Stronger than steel - a list of the hardest tree species and their applications. What is the strongest tree in the world The most durable wood in the world

In the fields of construction and production, traditional consumables are being replaced by high-tech plastics in various designs. They are distinguished by high technical and physical qualities, which allows them to confidently replace both wood and even metal. However, wood raw materials have many advantages due to the low cost of purchase and environmental friendliness. Strength is considered the weak point of this material. To increase this indicator, manufacturers use special processing methods to increase rigidity, density and, in general, resistance to mechanical damage. However, hardwoods initially have these properties, often eliminating the need for special heat treatments.

Hardwood Features

Typically, the quality of such rocks is evaluated by three indicators - density, Brinell hardness and cross-cut stiffness. On average, the density of such wood is about 1200-1400 kg/m 3 . As for the hardness according to Brinell, this value can reach 3.5 kgf / mm 2, and the rigidity of the transverse cut is 80 MPa. Again, these figures are typical for trees familiar to Russian conditions, and exotic species may have significantly superior characteristics. What types of wood are hardwoods in the temperate zone? Usually isolated oak, beech, ash and some types of hornbeam. It is important to consider that along with the positive quality in the form of hardness, such trees also differ in negative properties. It has already been said that in order to improve the performance, lumber can be subjected to additional processing. Sometimes solid wood is also subjected to similar operations to obtain special physical characteristics. And here a serious problem manifests itself, since many rocks, due to their high density, cannot stand the processes of grinding, impregnation, and especially drying. Often cracks, chips and other manifestations of structural deformation are formed.

Hardwood classifications

Allocate breeds that grow in the temperate zone, and exotic trees. There is also a classification into deciduous and coniferous species. Although most hardwoods are still deciduous, among the needles there are also varieties with increased density and stiffness characteristics. As for the rocks of the temperate zone, they include maple, boxwood, briar and the mentioned hornbeam. Coniferous hardwoods are also the most common here. Which of them has the most pronounced indicators of hardness? In this case, larch, yew, juniper and lawson deserve attention. There are also hardwoods among the usual fruit trees - forest apple, oxalis, pear, mountain ash and some types of walnut stand out in this category. As for exotic rocks, they demonstrate the highest rates of hardness and density. Here, red and lemon eucalyptus, etc., are of particular interest. Now it is worth considering in more detail the hardest tree species.

Red tree

In Russia, this breed is the most popular, as it can be purchased on a free sale. This is a tropical tree, which is characterized by high hardness, as well as the original texture on the cut. Freshly sawn wood has a yellowish-red hue, but over time it is replaced by darker tones, which gives the material nobility. Accordingly, the consumer appreciates not only the technical, but also the decorative properties of this tree. It should be noted that from the point of view of pronounced decorative qualities, backout and boxwood also belong to hardwoods. Moreover, these rocks are used not only as finishing materials, but can also replace individual decorative details in jewelry and technical devices. But mahogany is also distinguished by ease of machining. The density of this rock is not so high compared to many solid materials of tropical origin, so this raw material is in great demand in furniture factories.

iron tree

If heavy-duty plastics can replace iron due to their strength, then this rock is not only able to take the place of an element resistant to mechanical stress in some areas, but at the same time meet increased requirements in terms of environmental resistance. The concept of an iron tree includes a whole group of species that mainly grow in the countries of the Asian region and in Australia. The classic representative of the group is the Persian parrotia. This species is common in relic forests, where local residents have been making handles for knives and axes from it since ancient times. Today, the "iron" wood of hardwoods is under the protection of UNESCO. This breed, in particular, has an aesthetic value, which causes great interest in it from the market.

Merbau

This is not the hardest, but in terms of other operational qualities, one might say, the most practical breed. Previously used in the construction of marine vessels. This is due to the fact that the material is resistant to moisture and also does not dry out. Therefore, merbau can be stored for a long time, after which it can be subjected to heat treatments and used in construction. As already noted, hardwood trees, like hornbeam or beech, practically do not tolerate additional processing. But merbau steadfastly endures traditional methods of influence in order to improve individual performance.

white locust

The hardest rock in Russia, which is valued not only for its strength, but also for its resistance to biological destruction processes. In addition, this type of acacia is well polished and does not crack during long-term operation. Subject to preventive treatment measures, wood is also not subjected to minor mechanical damage. By the way, in terms of technical characteristics, this type is superior to such hardwoods as oak and ash.

Lignum vitae

The hardness index of this tree is one of the highest in the world. Suffice it to say that the material optimally copes with its tasks when used in the form of bearings, bushings and brackets. In the navy, the wood of this species was often used as deck material. But as lumber, backout is valued for other reasons. It does not lend itself to deforming processes under the influence of third-party negative factors. These can be both chemical and physical influences that do not have a destructive effect on the structure. There are other hardwoods that also show resistance to extreme loads. But the unique quality of the backout is a balanced combination of large mass and density.

The use of hardwood

Most of this material is used in construction. Wood in one form or another can be used as a basis for structures, and as a finish. Separate breeds are also used in the fields of mechanical engineering and instrumentation. Of these, separate functional elements are made with the expectation of long-term use - and these can be both temporary consumables and durable parts of structures. These are the main, but not all, areas in which high-strength wood species are used. Soft, hard rocks, as well as those with average density values, can also be used for medical purposes. In this case, hardness is not so important. The fact is that many exotic breeds contain resins that are unique in their qualities. The preparation of therapeutic mixtures for internal and external use, in particular, allows you to deal with diseases of the joints, respiratory organs, etc.

Conclusion

Manufacturers of building materials are well aware of the rule that the improvement of one technical and operational property almost always entails the minimization of other qualities. In part, this law also applies to hardwoods, which, according to some characteristics, lose to softwoods. The processes of biological destruction, physical deformation, as well as texture distortion are the main disadvantages of soft rocks used in the long term. But on the other hand, such wood has the advantage of being susceptible to additional treatments. Of course, there are exceptions in both categories, but the soft structure, due to its low density, is still more inclined to form new properties artificially.

In this article, we will talk about unique hardwoods that are rarely found in nature and even less often come across in the form of products. You will learn about the strength and hardness of these rocks and where they are used. The article also contains a comparative description of the properties of wood.

Continuing the theme of exotic woods, we will talk about a material that until recently was not available in Russia. The development of trade and transport made it possible to deliver exclusive products and furniture from the wood of the tropics, Africa and Oceania. Over time, these products have gained wide popularity not only as a luxury or exotic item, but also as a practical building material with unique properties.

