Wood is one of the oldest and most popular materials used for building furniture, and for a good reason. Wood furniture pieces are timeless, sturdy, and reliable. With quality craftsmanship and a good home, they will last generations with little maintenance beyond the occasional stain.
Maple is better for indoor furniture because it is affordable, extremely durable, and stained to look like more expensive wood. It is also one of the most popular woods for furniture. However, oak is better for outdoor furniture because it is moisture resistant, which will prevent warping.
There are several things to consider when buying or building wood furniture, such as durability, appearance, grain, and hardness. The rest of this article will be a deep dive into the characteristics of oak and maple. Hopefully, by the end, you will know which wood is right for you.
Oak
Oak is a wonderful choice when building or buying outdoor furniture. It has a beautiful grain, is hard enough to stand the test of time but soft enough that it’s easy to work with. The two main types of oak are white oak and red oak. This article will primarily be referencing white oak. Its tight cellular structure makes it resistant to warping, an ideal characteristic for wood furniture.
Hardness
The purpose of measuring a wood’s hardness is to determine how resistant it will be to dents, scratches, and other daily life perils. It is essential to understand this characteristic of the wood when deciding on the furniture because, to some degree, the type of furniture should dictate how hard or soft your wood should be. For example, items that will get a lot of use, such as dressers, tables, or chairs, should be made out of hard, durable wood if you want them to last a long time.
Woodworkers and other similar professions use the Janka Hardness Scale to determine a wood’s hardness rating. Austrian immigrant, Gabriel Janka, developed this universally used scale in 1906. Today, it is determined by measuring the force required to embed a tiny steel ball into a wood sample.
Oak ranks somewhere in the middle of the pack at 1360 on the Janka Scale, making it an ideal wood for furniture. To put it in perspective, some woods rate as high as 3600 (we’re looking at you, Brazilian Walnut) and others as low as 380 (Eastern White Pine).
Durability
It’s important to remember that durability of wood is completely separate from its hardness in a bit of a twist. Rather, durability refers to its ability to stand the test of time. Does it rot easily? Does it break down over time due to exposure to the elements? Is it susceptible to destructive insects such as termites or beetles?
You want your money to be well spent, and using the most durable wood available ensures that it is. There is a simple classification system used to assess a wood’s durability. The durability is ranked based on the type of wood’s expected lifetime, ranging from less than 5 years (perishable) to over 25 years (very durable). Based on this system, oak is classified as very durable, meaning you should expect your oak furniture to last 25 years minimum.
Appearance
Depending on the type of oak, the color can vary quite a bit. White oak is generally a light to medium brown and is beautiful with or without a stain. Red oaks have a much more obvious pink or red hue to them.
Grain
The grain is also an important characteristic to consider when looking for appropriate wood for furniture. When looking at a piece of wood, the grain is the visible lines that naturally occur on a piece of wood. It refers to the direction of the cell fibers as well as the texture of the wood.
There are six different types of grain, including straight, irregular, interlocked, wavy, spiral, and diagonal. Straight grain is ideal for strength and durability. Oak has a straight grain and a relatively coarse, uneven texture. Besides offering strength and durability, you want your furniture wood to have straight grain because it is predictable to cut, reliable, and easier to work with.
A particularly unique characteristic of white oak is that it has an extremely tight cellular structure. This makes it virtually impossible for water to pass through, which, of course, means it is water-resistant. White oak makes for great outdoor furniture because its water-resistance also helps prevent it from warping over time.
Maple
Now, let’s talk about maple. Maple is perhaps the most popular wood choice for furniture for many reasons, including its hardness, durability, and beautiful natural appearance. There are two different categories of maple: hard maple and soft maple. This article will predominantly be referencing soft maple, as it is the best choice for furniture.
Hardness
Don’t be fooled by its name – soft maple is one of the hardest commonly used woods in furniture. As we said earlier, hardness refers to a wood’s ability to withstand bumps, dents, and scratches. It is tested by pressing a small steel ball into the wood. Maple is a little bit harder than the previously mentioned oak, ranking at 1450 on the Janka Hardness Scale. That is the sweet spot for furniture building because it is still easy enough to work with but makes long-lasting furniture.
Despite being named “soft maple,” it is one of the hardest commonly used woods for furniture. Interestingly it is only named soft maple in opposition to hard maple, which can be too hard to work with.
Durability
Durability is one of how maple and oak are similar. Maple also ranks as “very durable” on the assessment, meaning it has the potential to last at least 25 years. This is exactly what you want to look for in wood for furniture, as it will resist insects and withstand the test of time.
Appearance
Maple can vary in appearance, but generally, it is light in color. This gives you a lot of options as far as the stain. Although maple is one of the more affordable wood choices, it can be stained to look like a much more expensive wood such as mahogany or cherry. This makes it an appealing choice for homeowners and furniture makers.
Grain
Maple also has a straight grain but a much finer texture than oak. Understanding the grain of the wood helps when applying a stain or when making cuts in the wood. In both cases, you should go with the grain for best results.
Final Thoughts
You cannot go wrong when choosing wood furniture over other materials. Wood has been used in furniture making for centuries, and humans have yet to find a better alternative. It’s timeless, reliable, and can last for generations.
While both oak and maple are excellent furniture options, the best choice depends heavily on the furniture’s intended purpose. If it will be used predominantly outdoors, oak is definitely the best option as its ultra-tight cellular structure makes it resistant to water. However, maple is the best option for indoor furniture because it is incredibly durable, affordable, and easy to work with.
You probably started reading this article with a lot of questions on your mind. I hope I was able to cover some of them and help you feel comfortable deciding which type of wood is right for your project.
Sources
- Octane Seating: Types of Wood: Guide to Choose the Best for Your Furniture
- Real Simple: The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Wood
- Dummies: Types of Wood for Woodworking
- The Wood Database: White Oak
- The Wood Database: Soft Maple
- Wood Magazine: Understanding Wood Grain
- Kitchen Cabinet Kings: What Is Wood Grain?
- Cherokee Wood Products: Maple vs Oak Wood
