Wood Glossary

Hardwoods have broad leaves, produce a fruit or nut, and go dormant in the winter. There are hundreds of hardwood species in the United States and represent 40% of trees.

Softwoods, or conifers, have needles. Available softwoods include cedar, fir, pine, redwood and spruce.

European Beech Wood
• Hard wood
• Grows in Europe and Southeast Asia
• Stains and finishes well
• Related to oak and chestnut

Yellow Birch Wood
• Hard wood
• Grows in hilly terrain of the Northeastern and Great Lake states forests
• Paint and stain take well

Cherry
• Hardwood
• Helps define shaker, mission and country styling.
• Rich red-brown color deepens with age and exposure to sunlight

Rubber Wood
• Hard wood
• In the Maple family
• Little shrinkage causes little or no tendency to warp or crack
• One of the most durable lumber used in the furniture industry

Pine (Spruce)
• Soft Wood
• One of the easiest woods to cut, glue, and finish
• Light, soft and shock resistant

Whitewood
• Tropical Hard wood
• Exceptional for holding carvings and turnings and furniture construction
• Paint and stain take well

Medium Density Fiberboard or MDF
• Made from fine wood fibers glued under heat and pressure
• Used instead of plywood or chipboard because it is dense, flat, has no knots and easily machined.
• Can be painted to produce a smooth surface
• Because it has no grain it can be cut, drilled and filed without damaging the surface
• Oil, water-based paints, varnishes, veneers and laminates may be used to finish MDF

Veneer
• Its thin pieces of richly grained or colored woods, glued in sheets or numerous tiny pieces to the surfaces of inferior woods
• Not as susceptible to changes in humidity that cause expansion and contraction
• Cut and bundled as consecutive sheets
• Provides a smooth, flat surface where solid lumber would allow warping over time

Particle Board
• A scientifically engineered wood that is extremely sound in structural integrity and consistent surface smoothness to allow the application of laminated materials..
• Made by mixing sawdust with adhesives
• High-Pressure laminate and wood veneer materials are frequently applied to this material

Plywood
• Made from thin sheets of wood glued together
• Grains of wood are arranged in right angles which makes it exceptionally strong
• Resists warping, shrinking, or splitting.

Dovetail
• A type of joint formed with interlocking wedge-shaped projection that fits into a matching recess on another board.
• A dovetail joint is a sign of high-quality drawer construction.