List Of Hardwoods Based On Hardness

The janka hardness test from the austrian born emigrant gabriel janka 1864 1932 measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.

List of hardwoods based on hardness.

The woods are listed from hardest to softest so the higher the number the harder the. For more information on non native species refer to the don t be fooled article. While some tropical hardwoods can be used for interior applications including flooring the color grain pattern hardness and luster of many imported woods differ from those of american hardwoods. A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring.

Ncsu inside wood project reproduction of the american woods. Hough us forest products laboratory characteristics and availability of commercially important wood from the wood handbook pdf 916k. The actual number listed in the wood profile is the amount of pounds force lb f or newtons n required to imbed a 444 11 28 mm diameter steel ball into the wood to half the ball s diameter. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear.

Density hardness stiffness and strength here you ll find charts that break down the wood types by density hardness stiffness and strength. Each wood species is listed in alphabetical order on each chart with its corresponding related number next to each species. The higher the number the harder the wood is this should be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring. Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating.

It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. The janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It also indicates the effort required to either nail or saw the particular wood species. Our chart is based on the janka hardness scale which is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various wood species to resist denting and tolerate normal wear.

The janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. Exhibited by actual specimens and with copious explanatory text by romeyn b. The scale used in the table is pounds force.