How to pick and buy wood

This post will help clarify all the many types of wood you may find at your local store, and how to choose the best one for your project. This post will not cover plywood, MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard), or particle board.

After learning the tools you need for success, you may be ready to buy wood. Wander over to the lumber section and there may be a sense of overwhelm…again. What do those numbers mean? 1xwhat? Common boards?

First things first, there are two types of wood – hardwoods and softwoods. This is not based solely on the end product boards themselves, but on the type of tree the boards came from.

Softwoods come from conifers. Conifers do not lose their leaves in the winter and grow cones. Hardwoods come from slower growing species that are deciduous, or lose their leaves each year. Pine, spruce, cedar, and fir are all softwoods. Hardwoods include oak, walnut, maple, mahogany, and poplar.

Softwoods are less expensive than hardwoods, and so these are a great place to start when investing in DIY builds. You may see the term “common boards” or “SPF.” We’re not talking sunscreen here! SPF stands for spruce/pine/fir. Softwoods generally have a lighter wood color, and a less prominent grain pattern. These woods are very sturdy and stable, and you will see them used for home construction. However, they are slightly softer than a hardwood. I can put my pencil tip into a pine board and it will leave an indent. Softwoods are also lighter in weight and density than hardwoods. This is good to keep in mind when planning a build – the worst is building something and needing seven people to carry it inside!

Softwoods can be tricky to stain, and I recommend using a prestain conditioner so the finished product does not look blotchy. However, softwoods are a great place to start when learning to build furniture. Don’t be scared of a 2×4 or common boards – that wood can be sanded down and stained to something beautiful!

Hardwoods are great for furniture, cabinets, tables, consoles, mantles, etc. Most big box lumber stores will carry several species of hardwoods, but the most common will be maple, poplar, and red oak. Other species can be hard to find without special order or a trip to a lumber yard. Hardwoods tend to have a more prominent grain, and this can impact the look of your project. Hardwoods stain well.

Let’s talk wood sizing and some words you may see when shopping.

S4S stands for “surfaced on four sides.” This is mostly what you’ll find at a big box store. This wood will be dimensionally cut, planed, and sanded on all 4 sides. I can buy five 1x3s and know they will all be the same size, without me needing to rip them, plane them, or mill them in any way. But S4S wood does not negate sanding at home during your build – sorry to disappoint!

1x (pronounced “one by”) does not mean the wood is an inch wide! Here are the real sizes of dimensional lumber:

1×1: 3/4″ x 3/4″

1×2: 3/4″ x 1.5″

1×3: 3/4″ x 2.5″

1×4: 3/4″ x 3.5″

1×6: 3/4″ x 5.5″

1×8: 3/4″ x 7.25″

1×10: 3/4″ x 9.25″

1×12: 3/4″ x 11.25″

The same goes for 2x boards. For example, a 2×4 is actually 1.5″ x 3.5″ when it makes it to the store.

Which wood to choose?

The type of wood I choose depends on the use of the project. If I’m building an outdoor chair, table, or swingset, I will pick cedar, because it is a strong, rot resistant wood. If I’m building an indoor table that will be used daily, I will pick a hardwood like oak or walnut for it’s wear and durability. If I have a limited budget, I usually pick pine or construction grade wood and sand it to death so it looks great. (Pine or SPF wood is a great place to start practicing different woodworking techniques without heavy investment)

Hardwoods: durability, long wear, dense, heavy, grain dominant

Softwoods: less expensive, lighter color, lighter weight, less grain, easy to work with, rustic

One last consideration when picking wood is the desired finish or look. There are options: no finish, stain and clear coat or just clear coat, oil or wax, and paint. If I know I am painting a build, I generally pick a hardwood like poplar (poplar paints really well!). If I plan to stain or finish the project with wax or oil, I pick a hardwood like walnut or oak. Rustic builds that need a “lived in” look are perfect candidates for pine or fir.

One last thing…

When buying wood, pull the board and look down the length of the front and side to make sure it’s straight. Check for any bows, knots, and cracks. Starting a project with a warped board is a recipe for disaster!

This board was really beautiful from the front, but it’s warped. Do not buy boards like this!

Hope this information helps as you decide what to build, and what wood to use! Happy building!