[Woodcarver] Softwood or Hardwood

[Sylda]

I guess I'm really dumb -- the "soft"/"hard" wood issue -- does it really
matter.  My hands aren't very strong and my strength varies from day to day
due to physical disabilities, so when I carve I take a piece of wood and see
if I can carve it that day and go from there.  What is hard or soft to one
person may not be so to another.  As with many topics there are many
opinions.
Sylda

On 10/4/04 6:31 AM, "Victor Hamburger" <VHamburg at bellatlantic.net> wrote:

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> Bob Campanaro wrote:
> 
>> I've heard two different versions of the softwood vs hardwood
>> controversy. One says that all deciduous trees are "hardwood" and all
>> needle bearing trees are "softwood".
>> 
>> The other says that if you can leave a fingernail imprint in the wood
>> then its "softwood", which would be a more traditional description of
>> 'soft vs hard'.
>> 
>> So what do you think?  Basswood is a deciduous tree yet you can leave a
>> fingernail imprint in it.  Is it a "softwood" or a "hardwood"?
> 
> Bob,
> 
> Technically speaking,  all decideous trees drop their leaves in the fall and
> are 
> hardwoods, regardless of how easily you can imprint your fingernail in the
> wood. 
> Trees with needles, that do not drop their leaves, are softwoods.
> 
> As far as woods that are soft or hard, each type of tree has both soft and
> hard 
> varieties within the group.  Bass is a soft wood that you can dent easily, as
> are most pines.  But within the pine family, there is Southern Yellow Pine
> that 
> you can barely drive a steel nail into due to its hardness!
> 
> So, bass is correctly categorized as a hardwood specie, but has a low density
> and therefore is easily bruised by a fingernail. (EG, a "soft" wood)
> 
> Dr Bruce Hoadley's book, "Understanding wood" from Taunton Press is an
> excellent 
> read but a bit pricey at $40.  Try to locate it in your local library or see
> if 
> they can borrow a copy from another library in your area.  Dr. Hoadley goes
> into 
> a good more detail than you and I will ever need to know about wood!
> 
> Best,  Vic H
> 
> Speaking of hardwoods, you must be close to peak color about now in Stowe, VT.
> Fall is definately here!
> 
> 
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