Hornbeam

The uniqueness of this type of wood lies in the fact that it is popular not so much as lumber, but in its living form. He is the only one of the above, which can be found on the free market.

The hornbeam grows in the Northern Hemisphere and is most common in China. Its structure resembles a bush, but it grows very slowly. It is thanks to this combination - bushiness and slow growth - that live hornbeam has become a favorite material for masters of landscape art and lovers of green hedges. The green cap of the tree keeps its shape up to 15 days after shearing, and the density of the branches allows you to create opaque living sculptures. The hornbeam gained great love in Japan, where the art of bonsai is popular - decorative species are specially bred for this.

The mechanical properties of hornbeam wood are at least impressive:

1. Density - 750 kg / m 3.
2. The hardness of the cross section is 83.5 MPa.
3. Brinell hardness - 3.5 kgf / mm 2.

These figures are an order of magnitude higher than those of the average (reference) oak. However, such properties have their price, and it lies in the shortcomings of hornbeam lumber:

1. High volumetric shrinkage. The material shrinks and cracks as it dries.
2. Difficult processing. Due to the peculiarities in the structure of the fibers, the hornbeam does not lend itself well to conventional grinding.
3. It dries slowly and is difficult to process with a tool.

The undoubted advantage of such lumber is a beautiful sinuous structure, sometimes of different colors (dark brown and yellowish). From the hornbeam they make piece and artistic products - billiard cues, musical instruments, souvenirs and some details of machine tools.

boxwood

8 Ash, hardness - 4.0

Ash is a genus of woody plants from the Olive family. Representatives of the genus are trees with a height of 25-35 m (some specimens up to 60 m) and a trunk diameter of up to 1 m, with an elongated ovoid, highly raised, wide-rounded crown and thick, sparse branches. Ash wood, due to its elasticity and strength, was used for the manufacture of military and hunting weapons. Stakes and battle clubs were made from ash, which turned out to be heavy, strong and elastic. The ancient Novgorodians made bows from five ash plates glued together with bone glue. Bear spears, spears, arrows, poles are examples of ash hunting tools.

9 Oak, hardness - 3.8

Oak is a genus of trees and shrubs of the Beech family.
The genus includes approximately 600 species. The natural habitat of the oak is the regions of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. Oak drill and ornamental forests are mainly produced by the named Russian-European species. Oak wood is distinguished by strength, strength, density, hardness and heaviness. The properties of wood depend on the growing conditions of the tree.

10 Beech, hardness - 3.8

Beech is a genus of broad-leaved trees of the Beech family. The height of the trees is up to 30 m, the thickness of the trunk is up to 2 m. The trunk is smooth, covered with a thin layer of gray bark. In a beech, which has a dense crown of whole-leaved leaves, the upper branches shade the lower ones so much that the latter, not having the access of light necessary for photosynthesis, gradually die off and fall off. As a result, the beech tree in the forest almost to the very top is devoid of branches, and its crown is supported, as it were, by bare pillars. This property is characteristic of all species of the genus Beech. Beech wood is often used for the manufacture of various products: musical instruments, in particular, guitars, plywood, parquet, wooden containers, weaving shuttles, rifle butts, measuring instruments, etc. Steam-treated beech bends easily. This feature allows the use of beech wood in the furniture industry in the manufacture of Viennese chairs and rounded parts.

iron trees

Ironwood is a very heavy wood that sinks quickly in water. The density of ironwood wood is significantly higher than the density of water, and therefore it sinks. The bark of an iron tree is very thin and breaks easily. If the branches of neighboring trees touch each other, they quickly grow together, creating interesting plexuses. From Latin, the iron tree is translated as "the tree of life", because it is famous for its famous healing properties and the ability to heal many ailments.

In different regions, "iron tree" means different plants:

Temir-agach

1. Temir-agach (damiragach) or "iron tree" - grows in Iran and Azerbaijan and surpasses iron in hardness. Temir-agach is quite often used in the manufacture of living barriers, which become stronger and stronger every year. It is impossible to get through a thicket of such trees, because the trunk of an iron tree is completely devoid of flexibility.

2. Persian parrotia is one of the most durable iron trees. It grows in the Transcaucasian and Northern Iranian forests. Suitable for the production of machine parts and art products.

Wooden nails

3. Yew (Taxus), or "non-pus-tree". This iron tree has not only strong wood, but also almost does not rot. Nails were made from it, used in the construction of underground and underwater structures.

4. Azobe is a tropical African iron tree.

5. Amazonian tree - Brazilian iron tree.

Metal replacement

6. Schmidt's birch - grows in the southern part of the Primorsky Territory in the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve. The wood of this birch is 1.5 times stronger than cast iron and may well replace metal. The life expectancy of the Schmidt birch is about 400 years, like no other birch on the planet.

7. Also rosewood (or rosewood), ebony, kumaru.

Each of these trees has very strong wood, enriched with oils, the bark of such trees is resistant to decay, and they are all heavier than water. A good boat from such wood will not work, but for the manufacture of furniture - this is one of the best materials, however, and the most expensive.

Surely, many people know that such types of wood as oak and ash are distinguished by solid wood. However, if we talk about the hardest tree, then this is the "iron" tree. Moreover, in various countries of the world, different types of trees are classified as “iron”, differing in such hard and durable wood, which is often capable of surpassing iron in these indicators. And this means that the wood of such trees is very difficult to process, does not float on water and sinks, and can also be used to make nails and even structural elements for machines. So what representatives of the plant world have the well-deserved title of "the hardest tree"?

This hardest tree is present in the forests of Azerbaijan and Iran. In terms of hardness, it is many times stronger than iron. If you want to go through thickets of such trees, you will very soon realize that this is impossible due to the lack of flexibility of their trunks. Very often, such trees are used to make hedges, which grow stronger and stronger every year.

This is the hardest tree among the "iron" trees found in the forests of Northern Ireland and the Caucasus. Black wood has an unusual structure, is very durable and is resistant to various insect pests. Due to the high density of parrotia wood, it is successfully used for the production of wind musical instruments, machine parts and various artistic crafts. This tree is included in the Red Book.

Tiss

This representative of the "iron" trees not only has heavy-duty wood, but also does not rot, for which he received the name "non-rot-tree". It is found in Transcaucasia and the Far East. Previously, nails were made from the wood of the non-purulent tree, and it was also used for the construction of structures located under water or underground.

