Stupid Question

[Bushcraft Medic]

how can i tell what is a softwood and what is a hardwood? and i havent got the slightest clue about trees!

BM

 

[weekend_warrior]

Try this as a good start:

Wikipedia

 

[Steve R]

Basic rule of thumb,

Hardwood............slow growing tree.


Softwood.............fast growing tree.




List

 

[hammock monkey]

there's a certain amount of 'can i push my thumbnail into it easily' ie pine = yes, ebony = no
kind of a rule of thumb...ahem.

 

[gregorach]

Hmmm... It kinda depends on what exactly you mean by "softwood" and "hardwood". I believe the standard definition is that broad-leaved trees are hardwoods and conifers are softwoods - but this definition means that there are some softwoods which are harder than some hardwoods...

 

[C_Claycomb]

Is this a question about growing trees, wood lying in the forest, or cut lumber in a yard?

 

[Martyn]

there's a certain amount of 'can i push my thumbnail into it easily' ie pine = yes, ebony = no
kind of a rule of thumb...ahem.

Balsa is a hardwood.

 

[weekend_warrior]

Balsa is a hardwood.

And Yew is a softwood

 

[Stan Pinn]

You will find that all soft woods are conifers, but there are ecceptions to the rule. A Tuplip or Poplar as they are sometimes known is one of the only hard wood conifers, they can be found all over the uk and quite easy to identify. most conifers have branches that flow down from the trunk a tulip's go up and level out. Also if you take pine for example, if the tree grows in a valley the ones at the bottom will grow quicker, have more knots and split easier. These are known as white wood, the sort of stuff you find in B&Q which you can never find a straight piece. The trees at the top of the valley grow slower due to less moisture than at the bottom. These are better quality stronger and will provide a hard wood to work with. These woods are more expensive to buy and are only used for high quality furnitre. There are variations in all timber depending on were it grows, climate and polution levels.
As a rule if you are making something that you want want to last collect wood from high ground, or go to a timber merchant, it will be more expensive but the end result will be worth it.
Hope this helps.
Stan