veneers.

9. MOGANY/MERANTI • HARDWOOD • Heavy, hard and strong • outstanding wear-resistance. • Steam-bends very well. • Difficult to work by hand. • Used for furniture, veneers, barrels.