Amazonian and African "iron" trees

In Africa, you can find a tree related to the "iron" - it is called azobe. In Brazil, a similar tree grows - the Amazonian "iron" tree, which is distinguished by its excellent strength and hardness of wood.

This is the hardest tree that grows in the protected forest called "Kedrovaya Pad" (Primorsky Territory). In terms of strength, it exceeds the same parameter of cast iron by 1.5 times. You can even shoot this birch with a pistol - the bullet will simply fly off and not damage its trunk. The wood of this tree successfully replaces metal. A rare tree lives for about four hundred years, which is a very impressive lifespan, because not a single birch is distinguished by such longevity.

The wood of this tree, which grows up to 8 meters, was previously used for the production of parts for watches, buttons, gun ramrods, and parts for looms. And spears or arrows, which were made from dogwood wood, did not know wear and tear.

Ulin

This Bornean "iron" tree is extremely difficult to process due to the high hardness of the wood. Its smooth texture and pleasant color make it especially attractive for the production of parquet, solid boards and furniture. You can cut this tree, but you often have to sharpen tools. But the product from the street will serve for quite a long time.

White acacia

This tree has wood, which in our country is considered one of the hardest. Attractive texture, juicy color, excellent strength, highest hardness, excellent resistance to decay - these are the distinguishing features of this wood. In addition, it is very easy to polish. Acacia wood is used for the production of furniture and parquet.

It also bears the name "Brazilian cherry", but it has nothing to do with the genus "cherry". A tree with high hardness has a wide crown and grows up to forty meters in length.

The wood of this tree, which grows in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia, is difficult to process, but polishes well. Also, sucupira wood is not affected by fungi and various pests. Among the trees with strong and hard wood, one can also distinguish ebony, rosewood, kumara. All of these trees sink easily in water and have rot-resistant bark. This means that you won’t be able to get a boat out of their wood, but you can produce beautiful furniture.

Various methods are used to determine the hardness of materials (including wood). To determine the hardness, tests are most often carried out according to the Brinell and Rockwell methods.

According to the Brinell method, a steel ball is pressed into the material under load, then the depth of indentation is measured. After that, the formulas calculate the hardness in units denoted by HB.

When studying Rockwell hardness, a steel ball or (for the hardest materials) a diamond cone is also pressed into the material. Hardness, depending on the measurement scale used, is referred to as HRA, HRB and HRC.

According to the results of measurements, a list of types of wood by hardness was compiled. The following is a list of wood species, from hardest to softest (according to Brinell).

Jatoba

This tropical tree has a very strong wood, its hardness is 7HB. The homeland of the jatoba is the humid tropics of South and Central America. The wood is quite light, grayish in sapwood. The heartwood is red, red-brown, or dark orange, with yellow, orange, and red banding. The sawn wood darkens within 6-7 days and becomes brick red. Jatoba is called the "Brazilian" or "South American Cherry".

The height of a mature tree reaches 40 meters. Wood is used to make furniture, flooring and parquet boards. Elements of decorative interior decoration are made from jatoba.

Sucupira

The hardness of wood is 5.6HB. Sucupira grows only in the Amazon rainforest. The height of a mature tree reaches 30 meters. The core of the trunk consists of red-brown "dull" wood. The outer part, sapwood, is lighter, whitish. In the cut, yellow stripes of parenchymal matter are clearly visible. The texture of sucupira is unique and different from the structures of other types of wood. It is beautiful, and the oily substances contained in the wood make it resistant to destruction by carpenter beetles and fungi. Sucupira is used to make floor boards, parquet boards and furniture. The wood is difficult to cut, but it accepts sanding and polishing well.

Mutania

The hardness of mutenia wood is 5HB.

This tree grows in the humid tropics of West Africa. It grows 60 m in height. The wood of the mutenia is brown, like that of a walnut, olive with a brownish tinge. The special beauty of the material is given by the “rays” of purple color. Mutania wood is similar in structure to teak wood.

Muteniya is used for the manufacture of floor boards, furniture and elements of interior decoration of buildings.

Merbau

The hardness of merbau wood is 4.9HB. The homeland of the merbau is the humid tropics of Papua and New Guinea and the forests of southeast Asia. An adult merbau tree grows up to 30 meters. The wood is dense (the weight of a cubic meter reaches 800 kg), the core is painted in light orange or yellow. Merbau sapwood is light yellow. The tree darkens over time, becoming bronze or brown, with a silvery sheen. The fibers are straight or sinuous, they create a beautiful texture. Merbau is resistant to moisture and is suitable for decorating bathrooms. Merbau wood is used to make parquet boards, furniture, strong, durable buildings are built from it.

Canadian maple

There are 200 maples native to Eurasia and North America. Canadian maple wood has a hardness of 4.8HB.

Maple grows up to 20 meters in height. Its wood is white, uniform in structure, with clearly visible growth rings. On the cut, heart-shaped rays of a light gray color are clearly visible. Maple does not swell with water and bends well when steamed.

Most of the maple wood is used to make furniture, parquet boards, gun butts, plywood, musical instruments, caskets, carved handicrafts, and ancient wooden utensils. Maple cuts well and polishes easily.

Yarra australian eucalyptus

The hardness of the Australian jarrah according to Brinell is 4.7-5 HB. The tree grows up to 35-40 m, up to a height of about 20 m it has no knots at all, which positively affects the quality of the wood. The color of wood in young trees is varied - from pinkish to rich purple hues. Mature trees have dark red wood. The saw cut in the air darkens, becoming purple-red. Products from this tree are very beautiful, but the finished material is prone to cracking and changing shape when dried. Therefore, the processing of lumber is carried out after drying. Yarra is well cut and polished. Veneer, parquet, furniture, musical instruments, sports equipment are made from wood. In Australia, bridges, buildings, piers, telegraph poles are built from it.

Yarra Amazonian

The hardness of the Amazonian yarra is about 6HB, its homeland is South America. The Amazonian Yarra has a dark reddish or plum colored heart. The sapwood of the tree is lighter yellowish or brownish. Amazonian jarrah wood darkens from exposure to air and moisture, its texture consists of small fibers, a sharp border between sapwood and heartwood is not observed. The Amazonian Yarra is hard to work, but polishes and bends well. This wood is used as a material for the construction of buildings and boats, furniture and a wide variety of things are made from it.

Pink tree

The hardness of the rosewood is 4.4HB, it grows only in the forests of Guatemala and Brazil and gives one of the most expensive types of wood. The height of an adult tree is 25-28 meters. The wood has a scent of fresh roses and bright colors (pink and dark red, banded heartwood and yellow sapwood). Aromatic oil is obtained from rosewood shavings, which is used in the perfume industry and cosmetology.

