Do you know what kind of wood to use in your planned woodworking project?  Be careful of the wood you choose. There are numerous species and each has different characteristics, so you might never know which one will best work for you. Some woods may be too tough and some may be too malleable.

Moreover, there are particular types that are best for cabinets, machineries, moldings, boat building and more. Some also easily finish and some don't. Here's a good summary of the qualities of the different kinds of wood for your woodwork projects. I've broken the list into Hardwoods and Softwoods.

Hardwood

Mahogany:

This is used for making highly-valuable woodworking projects such as cabinets, musical instruments, veneers and wood facings, patterns, and boat building. It has a reddish brown color and fine grains. It is so durable that it resists shrinking, warping and swelling.

Walnut:

It is fine textured, easy to work with, and strong. It can end up being an excellent material for a quality woodworking project because of its “velvety natural colored sheen” when sanded.

Oak:

It can resist moisture absorption, is durable and finishes well. It can be a bit heavy and strong but bends easily. It is used for more complex woodworking projects like outdoor furniture, trimming, baskets, boat framing, desks, chairs and flooring.

Maple:

This type of wood can shrink moderately and has a fine texture. It usually defies denting and decay and doesn't split easily when screwed or nailed. Because of its unvarying color, it is best used when making first-rate woodworking projects such as woodenware and excellent furniture.

Softwoods

Pine:

It is rather stiff, has uniform texture and is soft and light. It has “low resistance” to shock and easily glues and holds nails and screws as well. It is usually utilized in the construction of houses, paneling, caskets, crates, boxes, furniture and molding.

Hemlock:

"Non-resinous,” can defy low decay, light weight, uniformly textured. It can be glued without difficulty but can be a bit brittle. It is usually used for building construction, lumber, sidings, doors, paneling and sub flooring.

Fir:

It has uniform texture and is “non-resinous.” It can also defy low decay. It is commonly used when making furniture frames, doors, windows, plywood, interior trims and veneer.

So, have you decided which one to use for your woodworking project? Take note that some types of woods may not be readily made available in your your area so it is a good idea to visit your local lumber store before you start planning your projects. Also, some wood will cost more that other varieties.

If you want a detailed summary and reviews of a lot more wood than I listed check out the Wood Bin Woodworking site - click here