Eight Of The Most Popularly Used Softwoods

By Author: Cedar Creek Woodshop
Total Articles: 7
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Southern Pine

Strongest, heaviest of all softwoods due to year-round growth.
Properly seasoned, it will work well without spliting or warping when nailed.
Easily pressure treated with preservatives. Holds paints well, accepts
stains, weathers naturally to a distinctive dark gray.



Douglas Fir/Larch

Excellent load-bearing capacity coupled with light weight. Noted for its
uniformly fine, striaght grian; works well with machine or hand tools.
Sapwood is white in color; heartwood is reddish-brown. May be painted,
but natural color is strong so staining is unnecessary.



Ponderosa/Sugar Pine

Soft, even-grained texture gives wood a smooth surface. Wood is creamy white to straw
with reddish knots. Comparatively free from pitch and resin pockets, it has littly
tendency to warp or twist. May be easily painted; responds well to varnish, stain,
or lacquer finishing.



Englemann Spruce/Lodgepole Pine

Relatively light in weight and adaptable for most applications ...
... where exceptioinal strength
is not required. Wood is nearly white in color and takes all paint and stain finishes well.
Low shrinkage and swelling properties makes it dimensionally stable. Glued
joints hold up well under stress.



Hemlock

Strong and workable, it nails and saws easily without splintering. It is
generally free from pitch and is finished with a smooth, unblemished surface.
Color ranges from off-white to a reddish-brown heartwood. Stiffness
and strength make it suitable for most framing applications.



White Fir

Versatile wood with a light wight and soft texture, it is easily dressed
and sanded. It may be painted or stained with few problems. Widely used
in light constructions and residential applications for framing and utility
work.



White Spruce/White Pine

Straight grianed and uniformly textured for an attractive appearance.
Dimensionally stable and resistant to splintering, it is easily worked with
hand or machine tools. Relatively free from pitch or resin, and light in
color. Adapts to most light-toned finishes.



Western Red Cedar

Completely non-resinous wood, this is one of the most decay resistant
species available. It resists rot and decay in most outdoor applications
without preservatives. Narrow sapwood is almost pure white; heartwood
varies from dark reddish-brown to light yellow. Dimensionally stable,
it is easily worked with hand tools.


About the Author Brought To You Courtesy: Cedar Creek Woodshop Where We Have Been Custom Building Outdoor Patio Furniture Made Of Treated Lumber and designing Bird House and Bird Feeders made of Western Red Cedar For The Last 25 Years.