Rosewood is perfectly dried, sawn, cut and perfectly polished. Decorative boxes and boxes for cigars (humidors), musical instruments, souvenirs and wooden elements of gift weapons, decorative elements of the interior are made from it.

Ash

The hardness of ash wood is 4HB. This is a very common tree species, it grows throughout Europe and Asia (European ash) and on the American continent (American ash). A mature tree grows to 35 meters or more in height. The wood of young trees is uniform, light, slightly grayish. In mature trees, the color of the core is brown, brown, gray. Some types of ash have a heartwood and sapwood of reddish and yellowish hues.

The grain of the wood is straight, and the structure of the tree is large-complex and resembles the structure of oak. The growth rings are clearly visible and create a banded pattern. Wood rays are also developed, especially in the lower part of the trunk.

The scope of this type of wood is great, it is used to make boards of various sizes, plywood, furniture, including bent, veneer. In the Middle Ages and in antiquity, weapons, hunting equipment, siege weapons and catapults were made from ash.

The hardness of oak is 3.8HB. There are 600 known species of this tree. Oak wood is resistant to atmospheric air and does not rot when exposed to water.

The color of the wood is white, yellowish, brownish in various shades, with well-defined annual rings. The sapwood of some species of oak is much whiter than the core.

Oak, which has lain at the bottom of a reservoir for several centuries, does not rot or decompose, but becomes a strong, very hard material of a dark brown or almost black color.

The structure of wood has high decorative properties, it is well cut and polished. Oak is a valuable type of wood; a wide variety of things are made from it: furniture, parquet boards, wooden parts of wagons and other vehicles, barrels.

Bog oak is a valuable material for artistic carving, the manufacture of carved panels, stairs, railings, furniture, doors and architraves, interior elements, and wooden sculpture. This material is still used in shipbuilding (stairs, railings, floors, trim).

The hardness of beech is 3.8 HB, this species is common in the central and western parts of Europe, the height of a mature tree reaches 35 meters. Beech fiber is even and straight, without streaks and defects. Beech wood has a yellowish or pinkish color, it is a homogeneous, dense material in structure. Mature trees over 80-85 years old have a red core. This unevenness disappears after steaming the wood, this procedure gives the beech a uniform brown, slightly reddish color.

Steamed beech bends well, it is used to make furniture in the style of Viennese chairs, bent parts of chairs and other furniture.

Beech has proven itself as a building material, it is a raw material for the production of cellulose. Boards, veneer, plywood, furniture, shavings, and viscose are also made from it. In total, there are about 2oo types of applications of this tree.

Rowan

The hardness of the mountain ash is 3HB. This tree is widespread, there are 48 types of mountain ash.

Rowan wood has a limited use, it shrinks significantly when dried, and is highly fire resistant.

Sapwood of mountain ash, depending on the species, is white with a red tint or light yellowish. The core of the mountain ash is dark, brown or reddish brown.

This tree is not cut down on an industrial scale. It is harvested to a limited extent for the manufacture of furniture, souvenirs, wooden tool handles.

Apple tree

The wood of the apple tree is soft or medium hard. The apple tree has a brownish-red heartwood and a white, reddish sapwood. Annual rings are usually well-defined, wood fibers are straight and wavy. The disadvantage of apple tree wood is that a wood borer can settle in it and render furniture and other products unusable. The dense structure of the apple tree allows you to make very thin and elegant carvings.

Pear

Pear wood is dense and viscous, hard and heavy in weight. When drying, the material loses a lot of weight due to shrinkage. The color of the wood is even, brown, with a pink tinge. The pattern of annual layers on the cut is almost invisible. After drying, pear wood is suitable for making furniture, small items, caskets and souvenirs. When dried, the material does not lose its shape, which makes it possible to make musical instruments from it. A few decades ago, drawing boards, drawing utensils and instrument parts were made from pear.

Nut

European walnut (walnut) grows in southern Europe and Asia Minor. The hardness of wood is 5HB. Walnut gives an expensive wood, very appreciated by lovers of natural materials. Walnut wood has an even, parallel fiber structure; in some areas of the fiber, wavy curvature is created. Trees living in the northern parts of the range have lighter wood, the southern varieties of wood are darker and more expensive.

The wood in the core is dark brown or gray. The sapwood is light gray, brownish, of various shades. Walnut wood is a high-quality raw material for the production of furniture, parquet and veneers, sculptures, and souvenirs. Finished walnut products can be spoiled by woodworm beetle.

American walnut has the same properties as walnut, but the hardness of its wood is less and equal to 4HB.

Cherry (cherry)

The hardness of cherry (cherry) wood is 3.5 HB. In woodworking, both European and American cherries are used. The tree grows up to a height of 25 meters. Cherry wood is used to produce veneer and furniture in limited quantities, tool handles, souvenirs, and toys. Cherry products should be used indoors, as atmospheric precipitation contributes to rotting and destruction of the tree. Carpenter beetles can also ruin wood.

The core material of the cherry is dark, brown, sometimes with red hues. The sapwood is light yellowish. Annual rings are clearly visible on the cut. The structure of the wood is thin and finely striped. American cherry has a darker sapwood than European cherry.

Birch

The hardness of European birch wood is 3HB, Karelian (Scandinavian) wood is 3.5HB. Birch wood is strong, uniform, white or yellowish in color. European birch has whiter wood than Karelian birch.

American birch is distinguished by the distribution of pilus, in contrast to the wood of European species.

Birch is resilient and lends itself well to any turning and carving tools. The structure of the wood is very delicate and beautiful, the pattern of the Karelian birch after staining is especially contrasting and original.

Birch wood is widely used in a wide variety of industries. It is good for making light-colored furniture and musical instruments, handles, souvenirs and toys. Birch is used to make spindles, spools and bobbins for winding threads in the textile industry.

The hardness of elm wood is 3HB. There are 35 species of this tree. In height, the elm grows up to 40 meters. The sapwood of the elm is light brown, the heartwood is much darker. It is well developed in mature trees. Annual rings are visible on the cut and the heartwood is well separated from the sapwood.

Elm well accepts polishing and processing by any tool. This is a strong, well-bent wood, high-quality arches and rims, furniture, plywood, vehicle interior items are obtained from it. Elm is a favorite tree of urban landscapers.

