🌲 NOTES - TREES ## Leaves vs Seeds by leaves * Deciduous * Evergreen by seeds * Angiosperms / broadleaf (container/vessel seed) / hardwoods * Gymnosperms / confiers (naked seed) / softwoods ## Hard vs Soft soft (nonporous) hard (pororous/complex) **Hardwood** comes from deciduous trees that lose their leaves annually, while softwood comes from evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves. Generally, hardwoods are denser and stronger than softwoods, Hardwood - angiosperms that reproduce with a flowering plant ** Softwoods** come from gymnosperm trees - like pines, cedars and spruces — have needle-like leaves that usually remain green year-round, Softwoods grow faster than hardwoods, usually taking around 40 years before being ready to harvest. hardwoods are stronger and more hard-wearing than softwoods. This is because of their slower growth time and more complex, condensed structure, which results in greater density of the harvested timber. As a general rule, higher density equals higher strength and durability. Hardwood fire resistance Behold, ‘hard’ softwoods, and ‘soft’ hardwoods. Yew is a softwood with a dry density of 670 kg/m³, making it harder than American Cherry, classified as a hardwood despite being an inferior 560kg/m³. Then, at the extreme end of the spectrum, you’ve got Balsa wood, classified as hardwood — but coming in at extremely soft 160kg/m³ density! Grain: Softwoods do not have vessels and therefore have a softer, less pronounced grain than hardwoods, which are characterised by a heavy, distinctive grain. Colour: Hardwoods tend to be darker than softwoods, which are often lighter. Hardness: Hardwoods are usually stronger, more scratch resistant and harder wearing. If the wood chips easily with a chisel, it’s most likely a softwood. Weight: Because of their superior density, hardwoods are usually heavier than softwoods. https://www.reddit.com/r/Woodcarving/comments/1ig7w9w/how_to_carve_small_pieces_of_old_growth_redwood/ ### Janka Hardness The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of wood to denting and wear by determining the force needed to embed a steel ball into the wood. Higher Janka ratings indicate greater durability pounds-force (lbf) redwood 420 lbf Basswood, tilia americana Basswood has a Janka hardness rating of 410 lbf, which indicates its softness compared to other hardwoods. This low hardness makes it very workable and suitable for carving and detailed woodworking projects. ## misc Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, as well as quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production. Snow and temperature drops slow tree growth; make timber dense; good for furniture ## Most chopsticks are made in the United States The town of Americus, Georgia, is home to Georgia Chopsticks. They produce 2 million of the wooden utensils per day. The reason is the area is full of forests loaded with poplar and sweet gum trees. They provide the wood of choice for making chopsticks. ## China and wood abundant cheap wood in the forests of the Northern United States "China is the No 1 importer for raw materials," he said. "But it can be very expensive to ship materials, and some of the materials often get wasted in production. I realized that instead of sending logs, I could save money by producing somewhere else and then sending the products to China. Of course when a lot of labor needs to be done, you cannot beat Chinese prices. But when it's just basic work, it's worth it." Chilean Monkey Puzzle ## Forestry More than 50% of the world's forest are in only five countries Russia 20.1%; Brazil 12.3%; Canada 8.6%; US 7.7%; China 5.4% Countries known for sustainable forest management policies Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Rwanda, Gambia, US