|
|
|
Alabaster Antique Lamps
Alabaster antique lamps have been so attractive that people are
interested to buy it from shops. Lambs are decorative as far as
any building is concerned. It gives ample light in the room and
it is also an item of decoration. So it can create any...
Feeding Cattle
A cow can eat 25 to 30 pounds of hay a day and waste a couple of more pounds. This adds up to 27 to 32 pounds per day per cow. Allow about half this amount for weanling calves and about three-quarters for yearlings.Large round bales often do not...
Fishing Vacation 101
Universally, the term “gone fishing” is associated with vacations. In that case planning a fishing vacation should be nothing more then a natural choice. Fishing combines sport, relaxation, communing with nature and free food and hence qualifies as...
Mississippi Outdoor Adventures
Well the first new video is almost ready. We have all of our deer hunting footage recorded and ready for release. We anticipate a late spring or early summer release. The turkey season is the last part of filming that is required. Join Marty...
Using Film Speed Effectively
So you have this great new camera. Now you’re standing in front of a display of more film that you’ve ever seen. All you want to do is take some great family photos but you don’t know where to start. Here’s short guide to help you get started. Film...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choosing Project Wood
General
Lumber is available in 2 main categories, hardwood and softwood. Quite simply, hardwood is harvested from any deciduous (leaf bearing) tree. While softwood is from coniferous or needle producing trees. However a wood worker also needs to decide if an engineered wood product like plywood is better suited for the job.
We will demystify the these 3 classifications by taking a close look at the 3 main choices a wood worker has to face when buying project wood.
Hardwood
Looking at hardwoods first, it is important to remember that these classifications really have no bearing on the true hardness of the wood, not all hardwoods are "hard". Species like poplar are much softer then pine even though poplar is classified as a hardwood.
Some of the more common domestic hardwoods include, oak, maple, birch and poplar although your choices certainly aren't limited to these four. For exotic species there are too many to list but teak, mahogany, rose wood and purple heart are just a few.
Softwood
Softwoods on the other hand include species like spruce, fir, pine and cedar and are often cheaper to buy then hardwoods. This is mainly because softwood trees grow taller and straighter than hardwood trees. This yields more lumber per log. Along with the fact that most softwood is harvested domestically it is the project wood of choice for most outdoor projects and for many indoor ones as well.
How do you choose project wood?
There are a number of factors that need to be considered when deciding which wood to use for what project. There are no set rules stating what wood to use for an indoor
or outdoor project. Basically the characteristics of the species will determine whether or not it will stand up to the punishing conditions of the outdoors or if it better used indoors.
Both hardwood and softwood can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications but some are more resistant to UV and moisture then others. These are the ones that should be chosen when being used outside.
These particular species have natural oils and resins that fill the cells of the wood and provide, in some cases, very good protection against rot and insects. Species like cedar for example last for decades in direct contact with the ground while spruce would be rotten in under 5 years.
Of course cedar is a softwood and is used a lot throughout the furniture and house construction industry. However, some hardwoods also have very good resistance to rot and insects. Species like teak and mahogany are used a lot in the tropics for boat construction, but since the cost of these exotic hardwood species is so much in North America we tend to use softwood in the outdoor applications.
Another important factor is whether or not you want you intend to use a clear finish or paint to protect your project. Cedar needs to be sealed to prevent oils from leaching through the paint. Some species of hardwood like poplar and birch are great for accepting paint but have a tendency to blotch when stain is applied.