Chestnut (horse)

Chestnut wood is light, almost white, with a slightly wavy texture. It is soft, homogeneous and viscous. Chestnut is resistant to fungi and woodworm beetles. From this material, a beautiful parquet board and furniture are obtained. Chestnut wood well accepts polishing and any processing.

Hard conifers - larch and juniper

Larch

The hardness of larch wood is 2.6HB. The trunk of the tree has a dark reddish core. The sapwood of larch is lighter, yellowish-red. The sapwood is separated from the core by a clear boundary, annual rings are clearly visible on the cut of the tree.

Larch perfectly resists decay processes. Houses built from this tree stand for hundreds of years, lumber shrinks slightly.

Larch wood is viscous, and its processing is a laborious and slow process. The impact of water at times increases the hardness of hardwood and its resistance to destruction processes (soaked wood is “hard as a stone”). Dams, poles and bridges made of this material last for decades. Houses are built from larch, boards, furniture, sculptures for the open air are made.

Juniper- a hard breed of coniferous tree, including 70 species. Juniper is characterized by a peculiar coniferous smell of wood, which remains in the finished product for years. The core of the tree has a dark brown, brown color. The sapwood of the wood is light, greenish-yellow or light yellow. This is a dense, strong breed that accepts any processing and polishing well, does not give chips when cutting (manually and on a lathe) and sawing. Juniper wood is used to a limited extent, for the manufacture of small items, toys and souvenirs.

The most durable trees in the world

Today, the hardness of a tree is determined using several methods. There are density ratings for all trees. Based on the hardness, they determine where and what kind of wood to use.

The hardest woods

According to the obtained hardness data, a list of the hardest trees has been compiled. It entered white acacia. This tree grows in large quantities in Europe, anywhere from North America.

brazilian cherry, scientifically called jatoba, is in second place in terms of hardness. It should be noted that this tree has nothing in common with plants of the genus "cherry". Sucupira grows in South America. Its wood is not only practical, but also decorative, as it has inclusions of light veins that contrast with the reddish-brown wood. It is known that fungi and pests of sucupire are not terrible. Despite the fact that wood is difficult to process, it is well polished.

There is such wood from the category of hard, like African turbidity. It is unusual that in structure it is similar to teak, and in color it resembles walnut. There is a tree in Central America amaranth, which has a dense, but flexible wood, which has a red-violet hue and a large expressive structure. Amaranth is difficult to process and varnish; there, no less than single accessories and expensive furniture are made from its wood.

Merbay- Another type of solid wood. It is easy to process, easy to polish and resistant to moisture. These properties make it ideal for the production of parquet, bathroom decoration. The well-known Canadian maple growing in North America is also called sugar maple. This hard tree is the symbol of Canada.

Yarra- Australian eucalyptus. Due to the similarity of its wood with mahogany, the tree is also called Australian mahogany. Rosewood is considered solid wood. His homeland is Brazil. It is an indispensable material for the manufacture of musical instruments and furniture for presentable objects.

Next on the list is ash with very hard wood, behind him - oak, with heavy and durable wood. It cannot be said about bouquet. The properties of its wood allow it to be widely used.

The hardest tree in Russia

Russia is rich in forests. Birch Schmidt- a resident of the Kedrovaya Pad reserve, located in Primorye, is the hardest in the country. This birch is one of the representatives of the so-called iron trees. Due to the extremely hard wood, bullets bounce off it, it instantly sinks in water, has the property of self-preservation, does not rot and exceeds cast iron in strength. It is believed that bearings for machines can be made from this tree..

The birch got its name in honor of the botanist who discovered it by the name of Schmidt. This tree grows along the slopes of ravines at the exit of rocks, as it loves stony soil. The birch always has an inclined state of the trunk. Usually it is comb-shaped and does not exceed eighty centimeters in girth. Iron birch reaches a height of twenty-five meters, but the crown begins only at a height of eight meters. These trees are considered long-lived. On average, the Schmidt birch lives about three hundred and fifty years.

What is hardwood made of?

Hardwoods are used in many areas, depending on the species. So from the Brazilian cherry, which is called jatoba, canes, billiard cues, furniture, parquet are made. But in shipbuilding, this wood is not used, as it deteriorates in sea water.

Acacia wood has a yellow tint. She was known even to cabinetmakers, as she does not rot and does not wear out. Acacia wood is used to make parquet, which is considered stronger than oak, and over the years it becomes more beautiful.

Marbau wood, due to its increased hardness, is used during the construction of public buildings, and parquet is also made from it. It is used in the design of wet rooms, as it is not afraid of water.

Previously, not only hunting tools were made from durable ash wood, but also military weapons, spears and clubs were made. Beech wood is known to bend easily when steamed. This property is indispensable in the manufacture of rounded furniture, including Viennese chairs. Beech is used to produce rifle butts, weaving shuttles and even musical instruments. In addition, plywood and containers are made from beech, beech parquet and measuring instruments are known.

The tree with the strongest wood

It is reliably known that the most durable, in other words, “iron” wood, is in trees, which are called “iron trees”. It is so strong that sometimes it exceeds iron in this indicator. Even nails and machine parts can be made from it. There are several such types of trees and they grow in different parts of the planet. Here are some examples of these miracle trees.

Birch Schmidt, whose wood is one and a half times stronger than cast iron, grows in Primorsky Krai, another owner of iron wood grows in Brazil - this amazonian tree, in Africa such a representative is called azobe. Taxus (or yew) also belongs to iron trees, it is absolutely not subject to rotting, it is also called "non-pus-tree". Azerbaijan and Iran - the birthplace of an iron tree called temir-agach, and in the Northern Irish and Transcaucasian forests grows Persian parrotia.

Trees are champions not only in strength, but also in size. According to some reports, the largest tree in the world has reached a height of more than 150 meters.

Wood was considered one of the earliest and most accessible materials for humans. From it they created the first objects, the first weapons and built houses. In those days, people did not yet know about strength and hardness. But this did not stop them from paying attention to the different strengths of wood. Some species are called iron trees for these properties.

In our world, methods for determining hardness have long been developed, for example, through the methods of Rockwell and Brinell. They consist in forcing the sample, which is being tested, with a Brinell ball and a Rockwell diamond. This is done with equal effort. After measuring the resulting depth. People tested different types of wood in this way, thereby determining the hardest wood species.

The hardness is 7.0 Brinell. Quite often, jatobu is called South American or Brazilian cherry. However, she is far from being related to Cherry. The height of the tree is up to 40 meters, and it also has a wide crown. Young shoots are pubescent with brown hairs. As for the leaves, they consist of two broadly crescent-shaped pointed leaves up to 7.5 centimeters long.

