More than five thousand species of wood are available in the market that can be divided into two categories: hardwood and softwood.
In this article, we will talk about the most common types of softwood and their main uses in wood manufacturing. We will deal with hardwoods in the next article.
When should you prefer softwoods in wood manufacturing?
The term softwood doesn’t mean that wood belonging to this category is softer than the others, but that it comes from conifers or gymnosperms. Many hardwoods are softer than softwoods and vice versa.
For example, balsa wood is a hardwood that is relatively soft; on the contrary, redwood is considered a softwood even if it is one of the hardest woods worldwide.
One of the most important characteristics of softwoods is that they easily absorb any kind of finish. It means that even if they are a bit less durable than hardwoods they can become very resistant and last for centuries if treated with the right processes of wood manufacturing.
You can find the biggest softwood forests in Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia. Softwoods are generally cheaper than hardwoods not because they are lower quality but because they grow faster and develop more quickly.
They are versatile, strong, easily manageable, and they can be used for both internal and external projects to create custom-made wood products.
Let’s discuss the main softwoods and their applications.
Cedarwood
Cedar is one of the most resistant and durable softwoods and is native to the Mediterranean area. It is highly resistant to water but also bacteria, fungi, and insects, thanks to its distinctive aromatic natural scent.
Because of its insect-repellent properties, it is widely used for internal furniture, in particular:
- lining drawers
- chests
- boxes
- closets
It is also used as a roofing material and is considered a good alternative to vinyl or aluminium in construction for its excellent insulating properties.
Western Red Cedar has a beautiful color and is very resistant to warping and cracking, which is why it is also used for musical instruments, such as classical guitars and violins.
Pine wood
Pine wood is one of the most widely used softwoods for domestic applications, and it grows in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
It’s ambered colored with brown shades and has good resistance to shrinkage, swelling, and warping. It is somewhat plain, which is why many wood makers prefer knotty pine for their projects.
Knotty pine has knots, color variations, and veins that make it distinctive and beautiful—ideal for creating unique and decorative cabinets, furniture, and trim.
A special type of pine is also used for deck building and outdoor wooden projects. It is pressure-treated pine, which is infused with chemical preservatives to protect it from rot and insects, making it more resistant to decay.
One disadvantage is that it could splinter over time. For this reason, wooden decks should be checked every year and treated properly to avoid any possible risk for people.
Firwood
Firwood is also known as Douglas fir and is native to North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
It is commonly used for furniture, doors, frames, windows, plywood, veneer, general millwork, and interior trim.
However, being strong and resistant to abrasion, it is also used for building and construction and is ideal for:
- wharves
- trestles
- bridge parts
- log homes
- commercial buildings
As discussed, Douglas fir is very robust and does not buck or bend easily, which is why it is also used in boat-building. It was one of the woods used in making wooden ships, specifically the minesweepers used by the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Moreover, being very stable, i.e., not easily affected by environmental impact and weather conditions, it is ideal for aircraft construction.
Redwood
Redwood is a premium building wood. It is resistant to weather conditions, insects, and rot and widely used for outdoor applications.
It is one of the best materials for decking due to its natural strength and stability. It is more expensive than other types of wood, but it lasts longer.
Redwood can also be used for indoor projects. Furniture made of redwood is elegant and beautiful as well as very durable. Chairs, beds, and tables can be made with it.
Structural beams made of redwood are really appreciated for their excellent stability, with no risk of twists or warps. Moreover, they need very little maintenance and provide a distinctive and beautiful look to lodges, porches, and open-beam ceilings with a view to sustainable design.
Spruce Wood
Spruce wood is the most widely used construction timber in Europe due to its good workability and high availability. It is found in America, Europe, Asia, Alaska, and Canada. It is one of the most widespread woods in Germany, as almost one-third of forestland is covered by it.
It is typically used for indoor and outdoor projects, such as:
- decorative plywood and veneer
- domestic and factory flooring
- general carpentry
- interior construction
- furniture
- ceiling tiles
- saunas
It is also used for musical instruments due to its exceptional resonance properties and the absence of knots.
Among other things, it is used for masts and spars of ships, aircraft, crates, boxes, paneling, cladding, general millwork, ladders, roof structures, and bridge construction.
In industry, spruce wood is essential: pallets, wood-based materials, and paper are largely made from domestic spruce.
Wood manufacturing needs specific machinery and tools as well as specialized experts to create precise and high-quality products.
Since 1937, Minelli S.p.A. has designed, developed, and manufactured premium custom-made wooden components and products for many different brands and markets, and the quality of its objects is recognized all over the world.
We produce many different types of wooden products, e.g., gunstocks, risers, packaging components, hairbrushes, kitchenware tools, toys, and more, so we can exploit and apply the knowledge developed in one industry to another, with continuous development of abilities and expertise.
We were one of the first companies to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC International), which guarantees that the raw material comes from responsibly managed forests and provides environmental, social, and economic benefits to local communities.
If you need more information or have a project in mind, do not hesitate to contact us right now!
