Is Hardwood Always Harder Than Softwood

Softwood comes from conifers such as fir pine cedar and redwood.

Is hardwood always harder than softwood.

For example balsa wood is known as one of the softest and least dense types of wood yet it is categorized as hardwood. Softwood produces more flames and sometimes more intense heat than hardwood but over a shorter period of time. Likewise yew is a hard softwood. Hardwood trees are more varied than softwoods and there are about.

Some are much denser than others making them better suited to different applications. All hardwoods are angiosperms flowering plants the largest group of land plants. You can also expect to pay more for hardwood compared to the same amount of softwood. For example a low quality hardwood is actually softer and less dense than a good quality softwood.

Wood is categorized as either softwood or hardwood based on physical structure and makeup. Not all hardwoods are equal. Hardwood is contrasted to softwood which comes from conifers cone bearing seed plants. The best example of this is balsa wood which although extremely lightweight is classed as a hardwood.

The manufacturer and the region the wood is being procured from has more to do with pellet quality than whether it is a hardwood or softwood pellet. In most cases hardwood tends to be harder than softwood but not always. That is hardwood isn t necessarily denser than softwood. The pelletizing process gives manufacturers precise control over the composition of wood pellets.

Are there any negatives to hardwood. Hardwoods are not always harder than softwoods balsa wood being an example of this. Softwood is good for starting fires and making kindling. Some softwoods are actually harder than hardwoods.

When you use wood in your wood stove you get the results nature made. Hardwood is wood from deciduous trees and broad leaf evergreen trees. Similarly wood from the yew tree which is one of the toughest woods and is harder than most types of oak is classified as softwood. Upon hearing these terms you may assume that hardwood is literally harder and stronger than its softwood counterpart but this isn t necessarily true.

Uses of hardwood vs softwood. In many cases hardwoods and softwoods are both used for many of the same purposes with more emphasis placed on the type of hardwood or softwood and how dense it is. Softwood is usually less dense and more resinous burns faster and produces less heat than hardwood. Likewise balsa wood is classified as a hardwood and yet it s one of the least dense and softest types of wood.

For instance yew wood is classified as a softwood but is considerably tougher than certain hardwoods. Generally though softwoods are cheaper and easier to work with than hardwoods. The dense wood takes longer to season or dry out typically between 1 2 years and it s harder to light compared to softwood.