The hardness of this rock is 5.6. Sucupira grows from South America. Mostly in Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela. Mature wood has beautiful reddish-brown tones. They also have blotches of yellowish or light narrow veins, as well as a recognizable characteristic texture. Sucupira is quite decorative and at the same time practical. The wood is very durable, it contains oily substances. The tree is not subject to pests and tree fungi. Only now it is processed very hard, but it is well polished and polished.

The turbidity density is 5.0. It is considered an African wood species. Mutania differs in some aspects, due to which the shade of wood is similar to the color of walnut wood. The structure of the mutenia is clearly similar to teak wood.

Merbau is ready to boast a hardness of 4.9. Most red-brown wood comes from Intsia species. It is similar in texture, as well as in color and properties to the wood of trees of the Afzelia genus. The wood is hard and polishes well. The density is about 800 kg/m. this wood in Europe is used primarily for the creation of parquet. Due to its special hardness, merbau is suitable for the construction of public buildings. Due to the fact that it is resistant to moisture, it is used in the design of bathrooms.

Sugar maple is a deciduous tree from the Sapindaceae family. It grows in eastern North America. Hardness is 4.8. It is worth noting that the central part on the national flag of Canada is occupied by a leaf from a sugar maple. It is also the symbol of Canada. Hence the second name - Canadian maple.

This wood grows in Australia. It is also considered a type of eucalyptus with a hardness of 4.7. Yarra is similar in texture and color to mahogany. So it is often called Australian mahogany. Only here the yarra is distinguished by a particularly bright color. It can be characterized by all shades of red. The advantage can be seen from light pink to dark red. Wood darkens in the light. It is decorative, hard and dense. It also polishes and polishes well.

Rosewood has a Brinell hardness of 4.4. Grows exclusively in Brazil. Rosewood wood is characterized by color - from yellow to pink with a red pattern. There is also a rose scent. The wood is very dense and hard, polishes well. Rosewood is often used to make furniture for small other objects. For example, for humidors or for creating musical instruments.

A genus of woody plants from the Olive family has a hardness of 4.0. The height of the tree is 25-35 meters. The diameter of the trunk reaches up to 1 meter. Due to its strength and resilience, ash wood was used to create military weapons, as well as weapons for hunting. From ash, people made battle clubs and spears. They were strong, heavy and elastic. The ancient Novgorodians made bows from five ash plates glued together with bone glue.

The hardness of oak is 3.8. The genus combines about 600 species. The temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere are considered the oak's natural range. Ornamental forest and oak structure are mainly provided by the named Russian-European species. Wood differs in strength, strength, hardness, density and heaviness. Quite often we see oak furniture. It is also used in the creation of musical instruments.

Beech has the same hardness as oak. The height of the tree reaches 30 meters, and the thickness of the trunk is up to two meters. The trunk is smooth and covered with a thin layer of gray bark. As for beech wood, it is often used to create a variety of products: parquet, plywood, weaving shuttles, guitars, wooden containers, measuring instruments, and so on.

Acacia is the hardest of the trees growing in Russia. Its color is yellow or olive green, the layers are straight and sharply visible. It is processed well only in its raw form, while in the dry it is difficult to process with cutting tools; does not crack and does not warp; remarkably resistant to friction; almost insensitive to atmospheric influences; under the influence of light, the acacia changes its color somewhat and becomes very beautiful with time.

Durable, hard and at the same time elastic acacia wood is used by furniture makers. They also make excellent veneer for facing MDF boards or products made from low-value wood species.

Acacia wood is an excellent flooring material. Their service life is comparable to ash or larch parquet. In addition, excellent doors are made from it, which are stronger than oak (an 80 mm thick acacia door cannot be shot from a PM pistol from a distance of 10 m).

Thoroughly dried and varnished parts retain their shape and dimensions better in dry rooms. Acacia wood is ideal for glued and screwed joints. Both organic solvent-based paints and varnishes and water-soluble varnishes and paints are equally well suited for finishing products from it, but the natural texture and color always look better.

One of the difficulties in working with acacia is due to the fact that it is initially prone to cracking, so it needs gentle drying modes, which increases the time. Another difficulty is that acacia has a multidirectional texture - the fibers in the wood are located towards each other, like mahogany - which makes processing much more difficult. But the result is worth it. Acacia wood is a sophisticated interior material that creates a beautiful contrasting backdrop for dark furniture.

Birch is the most common finishing material in the northern part and partly in central Russia. Its wood is the lightest, homogeneous, fine-grained, dense, hard, well cut. It sharpens, pricks, saws and plans excellently. It is convenient to use it for small crafts, since birch reacts to temperature and humidity and can warp in large products. Dries slowly and hard; does not rot quickly, especially in a dry place, but is highly susceptible to wormholes. A very beautiful veneer is cut from the smelting. The best birch tree gives in the period of 40-50 years, and then the good qualities progressively decrease. Old wood is easily identified by its darker color.

Beech (red beech) - In Central Europe, this is the most common type of wood. But beech wood growing in the mountains is of better quality. In some conditions, especially in underwater structures, it is not much inferior in strength to oak. Beech is a champion among other common ornamental wood species, especially for being well planed, processed on a lathe, and bent in a steamed state (in this it is second only to walnut). Resistant to splitting, but not resistant to cracking. It is an excellent ornamental material for interior decoration, it cuts very well, although dry wood crumbles and pricks in fine carvings across the fibers. In everyday life, it is used to make drawing rulers and squares, shoe lasts, parquet, furniture (especially cribs and playpens). These end-of-life items can be used for carving. Beech is not suitable for house carving, as it is extremely hygroscopic and warps when wet, prone to wormholes and decay. To prevent the attack of worms, finished beech products are smoked or steamed. To make the tree less warped, it is cut down in the middle of summer, and then, after a year, it is sawn into boards, which are placed in water and kept in it for several months.

The color of the wood is reddish-brown with many large and darker spangles; in old age it darkens and turns into brown, and therefore is not used at all for elegant products. Steam-treated beech bends easily. This feature is used in the furniture industry in the manufacture of Viennese chairs - the famous bent Viennese furniture, for which there is no more suitable wood. But even in this case, the beech is etched and stained in order to change the nondescriptness of natural wood. When steamed, the beech easily bends, and after drying it retains its shape for a long time. The rawer the tree, the easier it is to process; it is very poorly polished, but it takes color well and imitates walnut especially well.

