If you are interested in doing some woodwork around the house, you have more than likely envisioned how you would like the project to turn out and what exactly you need to do to accomplish your particular design. Before you head down the road to the hardware store and bring back a few planks, do you think you know how to pick the perfect timber for your design?

Your choice of wood has a huge influence on the outcome of your project. With thousands of commercial species of timber on the market, you need to be sure you can select the right high-quality hardwood to achieve your goals. This is why we’re here to help; we will let you in on a few insider tips woodworkers use to spot quality timber for their projects.

Understand the Different Wood Species

As we’ve said earlier, there are tons of timbers you can use for woodwork. Each timber comes with its own set of defining features (be it the colour, hardness, or grain pattern) that either make it great or bad for particular projects.

Take oak, for example; it is a type of hardwood that is durable and good for making doors and furniture, but it tends to be rough and difficult to work with if you don’t have the right tools.

On the contrary, a softwood like pine is much easier to work with and is perfect for carving and decorative pieces. 

Consider the Project Type 

What exactly are you working on? Once you’ve understood the various types of wood, you need to correlate the possible options with your project. How well do they fit your goal? 

For a decorative piece that will be indoors, you’ll probably be looking at the aesthetics of the wood, things like the grain pattern and texture that will complement the appearance of the final product. 

If you are building something that is going to be frequently exposed to moisture, like a deck outdoors, you need timber that’s able to withstand these elements and last for a long time.

Timber Grading

When you’re out trying to buy quality treated timber, taking timber grading into account is paramount. Wood is graded by sawmills based on its appearance and strength (the highest grade being A and the lowest being D). 

The grading might vary slightly when assessing hardwood and softwood, as defects to the board reduce its quality. Things like knots, resin infiltrations, the slope of the grain, and how uniform the board is, when taken into consideration, can reduce or increase the quality of timber.

The higher the wood’s grade, the fewer defects it should have and the better it is for your projects.

Moisture Content

Wood tends to contract and expand when exposed to humidity changes in the environment it is placed in, and this can lead to the warping and cracking of timber. So when picking wood, you need to choose timber with the right moisture content that will suit where the project will reside when you’re done and can resist moisture naturally or after it has been treated.

Securing the Perfect Wood for Your Project

Just like your woodwork skills, the quality of your wood is everything. Choosing the right timber is, therefore, the first step towards any successful project.

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