About the Author
Dave Markel is the author of "The All Wood Working
Journal". He has helped hundreds of individuals improve
their wood working skills. Visit his site at
http://all-wood-working-plans.com
|
|
|
|
|
| Appalachian Mountain Club – Outdoor Recreation, Education ... |
| Members from Maine to Virginia participate in hiking, paddling, skiing, and other outdoor activities. Includes links to lodging destinations, local chapters ... |
| www.outdoors.org |
|
| Outdoors in the Yahoo! Directory |
| Explore sites dedicated to the great outdoors. Find information on boating, fishing, camping, hiking, climbing, and other outdoor activities. |
| dir.yahoo.com |
|
| Adventure Travel and Outdoor Recreation - GORP.com |
| Resource for outdoor sports, adventure, and travel. Includes destination, activity, and gear directories plus news, articles, and forums. |
| gorp.away.com |
|
| Outdoors - UK Camping Equipment Supplier |
| Shops operated by the Scout Association. Site includes catalogue, locations of stores and online shopping. |
| www.outdoors.ltd.uk |
|
| ESPN Outdoors - Outdoors Home |
| The latest in Outdoors news and information, all at ESPN.com. |
| espn.go.com |
|
| Outdoors Network - Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hunting, Lefty Kreh, BASS |
| Fishing , Fly Fishing, Hunting , Lefty Kreh, BASS and more, from Outdoors Network - Bringing the Outdoors Indoors. |
| www.outdoors.net |
|
| Great Outdoors |
| Experience the outdoors online -- hiking, skiing, camping, and mountain biking with gear reviews and adventure profiles. |
| www.greatoutdoors.com |
|
| Open Directory - Recreation: Outdoors |
| Recreation: Travel: Specialty Travel: Adventure and Sports (237); Science: Environment (6754); Shopping: Recreation: Outdoors (2491); Society: Gay, Lesbian, ... |
| dmoz.org |
|
| MaineToday.com | Outdoors |
| OUTDOOR NEWS. Trail backers back to work raising money The 55-mile Eastern Trail pedestrian and bicycle ... Seen Outdoors Were you seen in Maine, today? ... |
| outdoors.mainetoday.com |
|
| Outdoors |
| Los Angeles Times Travel Guide - Tips, discounts and world destinations from the Los Angeles Times travel section. |
| www.latimes.com |
|
| SFGate: Sports: Outdoors |
| Once mighty wool makes comeback in outdoor gear (11/23). MAIN EVENTS: Discover fabulous fungus, learn to hunt and hear stories of the great outdoors (11/30) ... |
| www.sfgate.com |
|
| Detroit News Online | Outdoors |
| Outdoors. Deer numbers are up. 17-point buck and numerous 200-pounders mark ... Outdoors. Deer hunt unites families. Old and young, as well as male and ... |
| www.detnews.com |
|
| Google Directory - Recreation > Outdoors |
| Science > Environment (7762) Shopping > Recreation > Outdoors (2778) Society > Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual > Recreation > Outdoors (50) ... |
| www.google.com |
|
| St. Petersburg Times Online: Outdoors |
| The weather is forecast to become more favorable for fishing and being outdoors in general. Go to article · Root for cleaner water to find kings ... |
| www.sptimes.com |
|
| Sports : Outdoors -- Philadelphia Inquirer |
| OUTDOORS LINKS. Outdoors Calendar Listing of clubs and activities in the area Resources How to get listed; whom to contact. RECENT STORIES ... |
| www.philly.com |
|
| Welcome to Cotswold Outdoor Ltd - outdoor & travel clothing ... |
| Find travel and active wear, camping and climbing equipment, rucksacks, accessories, and sleeping bags. |
| www.cotswoldoutdoor.com |
|
| Outdoors: South Florida Sun-Sentinel |
| South Florida's breaking news site, with news, sports and information updated constantly throughout the day. |
| www.sun-sentinel.com |
|
| Outdoor Clothing - Rock Climbing Equipment - Camping Gear - Hiking ... |
| UK based outdoor clothing retailer. Stock includes rock climbing equipment, camping gear, stoves, tents hiking boots, waterproofs, fleeces, ht and gloves. |
| www.ultimateoutdoors.co.uk |
|
| Outdoors T-Shirts and Gifts : CafePress.com : Shop Over 35 Million ... |
| CafePress has over 9660 unique , outdoors designs on more than 98600 T-Shirts and Gifts. Narrow your search with topics like funny outdoors, or nature, ... |
| www.cafepress.com |
|
| Great outdoors: Hunting, fishing, biking and running news ... |
| Top Outdoors Stories. Strong mast crop affects hunters now, next year ... Bill Cochran's Outdoors. You are never more alive than when a predator ... |
| www.roanoke.com |
|
|