White beech or hornbeam, has a whitish-gray wood, very hard and strong, with lighter sheen on a smoothly finished surface. Annual layers in the cross section have an irregular wavy shape. Sapwood is as hard as seasoned wood. While the wood is damp, it warps a lot; but after thorough drying almost completely does not change its shape from atmospheric influences; as it dries, the hardness of the hornbeam increases so much that the hornbeam requires the sharpest tools. With cutting tools, the hornbeam is almost equally processed both along the fiber and from the end.

Thanks to these qualities, the hornbeam is used in carpentry and modeling.

In the carpentry and furniture business, the hornbeam has no use, since it is ugly in appearance and too heavy, and besides, it is very poorly polished. The hornbeam takes color perfectly, and therefore it is sometimes used to fake ebony. This is most often done by turners, since the hornbeam sharpens very easily and well.

Cherry - in Russia it is common in the south and in the middle lane. The wood is dense, strong and elastic, but it is well processed and cut in all directions. In terms of structure, an adult tree is surprisingly elegant and decorative. When dry, the cherry tree is strong and hard, easily pricked and planed. As a finishing material, cherry is one of the most valuable and decorative species, and since the early Middle Ages (according to interior items that have come down to us) it has been used to decorate works of art and architecture. Musical instruments, stairs were made and are still being made from it, the famous Turkish chibouks are made from some varieties of cherries, growths and root nodes are valued by turners. It is used exclusively for the manufacture of expensive furniture. Cherry furniture is distinguished by a special aristocracy, even relatively recently created items look like rare antiques. It accepts polish and paint perfectly, it is especially well painted under mahogany. In house carving, the use of cherry is limited, in particular, by the small size of the blanks. But using the decorative texture of cherry in small panels or rosettes is perhaps tempting.

Elm (elm, birch bark, elm) are varieties of the same tree species. The most common species is the common broadleaf elm, distinguished by its heavy, light wood that darkens with age. The wood of old trees is dirty pink, dotted with many veins and dashes. Despite the distinctness of annual layers, the tree is very dense and slightly porous. It does not crack at all and warps very little. Resilience and flexibility are remarkable; elm is used to make wheel hubs and rims, sleigh skids, large-sized wooden screws, as well as all kinds of products that require endurance during shocks and impacts, but do not require a smooth surface and elegance of finish. The ability of the elm to bend (and taking into account its light tone) is used to make curved contours and framing in decorative panels, house carving ornaments. All trees of this family, due to viscosity and fine fiber, are pricked, planed, smoothed and polished extremely poorly. As a result, they are rarely used in furniture business.

Hornbeam - wood is light, grayish-white, shiny, heavy and hard. It cracks a lot and warps when it dries. The extraordinary hardness of the hornbeam, resistance to abrasion and splitting from impact (only white locust is ahead of it in this). Due to good staining with black dyes, high strength and hardness, hornbeam wood is used as an imitation of ebony. To avoid deformation and cracking, it requires a long and careful drying.

Pear - wood is obtained mainly from the wild, due to the thickness and height of the trunk of a forest plant, which the garden pear usually does not reach, although the latter has no worse wood. The color of young wood is yellow-white, and old wood is brownish. The structure of the wood is dense, without noticeable pores and annual layers. The pear is planed and cut in all directions equally well. From soaking in water and then slow drying, the pear tree noticeably hardens and turns brown. In the modeling business, it is used to make expensive carvings, and in the manufacture of expensive furniture, it is used to fake ebony, which the pear tree is much superior in strength. The pear is excellently polished. Its only drawback is its propensity for wormholes.

Oak is a hard and strong tree of brown-yellow color with strong noticeable annual stratifications, in the spring part of which there are many pores. A special characteristic of oak can be frequent and thick core rays. The wood of young trees is hard, flexible and greyish-brown in color. In older trees, the wood is yellower and more brittle. There are many varieties of oak, but we will divide them only into two groups: The first includes varieties that grow in the south and differ in appearance in that their acorns sit directly on the branches, and also in that the leaves turn yellow in autumn, but fall from the tree only in winter or even in spring, when young ones appear. This variety is called winter oak and its wood is valued more than the other group. It goes mainly for parquets and characteristic wooden furniture, decorated with carvings. The best wood is given by oak in the period of 80-150 years of age, taken from the black forest, i.e. from dense forests. Pure oak forests do not produce good trees, as their trunks are squat, thick and gnarled.

Another group of oaks is known under the name of spring oaks and differs mainly in that their acorns sit on long petioles, which winter oaks do not have. The wood of spring oaks is somewhat more viscous, knotty and grayer - in general, it is lower in quality than the wood of the previous group.

Planed and sawn oak is quite difficult, it is pricked easily, and the polish takes very badly because of the sponginess.

Oak is especially resistant to water, where it takes on a completely black color, which raises its value as a material for expensive furniture.

Spruce - in appearance it is somewhat similar to a pine tree, but differs from it in greater softness, pallor of annual layers and a large number of small knots. Spruce does not differ in especially good qualities, and it owes its wide distribution to its cheapness and similarity to pine.

In products that are directly affected by atmospheric changes, spruce quickly rots. It warps a little and this is perhaps its only good quality. Spruce is planed, sawn and pricked easily.

Karagach (elm, elm, birch bark) - varieties of the same tree species. The most common species is the common broadleaf elm, distinguished by its heavy, light wood that darkens with age. The wood of old trees is dirty pink, dotted with many veins and dashes. Despite the distinctness of annual layers, the tree is very dense and slightly porous. It does not crack at all and warps very little. Resilience and flexibility are remarkable; elm is used to make wheel hubs and rims, sleigh skids, large-sized wooden screws, as well as all kinds of products that require endurance during shocks and impacts, but do not require a smooth surface and elegance of finish. The ability of the elm to bend (and taking into account its light tone) is used to make curved contours and framing in decorative panels, house carving ornaments. All trees of this family, due to viscosity and fine fiber, are pricked, planed, smoothed and polished extremely poorly. As a result, they are rarely used in furniture business.

Chestnut (wild / horse) - gives a very beautiful, almost completely white, but, unfortunately, a very soft tree. The wood of old trees loses its whiteness and turns yellow or red. Chestnut is processed very easily, but soon rots and loses strength. It also paints well and at the same time it lasts longer from damage. Due to the above reasons, he plays a role only in haberdashery and amateur art works.

An edible chestnut gives a tree completely opposite in properties to a wild chestnut. It is hard, brown (similar in color to oak), very durable, not warping or cracking. Polishing takes very well. His appearance is not particularly attractive, and therefore is rarely found on sale.

Cedar is a kind of pine (Siberian pine). The tree is soft, prickly, pinkish-brown in color, with a pleasant smell. Since ancient times, it has been used to make furniture, in construction, as well as pens and pencils - sometimes called pencil - does not warp and is not at all susceptible to wormholes.

Maple - gives a whitish wood with many small sparkles, giving the tree a silky look. The tree is dense, dense, of medium hardness and almost never cross-layered, as a result of which it is pricked and planed perfectly. If we add to the above that maple warps a little and resists moisture well, it becomes clear why it is so highly valued by carpenters. Expensive models of carved jewelry are made from it. Maple perceives polish very well; it is also well painted in different colors, therefore it is used to fake acacia and boxwood, to which it is close in its structure (but not in density).

Mahogany (mahogany, amaranth) is the most common and well-known of all tropical trees, under the name of which the most diverse and heterogeneous breeds are sold, having a common color and partly the appearance of texture. It is easy to process, and although redwood is quite soft, it still belongs to the category of the most desirable joinery materials. The reason for this is not so much in its beauty, but in the persistent resistance to atmospheric influences and the perfect immutability of form. Therefore, it goes to the manufacture of expensive furniture, grand pianos and pianos.

In Russia, there is not even half of all varieties and varieties of mahogany, so it is pointless to present the details of its merchandising. Most often we have a bad yellow-orange variety, known as a sugar, or chest, tree. Its smell is weak and rather pleasant for humans, disastrous for insects. Therefore, the best chests and wardrobes are made from sugar wood. This tree is called sugar because American sugar was transported in boxes from it, and these boxes were then sold as carpentry material.

Linden - gives light, white wood with barely noticeable annual layers. Works well, especially with cutting tools. It warps very little, is not afraid of dampness, but, unfortunately, is prone to a wormhole. The best tree gives the southern linden; from it are prepared mainly foundry models and all different products under gilding.

Little is used in turning, except for handicrafts and children's toys. From linden, characteristic furniture under white colored polish is good. Linden is painted very poorly, as it is distinguished by remarkable impermeability. Honey, for example, flows through the walls of any wooden vessel - one linden does not let it through.

Larch - belongs to the category of the best trees in both construction and carpentry. The wood is reddish in color and is remarkably durable. It is much more stable than oak and is equally hardy both in water and in air. The reason for this should be sought in a large amount of resin. Larch is processed very smoothly and well; almost does not warp and is not subject to a wormhole.

Juniper - grows everywhere in the middle lane, but is very rarely tree-like, and its ordinary shrub never gives thick pieces of wood suitable for larger products. Young plants produce almost white, and old ones whitish-yellow, not too hard, very thin-layered, dense and flexible with wavy growth rings and very hardy. The rare properties of juniper wood include its pleasant smell, which is preserved in products that have lain in the ground for thousands of years.

Alder - the wood of this tree is quite heavy and resilient; layers are hardly noticeable, the structure is dense; color dirty pink or dirty orange. Yellow or brown oblong spots are a sign of decay or deterioration; under water and in dampness, the tree is very strong and resistant, in a dry place it soon rots and worms. It lends itself very well to any manual processing, it also polishes well and takes on all kinds of colors, it is suitable for making models of various products, as it is easily cut. In the count's estates, there were always sets or individual pieces of furniture made of alder.

Common walnut (Persian) - grows in the Caucasus and is brought to us in large quantities. Young trees give soft and white wood, while old trees give the well-known dark brown, dotted with darker veins, sometimes taking on a completely dark color. The older the tree, the more beautiful and better its wood. The walnut is processed well and perfectly accepts polishing and coloring. Lighter wood is sometimes successfully imitated by mahogany.

Aspen (trembling poplar) is a very common tree in Russian forests, which reaches a solid size and sometimes lives up to 150 years. The wood is white, soft, easily pricked and cut, but strongly warped and completely inexpressive, and therefore is practically not used in carpentry. The tree often rots on the vine, but dry and seasoned aspen becomes unusually resistant to decay even in dampness. Ploughshares were made from it, with which they covered the domes of wooden churches with their unique silvery tint, and benches and shelves in the Russian bath are made from it.

Rosewood - a violet tree, or jacaranda is brought from the hot countries of South America and East India, is valued as an excellent material for the manufacture of expensive furniture and items. Its wood is very hard, dense, fine-fibered and porous; its color is difficult to determine due to the various shades that make it up. In most cases, a brown color with a purple tint predominates, speckled with lighter streaks that form a beautiful pattern. Without careful polishing, which is difficult to achieve, over time, rosewood darkens to black. Worn with a cloth, it emits a pleasant smell, reminiscent of the aroma of Parma violets.

In strength, rosewood is inferior to mahogany, and surpasses it in beauty; in expensive finishes, it is used in conjunction with metal, which emphasizes the natural beauty of wood.

Pine is a tree of yellow-red or pale yellow color, well-known for its wide use, not particularly hard, but easy to work, resistant and durable in various products. In dense northern forests, pine trunks are quite long and are distinguished by remarkable straightness and straightness; both of these qualities, together with causticity, are very important for construction work.

Pine is planed along very easily, but across it is difficult and not smooth; sawed well, the glue holds firmly.

It is used for all kinds of crafts, which would be very difficult to list. Cheap furniture, doors, window frames are prepared from it, and absolutely everything is built in Russia - from a barn to exhibition pavilions.

Sweet cherry - in appearance it is very similar to cherry, but reaches such a thickness that it can be sawn into boards. Its wood is denser and harder than that of cherry, and therefore its use is preferable. This tree is highly susceptible to wormholes. The smeltings have a beautiful graininess of the fibers.

Ash - reaches, under favorable conditions, a gigantic growth and a thickness of up to five feet. Its wood is not particularly beautiful, yellowish in color with alternating light and dark stripes. When finishing, annual layers are strongly manifested due to the many pores clogged during grinding and polishing. Ash is quite hard, dense and heavy, and most importantly resilient; when dry, it is quite strong, especially after steam drying. But when raw, it is easily wormhole-prone and very sensitive to atmospheric changes.

In carpentry, ash is used to make doors, furniture for anterooms and shops. It is not particularly used in turning, as products made from it have an awkward and heavy appearance. Ash smeltings are highly valued by turners, which are distinguished by their hardness, density, beautiful shades and fiber pattern.